Iloski’s Hat Trick Powers Record-Setting Union Past Orlando City 4-2

Photos by: Nichara Condo

Milan Iloski needed just 51 minutes to make history on a rainy night in Chester. The forward scored a hat trick as the Philadelphia Union beat Orlando City 4-2 at Subaru Park on Saturday, extending their unbeaten run to a club-record 12 matches and winning a sixth straight league game for the first time in club history.

The Union did it shorthanded. With five starters away on international duty, including Andre Blake, who was captaining Jamaica, 20-year-old Homegrown goalkeeper Andrew Rick got the start in goal.

Game Flow Recap: A Fast and Furious Start

Philadelphia took control from the opening whistle. In the 11th minute, Iloski got past Eduard Atuesta in the box and was brought down, then stepped up and converted the penalty himself.

Eight minutes later, Indiana Vassilev slipped Iloski in behind the Orlando back line. Iloski cut inside and beat Maxime Crépeau to make it 2-0. The Union dominated the first half, outshooting Orlando 12-2.

The home side kept the pressure on after the break. Two minutes into the second half, Jesus Bueno slipped Vassilev through and he finished from close range for 3-0.

Star Performer: Milan Iloski

Iloski completed his hat trick in the 51st minute with a strike from outside the box that found the top corner. It was his second hat trick of the season, making him only the third player in Union history with multiple hat tricks in a single season, joining Julián Carranza and Dániel Gazdag, who both did it in 2022.

The performance took Iloski to 16 goals on the season, tied for third in the Golden Boot race, to go with six assists.

Turning Point: The Second-Half Burst

Any hope Orlando had of a second-half response ended almost as soon as play resumed. Vassilev's goal in the 47th minute and Iloski's long-range finish four minutes later turned a two-goal lead into a 4-0 rout in the space of a few minutes.

Orlando found some pride late. Antoine Griezmann rolled a short free kick to Iván Angulo, who beat Rick in the 78th minute, and Martín Ojeda added a second at the start of stoppage time. The Union saw out the remaining minutes to close the win.

What It Means

The victory moved the Union to 11-6-10 and up to sixth in the Eastern Conference, with the longest unbeaten run in club history still going. For Orlando, the defeat was a setback in the race for a playoff spot.

Philadelphia returns to Subaru Park on Saturday, October 10, to host Real Salt Lake.