Philadelphia Union will return to Subaru Park for an important Sunday evening showdown against D.C. United. Don't miss the action on FS1 and free on MLS Season Pass starting at 6PM ET.
Head Coach Jim Curtin’s squad has mustered some much-needed momentum after three strong showings in Major League Soccer play, and while they only came away with a win in two of those matches, their most recent outing against New York City FC finished 5-1 in their favor, injecting new excitement and energy to a group battling for a playoff spot.
The Wednesday night win bumped them to ninth in the Eastern Conference standings, just above the playoff line with 33 points. With five games remaining on the schedule, every point is essential, D.C. United, will make the trip to Chester with the exact same total. Troy Lesesne’s team sits just below the Union in 10th place having gone unbeaten in their past three matchups. They picked up two wins against Toronto and Chicago before securing a draw against NYCFC last weekend, so Sunday’s head to head is shaping up to be a points battle between two teams in similar form.
As has been the case all season, D.C.’s superstar Christian Benteke will be a player to watch for the visiting side as the 33-year-old Congan Designated Player has been their undisputed mvp with 19 goals and six assists so far this season, most recently scoring in back to back matches. While no other player has hit the back of the net nearly as many times as Benteke, Mateusz Klich and Jared Stroud have been game changing facilitators with 10 assists apiece.
Sunday’s match will be a competitive one, but the Union could welcome back reinforcements as Andre Blake and Danley Jean Jacques are anticipated to return to play. The team’s three-time Goalkeeper of the Year has been unavailable to play since returning from international duty with injury discomfort, but after sitting out two games, he could be ready to reclaim his starting role from 18-year-old Homegrown keeper Andrew Rick who filled in as backup.
Danley Jean Jacques picked up an ankle injury while away with Haiti during the international window, and even though he played against Inter Miami on Saturday, he focused on recovery this week, missing the NYCFC win. Having taken the time to return to full strength, Danley will likely return to the matchday roster on Sunday.
