Philadelphia Union is set to host FC Cincinnati for their final match of the 2024 Major League Soccer regular season on Saturday at Subaru Park, and it’s an all-important one. Don't miss the U Thank U contest presented by Independence Blue Cross with MLS Season on Apple TV.
In order to advance to the playoffs, Philadelphia Union needs more than just a win. They'll need three points and some help from D.C United of C.F. Montreal, who sit just above the team in the Eastern Conference standings. A win at Subaru park plus a loss for either of those two teams means Philadelphia Union would punch their ticket to the postseason for a seventh straight season.
While the team’s future is no longer in their hands alone, claiming all three points is still an essential part of the playoff equation, and that means defeating third-place FC Cincinnati. Last year, the team led by former Union assistant coach turned FC Cincinnati leader Pat Noonan beat Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in dramatic fashion when Yerson Mosquera scored a 90+4th minute goal that was nearly ruled offside.
Every meeting between the pair since has been fueled with similar intensity. In June, Cincinnati emerged victorious in a 4-3 barnburner at TQL Stadium that doubled as Tai Baribo’s breakout match in which he scored his first and second Major League Soccer goals. Then, in August, Philadelphia Union came out on top 4-2 during Leagues Cup courtesy of another Baribo brace plus goals from Mikael Uhre and Quinn Sullivan.
There’s no indication the rivalry will be any different come Saturday, as Philadelphia has everything to play for, and FC Cincinnati needs to get back on track after losing three straight matches. While the Ohio side is blocked in the the No. 3 seed for the posteason and have home field advantage in their Round One Best-of-3 series, they too are looking for all three points. A win against the Boys in Blue would secure the Ohio side a 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup spot via their place in the overall league table as teams above them have already claimed their own berths for North America's biggest tournament.
