Bradley Carnell remains optimistic that the Philadelphia Union will improve in front of goal as they prepare to travel to Atlanta United in MLS on Saturday.

Defending Supporters' Shield winners Philadelphia have lost all three of their league games so far in 2026, scoring just one goal in the process as they sit 12th in the Eastern Conference.

Their struggle for goals did not initially show, with a 12-0 aggregate thrashing of Defence Force in the Concacaf Champions Cup first round, but they have since lost two in all competitions without scoring.

Philadelphia had 12 shots in their 1-0 loss to Club America last time out in the Champions Cup, but only one of those tested the goalkeeper. Carnell believes goals will come if they keep up the good work in the final third.

"I'm frustrated for the guys because they're working so hard to get these [scoring] moments, and you can see it's starting to click and starting to work," he said.

"We're getting some sort of penetration through the sides and getting some dangerous crosses in, and everything but the goal.

"I'm really proud of them, and it shows we're getting close. That gives me motivation and inspiration."

Atlanta, meanwhile, are 14th in the East, also without a point to their name after three straight losses.

Having failed to score in their first two matches, they came close to earning a comeback draw against Real Salt Lake last time out, only to lose 3-2.

It has been far from the return Gerardo Martino will have envisioned when returning to Atlanta, and he is not pleased with questions over his team's current form.

"When you lose games, people are always asking for a lot of changes," Martino said.

"As a coach, we try to protect the players."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atlanta United – Elias Baez

In his first-ever home match for Atlanta, Elias Baez won 13 duels, six tackles and provided an assist.

Baez is the first player in club history to accomplish all three of those things in a match for Atlanta, and the first to do so in a single regular-season MLS match since Kyle Duncan for the New York Red Bulls in June 2019.

Philadelphia Union – Indiana Vassilev

Philadelphia's only goal this season was an Indiana Vassilev penalty in a 2-1 defeat to New York City FC in February.

Dating back to the last match of the 2025 regular season, the Union have gone four straight league matches without scoring a non-penalty goal for the first time in club history.

MATCH PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN

Atlanta have lost only one of their nine home MLS meetings with Philadelphia (W4 D4, including playoffs), with that lone defeat coming in the Union's last visit to Mercedes-Benz Stadium last May.

Plus, the Five Stripes have trailed for only 54 of the 810 minutes played between the sides in Atlanta.

Philadelphia are the second reigning Supporters' Shield winner to lose each of their first three games of the season after D.C. United in 2007.

D.C. came back to win the Supporters' Shield that year, losing just four more times the rest of the season (W16 D7).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atlanta United – 28.7%

Draw – 24.5%

Philadelphia Union – 46.8%