Following an uncharacteristic loss on the road to Montreal, Philadelphia Union will look to bounce back at home this weekend against Real Salt Lake Sunday, July 31 at 7 p.m. It will be the first match between these two teams since March 14, 2015 when they tied 3-3 in Salt Lake.
What You Need to Know
The Union have played Real Salt Lake at least once every year since the 2010 inaugural season, yet Philadelphia is still chasing its first win over the Western Conference club. RSL holds a daunting (0-2-6) all-time series lead over Philadelphia, but the Union will have a great chance to finally steal three points from them in front of home crowd this weekend.
Where They Stand
Even though Real Salt Lake hasn’t won in more than a month, a string of draws over their last five games has kept the club in contention with a fifth-place standing in the Western Conference. But RSL’s fifth-place standing can be rather misleading, considering RSL heads into Talen Energy Stadium Sunday with one more point than the Eastern Conference’s third-place Union.
What makes Salt Lake such a challenge to most opponents is their balance across the board. Six different players have scored a game-winning goal for the team this year, making them a are a tough squad to prepare for defensively.
RSL (8-6-7, 31 points) doesn’t boast any outrageously high numbers when it comes to scoring or assists as a team, but no matter who or what the challenge may be, leaving the field with points is something Salt Lake does best. RSL owns the fifth-highest points per game average in the league, securing 1.48 PPG on the season.
Players to Watch
Yura Movsisyan, forward: (20 GP, 19 GS, 7g, 1a) Movsisyan leads Real Salt Lake in scoring this season with seven goals complemented by one assist. RSL’s main offensive threat is also perfect on penalty kicks so far this year, converting both of his two attempts into goals. However, the 28-year-old forward from Azerbaijan left last Friday’s game in the 44th minute with a hip flexor and his status for Sunday is unknown. Olmes Garcia would likely start in his place.
Kyle Beckerman, midfielder: (14 GP, 14 GS, 0g, 1a) Having appeared in 390 MLS games over his career, Beckerman has more experience on the field than any other midfielder in league history. The 31-year-old has seen it all over his career, and getting one past the veteran defensive mid is no easy task, even for the best attackers in the league.
Joao Plata, forward: (17 GP, 16 GS, 5g, 7a) Only two goals shy of tying his team’s leading scorer, Joao Plata is a dual threat when it comes to scoring and assisting the next man. His five scores on the year are enough to keep an opposing defense honest, but his team-high seven assists are what make him a true danger from outside the box.
Possible Lineup
Formation:
4-3-3
Goalkeeper:
Nick Rimando
Defenders:
(left to right) Demar Phillips, Aaron Maund, Justen Glad, Tony Beltran
Midfielders:
(left to right) Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman, Luke Mulholland
Forwards:
Joao Plata, Olmes Garcia, Juan Manuel Martinez
Last Five MLS Results
Record: (0-1-4)
Goal Differential: -2
T 1-1 vs. SJ
T 0-0 vs. NE
L 0-2 vs. VAN
T 1-1 vs. MTL
T 1-1 vs. DC
