Philadelphia Union’s Tai Baribo make MLS history with Impressive Start

Tai Baribo and Philadelphia Union extended their winning streak to three games with a history-making performance against the New England Revolution over the weekend. With the 2-0 win at Gillette Stadium and Tai Baribo’s sixth goal of the season, the Union and their center forward made and tied both club and league records on the night.

In a game that was looking like a shadow of their first two games of the season, it was a 76th minute header from Tai Baribo and a 97th minute one-touch shot from Jovan Lukic that separated the two sides after the game.

Tai Baribo Tied 26-year MLS Record

The match had everything in common with a goalless draw – offside goals, remarkable saves, missed chances and some ill luck in front of goal – until the Israeli forward, after his 60th minute goal was ruled offside, broke the deadlock with a header from a cross at the back post by Kai Wagner.

With his lone goal, Tai Baribo etched his name in the MLS history books, as he tied Chicago Fire’s Ante Razov, whose six goals in the first three games of the 1999 season was the most goals scored through the first three games of a season in MLS history

Jovan Lukic’s First Union Goal

Jovan Lukic, who was a major talking point at Bradley Carnell’s press conference two days before the game, made himself a headliner once more, with his first goal for the Union coming deep into stoppage time.

The 23-year-old Serbian midfielder hopped onto a ball played backward by Vassilev and fired from the edge of the box, bouncing off the back post and into the net. His first goal was timely, as it sealed the Union’s second away win of the season with the same goal difference as the first.

Andre Blake also earned his first clean sheet of the season after a three-week wait.

Union’s History-making Start

With three wins in three games and ten goals scored this season, the Union are off to the best start in the club’s 16-year history. The club’s plus-seven goal differential is tied for fourth best in MLS history through three games.

Against New England, the club also continued its run of scoring one-touch goals, with all ten of Philadelphia’s goals this term coming off one-touch finishes.

Bradley Carnell, Tai Baribo, and the Union couldn’t have asked for a better 2025, as the team has worn a more improved look from the side that finished 12th place last season. With Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Columbus ranking second and third on the league table, Philly looks to continue their exquisite start to the season as they host Nashville at Subaru Park this coming weekend.