Philadelphia Union vs. Montreal Impact | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Philadelphia Union vs. Montreal Impact
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 29
Talen Energy Stadium — Chester
Sept. 15 — 7:30 pm ET
WATCH: TVAS, ESPN+

It’s a huge six-pointer in the Eastern Conference playoff race when the Philadelphia Union host the Montreal Impact Saturday night at Talen Energy Stadium.

Fifth place in the East, the Union have four wins in a five-match unbeaten run following a 2-2 draw at Orlando on Sept. 1, while the sixth-place Impact have only lost one of their last five games and come in off a 3-0 home win over the New York Red Bulls on Sept. 1.

This is the second meeting this season with the Union claiming a 2-0 win at Stade Saputo on May 12. Cory Burke scored two minutes before halftime and Haris Medunjanin added a late insurance goal against the 10-man Impact, who saw Daniel Lovitz sent off in the 67th minute for DOGSO following Video Review.

Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia (12-11-4) were moments from a fifth straight victory, but were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw at Orlando on Sept. 1.

After Dom Dwyer put the hosts in front, Burke leveled in the 32nd minute and Fafa Picault put the Union in front two minutes from full time before Scott Sutter scored the stoppage-time equalizer.

“We control our own destiny, which is a good thing,” Jim Curtin said. “But we obviously have a little bit of a break now. A perfect time to recharge some of the batteries, get some guys some treatment for injuries, take a look at some young players this week, some academy kids that are in and impressing, so overall a good time to refresh, recharge, and go into now what will be a big September for the club.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D – Matt Real (left knee sprain), M – Ilsinho (quad strain); QUESTIONABLE: M – Anthony Fontana (right hamstring strain), M – Borek Dockal (ankle sprain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Andre Blake — Keegan Rosenberry, Jack Elliott, Auston Trusty, Raymon Gaddis — Haris Medunjanin, Derrick Jones — CJ Sapong, Alejandro Bedoya, Fafa Picault – Cory Burke

Montreal Impact

Montreal (11-14-3) made it two wins in three games with a decisive 3-0 victory over the Supporters’ Shield-leading New York Red Bulls at Stade Saputo on Sept. 1.

Rod Fanni opened the scoring with his first MLS goal on the half-hour mark, followed eight minutes later by Bacary Sagna’s first league tally. Ignacio Piatti closed out the scoring in second-half stoppage time.

“The remaining six games will look like this one, that is, with a need to get a good result,” head coach Remi Garde said. “We must put the same ingredients and the same parameters that allowed us to beat one of the best teams on the circuit, who came to Montreal with great confidence.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: M – David Choiniere (ankle surgery), D – Kyle Fisher (quad injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Evan Bush — Bacary Sagna, Rod Fanni, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz — Micheal Azira, Samuel Piette, Saphir Taider — Alejandro Silva, Quincy Amarikwa, Ignacio Piatti

All-Time Series

• Overall: Philadelphia Union 4 wins, 21 goals … Montreal Impact 7 wins, 30 goals … 6 draws
• At Philadelphia: Union 2 wins, 11 goals … Impact 1 win, 12 goals … 5 draws
• Last meeting at Philadelphia: Philadelphia Union 0, Montreal Impact 3 (Aug. 12, 2017)

Officials

Referee: Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referees: Adam Wienckowski, Kevin Klinger
4th Official: JC Rivero
VAR: Ricardo Salazar