After incomes much-needed victories, the Philadelphia Union and visiting D.C. United enter Saturday’s MLS matchup every intent on beginning a run of success.
Philadelphia (5-3-1, 16 factors) broke out final Saturday with a 3-0 residence victory over Atlanta United. The win got here after the Union had scored only one aim throughout a three-match winless streak (0-2-1).
D.C. United (2-4-3, 9 factors) was determined for a victory after shedding 4 straight and responded with a 2-1 win on the highway in opposition to the New York Purple Bulls.
“It is a model of us,” Union coach Bradley Carnell mentioned of D.C. “They’ve sort of weathered a storm and so they’ve trended rather well their final two video games.”
Earlier than profitable on Saturday, D.C. had struggled in its 4 losses, getting outscored 13-3. An indication of residence got here in a 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati on April 12. Within the twenty ninth minute in opposition to the Purple Bulls final week, prime scorer Christian Benteke departed with a leg harm.
Over the following quarter-hour, nonetheless, Joao Peglow scored two spectacular objectives, together with one with a sidewinding supply. The objectives have been the primary two for the 23-year-old Brazilian after signing with D.C. 4 months in the past.
“He is getting settled in, assimilating to a brand new nation and a brand new membership with a brand new model of play,” D.C. coach Troy Lesesne mentioned. “He is made a distinction for us, even when he is not scoring objectives.”
Lesesne mentioned there was “a chance,” that Benteke might play Saturday. He leads D.C. with 5 objectives, after scoring an MLS-high 23 final yr.
D.C., which has surrendered extra objectives than any group within the Jap Convention with 19, has a tricky job in opposition to Philadelphia, which it has not crushed within the final seven conferences.
Moreover, whereas the Union are in search of their seventh playoff berth within the final eight years, D.C. United are attempting to succeed in the postseason for the primary time since 2019.
Philadelphia might be with out Jovan Lukic (two objectives), who sustained two yellow playing cards within the Atlanta win.
The Union will look to prime threats Tai Baribo (seven objectives) and Quinn Sullivan (one aim, 5 assists).
Each scored in opposition to Atlanta when Philadelphia possessed the ball for simply 41.2 % of the match and performed a person down after Lukic departed within the 56th minute.
– Discipline Stage Media