Philadelphia Union 5-0 Cincinnati: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How Philadelphia Union won it

Philadelphia Union struck first through Quinn Sullivan from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute. Bruno Damiani made it 2-0 to Philadelphia Union in the 45th minute (+1), set up by Cavan Ayaz Sullivan. Bruno Damiani made it 3-0 to Philadelphia Union in the 49th minute, set up by Quinn Sullivan. Bruno Damiani made it 4-0 to Philadelphia Union in the 61st minute, set up by Cavan Ayaz Sullivan. Milan Iloski from the penalty spot made it 5-0 to Philadelphia Union in the 89th minute.

It was 2-0 at half-time.

Bruno Damiani scored a hat-trick.

Obinna Nwobodo of Cincinnati was sent off in the 16th minute. The referee, J. Dickerson, showed 2 yellow cards: 0 to Philadelphia Union and 2 to Cincinnati.

Philadelphia Union: R. Richter, 4-2-2-2 · Cincinnati: P. Noonan, 3-4-1-2.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 0.03 for Philadelphia Union and 3.53 for Cincinnati.

Philadelphia Union scored about 5.0 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.

Cincinnati left about 3.5 goals' worth of chances on the pitch.

Cincinnati created the better chances, 3.53 xG to 0.03, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.

Philadelphia Union had 6 shots on target, Cincinnati 0.

Philadelphia Union had 67% of the ball and turned it into the win.

A red card changed the shape of the match, and no pre-match model can see one coming.

Where the two sides stood before this match

Philadelphia Union came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 2.0 and conceding 1.6 a match, with 2.05 expected goals for and 1.29 against, and had won 42% of their matches.

Cincinnati came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 2.1 and conceding 2.3 a match, with 1.81 expected goals for and 1.61 against, and had won 35% of their matches.

Philadelphia Union vs Cincinnati: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Bruno Damiani (Philadelphia Union), rated 9.5 by Sportmonks, with 3 goals.

Philadelphia Union

• Bruno Damiani 9.5 3 goals
• Cavan Ayaz Sullivan 8.6 2 assists
• Quinn Sullivan 8.6 1 goal, 1 assist
• Frankie Westfield 7.6
• Milan Iloski 7.3 1 goal

Cincinnati

• Ayoub Jabbari 6.7
• Tom Barlow 6.5
• Evander 6.5
• Gerardo Valenzuela 6.5
• Kyle Smith 6.3

The lowest-rated starter was Obinna Nwobodo at 5.4. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• Philadelphia Union: Nashville SC vs Philadelphia Union Thursday 29 October 2026 · MLS
• Cincinnati: Inter Miami vs Cincinnati Wednesday 28 October 2026 · MLS

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about Philadelphia Union vs Cincinnati

What was the score in Philadelphia Union vs Cincinnati?

Philadelphia Union 5-0 Cincinnati (half-time 2-0), MLS, Wednesday 9 September 2026.

Who scored in Philadelphia Union vs Cincinnati?

Quinn Sullivan 43', Bruno Damiani 45+1', Bruno Damiani 49', Bruno Damiani 61', Milan Iloski 89'.

Did Moneyball predict Philadelphia Union vs Cincinnati correctly?

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Who was man of the match in Philadelphia Union vs Cincinnati?

Bruno Damiani, rated 9.5 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed Philadelphia Union vs Cincinnati?

J. Dickerson.