Carnell: We Can Compete, But Lack Killer Instinct

Philadelphia Union coach Bradley Carnell suggested that his side showed they can compete against some of the best teams in Major League Soccer, but admitted they lacked the “killer mentality” needed to get over the line against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami.

The Union suffered a dramatic 6-4 defeat to Miami in an action-packed encounter that saw the two sides combine for eight first-half goals, setting a new MLS record for the most goals scored in the opening half of a league match.

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Milan Iloski starred for the Boys in Blue by netting a first-half hat-trick, including two penalties, while Bruno Damiani also got on the scoresheet with his first regular-season goal for the club.

Philadelphia repeatedly responded during a chaotic first half and managed to level matters at 4-4 just before the break when Iloski completed his hat-trick.

However, the visitors eventually pulled away in the second half, with Luis Suarez restoring Miami's lead in the 81st minute before Rodrigo De Paul added another in stoppage time to seal the victory heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup break.

Speaking after the clash, Carnell admitted that his side's mistakes in transition moments ultimately proved costly against a team filled with quality attackers.

“Yeah, one thing is easy, sitting on the sidelines and coming up with scenarios where you actually go up a goal against the team in a scenario in a phase of where we are right now, and then you have to believe and play with momentum, right?” Carnell said per the club's official website.

“So, could we have been a bit cleaner in the transition moments connecting the ball? You know, I thought we gave it away a few too many times, and that really does hurt you because, you know, if we don't get our rest defence up into place when we win the ball, and then all of a sudden you get three guys of world-class quality coming back at you out the other way. So, you know, that's some of the things that come at you real quick.”

Despite the defeat, the South African tactician praised the spirit shown by his players, who continued fighting throughout the encounter despite Miami's attacking firepower.

“So, yeah, you know, as I said, the guys never dropped their heads, and that's a positive, you know, to always come back and to stay in the game and then go up again, and it just becomes a crazy scenario.”

Carnell was then asked about the direction of the team and what he hopes to see moving forward amid a difficult campaign.

“I hope we can show what the philosophy can do. And I think we can compete against really good teams and frustrate good teams. But we need the killer edge and the killer mentality.”

The former St Louis City SC manager also believed his side had enough opportunities to score even more goals on the night.

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“Yeah, I mean, we could have scored the fourth and the fifth as well. You know, I think that's what was in our hands as well. And we don't.”

He continued by praising the effort and intensity shown by his side during the encounter.

“We had to make them dig real deep tonight. And that's what I said, credit to the guys for digging deep. And we should have four or five goals in that first half.”

Philadelphia Union currently sit bottom of the Eastern Conference table after managing just one win in 15 league matches this season.

However, Carnell and his side will hope the break for the 2026 FIFA World Cup allows them an opportunity to regroup before MLS action resumes.