In a rematch of the past two Eastern Conference Finals, New York City FC can end a five-match winless run in all competitions when they welcome the Philadelphia Union to Citi Field on Saturday.
The Pigeons have fallen out of the playoff picture following a 1-1 draw versus Orlando City, while Philly have points in six straight MLS encounters, beating the New England Revolution 3-0 last weekend.
Match preview
© Reuters
One team in desperate need of home cooking would be NYCFC, who only managed one point in a recent four-game league road trip, while they were also knocked out of the US Open Cup.
They have conceded the opening goal eight times in the regular season, including in every game on their recent road swing, and they have not won all year in that scenario.
On the opposite side, though, New York have not allowed a goal in the opening 45 minutes at home all season and have only conceded in the first-half at Citi Field on two occasions, the last time being an own-goal from Thiago Martins versus FC Cincinnati last September (1-1).
There are plenty of talented individuals up and down this roster, but with so many new faces, many who were not with this team at the start of the campaign, it is perhaps no surprise to see them looking so incohesive in game situations.
The good news for Nick Cushing is that four of their next five league fixtures will take place in the Big Apple, where they are unbeaten this season, while they have never lost a regular-season match played at Citi Field.
Perhaps a change of venue will reverse their fortunes because the Boys in Blue have not had much success at home against the Union lately, claiming just one point in their last three games against them at Yankee Stadium, failing to score on two occasions, while they have never hosted them in Queens.
© Reuters
In the City of Brotherly Love, it appears as though order has been restored with Jim Curtin's men claiming 13 out of a possible 15 points in league play over their previous five fixtures.
Along the backline, this group look like the stingy defensive unit we remember from years past, posting a clean sheet in two of their last three domestic affairs.
Without the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) or US Open Cup to worry about anymore, this team can put its focus squarely on a trophy they always seem to be in the running for but have yet to clutch, the MLS Cup.
Coming into this contest, Philly have points in three straight away matches in this competition, conceding just once over their previous two road fixtures.
Rarely does this team have the bulk of the possession over 90 minutes, nor do they need it, having executed any formation Curtin gives them so effectively that they can manoeuvre all over the pitch and hit a direct ball to its physical strikers, who can make you pay.
They are splendid at winning second balls and have tightened up those gaps we saw in between the midfield and backline, which left them vulnerable in the early portion of the campaign, winning just two of their opening eight league fixtures.
- W
- L
- L
- L
- L
- D
- L
- W
- L
- W
- D
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Cushing made one change to his NYCFC starting 11 versus Orlando City, inserting Matias Pellegrini in place of Talles Magno, while Mitja Ilenic played for the first time since their defeat at Charlotte FC (3-2), coming on as a second-half substitute for Tayvon Gray just beyond the hour mark.
Pellegrini and Alfredo Morales have been ruled out for this upcoming fixtures having both sustained lower body injuries.
Gabriel Segal celebrated his 22nd birthday last weekend by firing home his first goal for the Boys in Blue, helping them earn a point against the Lions, the first goal this team had scored since losing to the Crown when Gabriel Pereira and Santiago Rodriguez each found the back of the net before an own-goal from Richy Ledezma left them without a point on that occasion.
In their previous match played in Queens, Rodriguez notched a brace, while Magno added one and Luis Barraza made seven stops as the home team triumphed 3-1 over Dallas.
With a short week of preparation heading into their previous fixture, Curtin added a few fresh faces to his Union starting 11 against the Revs as Damion Lowe, Jose Martinez, Olivier Mbaizo and Mikael Uhre drew into the lineup in place of Matthew Real, Nathan Harriel, Alejandro Bedoya and Joaquin Torres.
Daniel Gazdag scored twice last weekend, tying Conor Casey for the second-most multi-goal games in club history (five), just one shy of equalling the record set by Sebastien Le Toux, Julian Carranza scored his fifth of the season and Andre Blake collected clean sheet number four of the season.
Uhre picked up his first assist of the year, Chris Donovan registered his first-ever MLS assist and Jakob Glesnes became the 14th player in club history to register 100 regular-season caps.
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Barraza; Ilenic, Martins, Chanot, O'Toole; Parks, Sands; Pereira, Rodriguez, Magno; Ledezma
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Harriel, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner; Bedoya, Martinez, McGlynn; Gazdag, Uhre; Carranza
We say: New York City FC 1-2 Philadelphia Union
The Union appear to be hitting their stride, while New York are trying to get their groove back, and although the home side have more individual quality to boast, continuity can often be a determining factor, something the Union have in abundance.
How to watch
You can watch New York City FC vs. Philadelphia Union and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
