Red Card Changes Everything: How the Momentum Shifted Early
One moment can flip a match on its head, and in the 2020 MLS encounter between Montreal Impact and Philadelphia Union, that moment arrived fast. Just fifteen minutes in, Montreal’s Romell Quioto was sent off for elbowing Union defender Mark McKenzie. With Thierry Henry watching in disbelief, his carefully laid plans for Montreal’s 4-2-3-1 formation—anchored by Saphir Taider and Victor Wanyama and put in motion by creative playmaker Bojan Krkić—were instantly in trouble.
Before that flashpoint, Montreal’s approach was all about shape and discipline. Wide midfielders Harry Novillo and Orji Okwonkwo dropped deep to support the backline every time Philadelphia pushed forward. The system kept things tight and threatened to frustrate the Union’s attacking efforts.
But as soon as the numbers dropped to ten for Montreal, Jim Curtin’s Philadelphia side smelled blood. The Union, who bounced between a 4-3-1-2 and a 4-1-2-1-2, had the perfect setup to stretch a now-shorthanded Impact. Young Brenden Aaronson thrived in an advanced midfield spot, linking play between center and the forwards. Kacper Przybylko and Alejandro Bedoya—both with sharp attacking instincts—were poised to pounce.
Union Midfield Starts the Takeover
The real difference in this match? Midfield muscle and flexibility. With Quioto gone, Montreal’s deep-lying midfielders couldn’t patrol all the gaps. The Union midfield trio—Aaronson, the tireless Jamiro Monteiro, and Bedoya—stepped up to dominate possession. They kept moving between the lines, pulling Montreal’s defenders out of position, and attacking the half-spaces that began to pop up all over the pitch. Each possession built more pressure than the last.
The first goal was almost inevitable after the red card. A defensive lapse from a stretched Montreal setup let Bedoya sprint into the box and finish coolly in the 22nd minute. Montreal had started strong, but the setback forced them to abandon their initial compactness. The Union, energized and bold, pressed higher and moved the ball faster. Przybylko slotted one past the keeper right at the stroke of halftime, then again just after the break, making clear that Montreal’s backline couldn’t keep up with Philadelphia’s numbers and movement.
Even as Montreal tried to stay compact, the Union’s tactical analysis became obvious: make them run, open up the flanks, and strike through the heart when the chance appeared. Aaronson orchestrated most attacks from midfield, showing why he’s considered one of the brightest American prospects of his generation.
Anthony Fontana completed the rout in the 65th minute with a finish set up by more enterprising Union play in transition. There was little left for Montreal at that point—exposure in the half-spaces and gaps between defenders was just too much to handle with ten men. For Henry, it was a tough lesson in the importance of disciplined play and the dangers of an early send-off.
With this win, Philadelphia Union showed how fluid formations, high pressing, and quick transitions can tear apart even a well-organized defensive setup—especially when fortune tips the numbers in your favor so soon.