After scoring his first goal of the season and assisting Tai Baribo’s in the blue and gold’s 3-0 win over Atlanta United on Saturday night, Philadelphia Union midfielder, Quinn Sullivan has been named to Major League Soccer’s Team of the Matchday for Matchday 9.
It marks the 2nd time this season that Sullivan has been included in MLS’s weekly honors after being named to the bench back in Matchday 2. Through the first 9 Matchdays, 5 different players and Head Coach Bradley Carnell have all made the Team of the Matchday a total of 8 times.
Week 1 – Tai Baribo (First Team)
Week 2– Tai Baribo (Player of the Matchday), Quinn Sullivan (Bench), Bradley Carnell (Coach of the Matchday)
Week 3 – Jovan Lukic (First Team), Kai Wagner (Bench)
Week 5 – Ian Glavinovich (Bench)
Week 9 – Quinn Sullivan (First Team)
Quinn Sullivan’s impressive first goal of the season was also named the AT&T Goal of the Matchday for Matchday 9.
Sullivan’s Strong Performances Despite Lack of End Product
Despite his tally against Atlanta United being his first of the season, it wasn’t a stand alone performance of top quality for Quinn this season, with him ranking in the top 92 percentile or higher amongst other midfielders in the following stats following Matchday 9:
–Non-Penalty Goals (95th percentile)
–Non-Penalty xG (92nd)
–Shots Total (99th)
–Assists (99th)
–Expected Assisted Goals (99th)
–Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Expected Assisted Goals (99th)
–Shot Creating Actions (94th)
–Progressive Carries (99th)
-Successful Take-Ons (93rd)
–Touches in Attacking Penalty Area (99th)
–Progressive Passes Received (99th)
Carnell’s Belief in Quinn’s Game
The strong performance from Union’s 21 year old midfielder comes just 2 weeks after the departure of the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, Daniel Dazdag, who scored 72 goals for Union in 161 games.
At least for the time being, the Union will look to fill the void left by Gazdag’s exit with pieces they already have at their disposal, relying on the production of Tai Baribo to stay consistent and players like Bruno Damiani and Quinn Sullivan to build into their best form.
For Bradley Carnell, Quinn Sullivan is facing the calls to step up in Gazdag’s absence exactly the way he should be – by continuing to be himself.
“Really happy for Quinn, there’s been a lot of pressure building on him to try and perform in terms of stepping up to the standard, and he’s done that. I’ve told him the whole week – just be you, you continue to be you, and you’ll be just fine – so I’m glad he could capitalize today with a goal” – Bradley Carnell on Quinn Sullivan’s performance against Atlanta United
Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images
