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[monks data]
Inter Miami
Major League Soccer
Sep 15, 2024 at 12.30am UK
Inter Miami CF Stadium
Philadelphia Union

Inter Miami
3 - 1
Philadelphia

Messi (26', 30'), Suarez (90+8')
Aviles (32'), Martino (33'), Suarez (75'), Messi (87'), Busquets (90+5')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Uhre (2')
Elliott (56'), Sullivan (72')

Preview: Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

The Philadelphia Union can climb above the Eastern Conference playoff line Saturday with a win over Inter Miami and some help when the two sides clash at Chase Stadium.

Miami are seven points clear of the Los Angeles Galaxy for the best record in Major League Soccer (MLS) following a 4-2 win over the Chicago Fire, while Philly are two points below the post-season line despite beating the New York Red Bulls 2-0 in their previous encounter.


Match preview

Lionel Messi as he receives his 8th Ballon d Or award during the 2023 Ballon d Or France Football award© Imago

What was shaping up to be a close race between a few teams for the Supporters' Shield crown has turned into a runaway, with Inter Miami pulling away from the pack.

Tata Martino's men have reeled off four successive victories in this competition, putting them eight points clear of FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference standings.

With seven victories from their final seven league fixtures, the Herons will set a new league record for wins in a single regular-season campaign, surpassing the mark of 24 set by the Galaxy and DC United in 1998.

Five more wins, meanwhile, would set a new MLS regular-season record for points, with the 2021 New England Revolution currently holding the all-time best mark at 73.

On Saturday, Miami can equal their longest winning run of the 2024 domestic campaign (five), while a victory would also give them 10 at home this year, matching their single-season club record set in 2022.

Throughout the 2024 domestic campaign, the Herons have rarely relinquished a lead, dropping points in only one league fixture all year when scoring first (1-1 draw versus New York City FC).

Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake on July 37, 2024© Imago

One of the rare sights we are not used to seeing is playing out in Philadelphia, with the Union fighting for a playoff spot so late in the season.

This team have finished in a top-four position out East in each of the previous five MLS campaigns, but with seven matches remaining, they are in danger of missing the post-season for the first time since 2017.

Jim Curtin's men have conceded 43 goals after 27 domestic matchdays, the most for them in a single season since 2019 (50).

They have lost four of their last five away matches in this competition, but with a win this weekend, they will equal their total in that department from 2023 (five).

Philly have lost three of their previous four meetings with Miami across all competitions, beating them only once at Chase Stadium during the 2022 season (2-1).

Inter Miami Major League Soccer form:


Inter Miami form (all competitions):


Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer form:


Philadelphia Union form (all competitions):



Team News

 Leo Afonso and Leonardo Campana of Inter Miami on August 3, 2024© Imago

There is a chance that Lionel Messi returns to the Miami fold from his ankle injury this weekend, though we believe he may not play a full game as he has only recently returned to training, while Lawson Sunderland has a sore hamstring and Leo Afonso is dealing with a groin strain.

Nicolas Freire remains a question mark with an ACL injury, Facundo Farias is out after tearing his ACL and Tomas Aviles is eligible to return from his yellow card suspension.

Tobias Salquist put the Herons in front with an own-goal in late August before Luis Suarez notched a brace, putting him up to 16 this year, two fewer than Christian Benteke in the MLS Golden Boot race, with Robert Taylor capping off the scoring with his fifth of the regular season.

On the Philly side, Nathan Harriel was available on the bench but did not feature in their last match, having previously incurred a knock, while Isaiah LeFlore sat out with a right knee injury.

Andre Blake, Daniel Gazdag, Jesus Bueno and Danley Jean Jacques should all be available after each being called up for international duty last week.

Tai Baribo netted his seventh of the league season in their previous encounter, drawing even with Mikael Uhre for second on the team, with the latter scoring the winner after just four minutes.

Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender; Fray, Busquets, Martinez; Weigandt, Redondo, Ruiz, Alba; Taylor, Suarez, Gomez

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner; Flach; Sullivan, McGlynn; Gazdag; Baribo, Uhre


SM words green background

We say: Inter Miami 2-1 Philadelphia Union

It does not seem to matter who is in the lineup for Miami, they always find a way to get the job done, and we do not foresee that changing against a Philly side that have been uncharacteristically inconsistent this season.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Inter Miami vs Philadelphia

Inter Miami
95.7%
Draw
2.2%
Philadelphia Union
2.2%
46
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 Leo Afonso and Leonardo Campana of Inter Miami on August 3, 2024
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami33218473472671
2Columbus Crew32179665382760
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati33175115647956
4Orlando City331571158481052
5New York City FCNY City33148115447750
6Charlotte FCCharlotte FC33139114337648
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls33111485347647
8DC United331010135267-1540
9CF MontrealMontreal331010134664-1840
10Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia33910146153837
11Atlanta UnitedAtlanta33910144448-437
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3389163554-1933
14New England RevolutionNew England3294193564-2931
15Chicago Fire3379174059-1930

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy33197768482064
2Los Angeles FCLos Angeles32177858411758
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake331511763471656
4Seattle SoundersSeattle33168950341656
5Houston DynamoHouston33149104538751
6Colorado RapidsColorado33155135957250
7Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd33147125448649
8Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver32138115045547
9Portland TimbersPortland331210116455946
10Austin FCAustin33109143646-1039
11Dallas33108155255-338
12St Louis City33813124959-1037
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3387185064-1431
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3363244075-3521


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