Philadelphia Union vs. Toronto FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Philadelphia Union vs. Toronto FC
2018 MLS Regular Season - Week 15
Talen Energy Stadium — Chester
June 8 - 8 pm ET
WATCH: TSN 1/3/4/5, ESPN+

The Philadelphia Union have lost just one of their first seven games at Talen Energy Stadium.  they’ll look to keep that form going against a Toronto FC side that joins the Colorado Rapids as the only MLS teams without a road win this season.

Toronto, though, are unbeaten in their last eight matches against the Union (6W-2D), outscoring them 18-6 and keeping three clean sheets, per Opta.

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Philadelphia Union

The Union (5-6-3) saw their season-high four-match unbeaten streak snapped Saturday night when their nine-man squad fell to Atlanta United, 3-1, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The match got off to a bizarre start for the visitors, with Haris Medunjanin and Alejandro Bedoya both sent off for second bookable offenses in the 19th minute. Josef Martinezconverted his first of two penalty kicks en route to his fifth MLS hat trick, and Fafa Picaultscored the lone goal for the Union.

Philadelphia rebounded well in the US Open Cup fourth round, blasting the Richmond Kickers, 5-0, on Tuesday night.

“It has been a wild week,” Union coach Jim Curtin said. “I think we have a team that is playing really well. I won’t let Atlanta and the negatives that happened in that game effect the group and I think it is a credit to them how even the heart they showed in that game is something extraordinary. That one is in the past now.”

• Suspended: M - Alejandro Bedoya, M - Haris Medunjanin
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Richie Marquez (sports hernia surgery), D - Joshua Yaro (concussion)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Andre Blake — Keegan Rosenberry, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Raymon Gaddis — Warren Creavalle, Derrick Jones — Marcus Epps, Borek Dockal, Fafa Picault — C.J. Sapong

• Notes: Since May 1, Andre Blake has a league-best 34 saves in seven games (79.1% save percentage). He made 21 saves in the first seven games of the season (67.7% save percentage). … Philadelphia has lost just one of their last 11 MLS home matches, scoring 26 goals and allowing 11 in that time. They are looking for their third four-game home winning streak in the last two seasons.

Toronto FC

It looked like a massive win against an Eastern Conference opponent was in the making for Toronto FC (3-7-2) when Victor Vazquez (PK) and Tosaint Ricketts gave the visitors a two-goal halftime cushion and Sebastian Giovinco made it 3-0 in the 57th minute.

But Federico Higuain scored the dramatic 90th-minute equalizer to cap a remarkable comeback for Columbus Crew SC in a 3-3 draw that certainly felt like a loss for the reeling Reds.

“Against Eastern Conference opponents, you've got to take something from each one,” TFC coach Greg Vanney said. “Disappointing to leave two points in Columbus, no doubt. Going there we knew it was going to be a challenge.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT:  F - Jozy Altidore (foot surgery), D - Drew Moor (quadricep strain), M - Ager Aketxe (hip flexor), D - Chris Mavinga (hamstring strain); DOUBTFUL: D - Ashtone Morgan (hamstring strain); QUESTIONABLE: D - Justin Morrow (calf strain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Alex Bono — Auro, Jason Hernandez, Michael Bradley, Gregory van der Wiel — Jay Chapman, Liam Fraser, Jonathan Osorio, Ryan Telfer - Sebastian Giovinco, Victor Vazquez

• Notes: Ricketts’ goal last weekend was his sixth as a substitute since joining Toronto, tied for the most by any player since the start of the 2016 season. … The Reds have conceded 14 goals in their five awauy games. They allowed 22 goals in 17 regular season away matches in 2017.

All-Time Series

• Overall: Philadelphia Union 6 wins, 26 goals … Toronto FC 8 wins, 28 goals … 6 draws
• At Philadelphia; Union 4 wins, 12 goals … Toronto FC 2 wins, 9 goals … 3 draws
• Last meeting at Philadelphia: Philadelphia Union 2, Toronto FC 2 (March 11, 2017)

Officials

Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Eduardo Mariscal, Brian Dunn
4th Official: Marcos Deoliveira
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez