CHESTER, Pa. – There were smiles throughout the Union locker room following Thursday’s 3-2 victory over rival D.C. United at PPL Park. But it wasn't what you'd call a celebration.
Not when there's plenty of work ahead to earn the club's first playoff berth. Not when the Eastern Conference crown is still up for grabs. And not when the Union must travel cross country to battle Chivas USA Sunday night (8:00 p.m. ET, The Comcast Network) at the Home Depot Center.
If the three points gained against D.C. United were huge, how big are these next three against Chivas USA?
“Every game is just as important now and we need as many points as possible,” said defender Sheanon Williams. “Home, away … every match is huge because there are only a handful left. We will regenerate and get back to work because there isn’t much time for the next match.”
At this juncture of the season, the players understand the ramifications of every match. That doesn’t mean the veteran players won’t remind them.
Just ask acting captain Danny Califf.
When asked if he will mention the significance of Sunday’s match to the team, the defender replied: “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.”
Get the point?
“It’s going to be really tough because we’re coming off a massive high here with this win,” Califf told philadelphiaunion.com. “Sometimes, it’s just hard to come down in that sense alone for the next match. We don’t have a lot of time to recover and we’re taking a six-and-half-hour flight across the country. The next thing you know, you’re up against a tough team and you fall behind because your legs aren’t there or whatever the reason may be.
“We have to be really diligent here and work as hard as we can and treat this one as the most important match of the season. I’m confident in this group that we will do that, and hopefully we’ll come back with three more big points.”
The Union will carry a five-match unbeaten streak into this match against Chivas USA.
Philadelphia (10-7-1, 43 points) remain one point behind Sporting Kansas City for first place in the Eastern Conference. A win at Chivas would put the Union on the verge of securing a spot in the postseason.
Chivas USA (8-12-11, 35 points) are in seventh place in the Western Conference. In their last two matches, Robin Fraser's side played to a 2-2 draw at DC before convincingly beating Toronto 3-0 on Saturday.
For the Union, forward Danny Mwanga (hip flexor strain) didn’t play against D.C. United but midfielder Freddy Adu (ankle) and Williams did play significant minutes. Heading into Sunday's match, Adu is not listed on the injury report, while Williams is listed as questionable (intercoastal strain) and Mwanga probable. Midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi is also questionable with right knee inflamation.
Whichever players make the trip will be tested physcially on short rest.
“We have two days to recover which is enough time,” said forward Veljko Paunovic. “These guys here are fit. We have a great chance to go to the playoffs. It shouldn’t matter who we play or where we play or how long in between matches. We have a job to do and we have to be ready to play.”
