Union return home for showdown against Colorado Rapids

The Major League Soccer season is an endurance race, but in the final ten matches, it becomes a sprint to secure what you feel you’ve earned during the first two thirds of the year. For Philadelphia Union, that means putting more distance between themselves and the rest of the Eastern Conference. One slip up and Montreal, only five points back with a game in hand, will be nipping at the Union’s heels. 

For Colorado Rapids, the home stretch is a difficult climb into playoff position. Last season’s Western Conference winners sit just outside the postseason picture, just two points behind LA Galaxy. However, any misstep will surely make the road to the playoffs far more difficult. Four teams are within two points of the Galaxy, and Greg Vanney’s side has at least a game in hand on all of them. For the Rapids to return to the MLS season’s only after party, they will need to grab at least a point against the Union and use that momentum to zip through a stretch of winnable games before a faceoff with the Galaxy and a brutal two-match finish against Dallas and Austin. 

Earning points in Philly has been tough for any team in 2022, but the Rapids will hope their strong wing play and the finishing of striker Gyasi Zardes can poke holes in the Union defense. Zardes was a thorn in Philly’s side when he led the Columbus line, and he has continued to be a generative goalscorer in Colorado. On the wings, Jonathan Lewis is dynamic but streaky, and Michael Barrios is, well, dynamic but streaky. If both are locked in on the same night, the Rapids become extremely dangerous. 

In back, Colorado lost former Union homegrown Auston Trusty to Arsenal (though he’s now on loan at Birmingham City). Replacing the athletic defender has been difficult, and after earning shutouts in their first six wins of the season, the Rapids have had to rely on their firepower to secure the last two with 5-4 and 4-3 scorelines over Red Bull and Minnesota United. The Union have been part of some high-scoring affairs this season, but have yet to exchange blows at that level. Keeping clean sheets is a key part of their success and they won’t want to trade big swings with an opponent at home. 

A red card to Bryan Acosta will weaken the center of Colorado’s midfield, so expect the visitors to try and force the Union to break them down then counter with 4-5 men at most. Additionally, expect a lot of work on attacking set plays from the Rapids, who lean on Lalas Aboubacar to make the most of those moments.

The Union welcome Colorado Rapids to a packed Subaru Park on Saturday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET live on PHL17 and PhiladelphiaUnion.com.