Preview: Philadelphia Union vs Toronto - prediction, team news, lineups

Seeking a fifth successive MLS triumph at Subaru Park, the Philadelphia Union will host Toronto on a late Saturday afternoon affair in Chester.

The Union are a point above FC Cincinnati in the Supporters’ Shield standings following a 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids, while the Reds are 12th in the Eastern Conference, suffering a 2-0 loss to Charlotte FC in their previous league contest.

Match preview

While last month did not begin well for Philadelphia, they showed plenty of character the rest of the way, earning points in their final four league contests in July after losing 1-0 at Nashville SC.

Their victory against the Rapids marked the fourth time in the past five league campaigns that this team had reached the 50-point plateau as they inch closer to a post-season berth after missing the playoffs in 2024.

With nine matches remaining, the Union are just four wins away from equalling a single-season club record in that category set in 2022, while six wins between now and the end of the regular season would set a new team record for points.

Bradley Carnell’s men have points in 11 consecutive domestic encounters at Subaru Park, while their nine wins are the joint-most at home in MLS this year alongside Nashville SC.

Only once in the competition this year have we seen the Union concede a goal in the opening half at Subaru Park, erasing a 2-0 deficit in May to defeat the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2.

Philly are unbeaten in five successive home fixtures against Toronto, winning on four of those occasions and scoring three or more goals in each of those triumphs.

The positive results have been few and far between once again for the Reds this season, as they find themselves 14 points below this playoff line with 10 matches remaining.

Robin Fraser’s side are on a two-game losing run domestically, winning just one of their previous five games in this competition (1-0 at San Diego FC).

Although they have netted a goal or fewer in their last four MLS away encounters, three of their five road wins in the league this season occurred as the visiting team.

So far in 2025, the Reds boast a 100% away record in this competition when leading after 45 minutes, though that has only happened on three occasions.

Toronto’s chances of making the playoffs for the first time since 2020 are very long in part because of their inability to finish off matches, dropping 10 points on the year when scoring the opening goal.

TFC have not beaten the Union at Subaru Park since the 2019 season, earning a 3-1 triumph against them on matchday one of that campaign.

Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer form:

Philadelphia Union form (all competitions):

Toronto Major League Soccer form:

Team News

A calf strain kept Ben Bender out of the Philly lineup against the Rapids, while Ian Glavinovich was sidelined once again with a knee injury.

Tai Baribo scored their equaliser in the second half, before Mikael Uhre netted a brace in the latter stages of that contest to give them maximum points.

On the Toronto side, Henry Wingo, Zane Monlouis, and Nicksoen Gomis were all sidelined versus Charlotte due to lower body issues, Raoul Petretta sat out with a head injury and Ola Brynhildsen did not feature because of an ankle strain.

Fraser made one change to his starting 11 for that clash with Jonathan Osorio coming into the fold and Kosi Thompson relegated to the substitutes’ bench, while Tyrese Spicer was traded to Orlando City last week in exchange for General Allocation Money (GAM) and they acquired Djordje Mihailovic from the Colrado Rapids in a cash-for-player trade.

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:

Blake; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Makhanya, Wagner; Q. Sullivan, Jacques, Lukic, Bedoya; Uhre, Baribo

Toronto possible starting lineup:

Johnson; Franklin, Stefanovic, Rosted, Laryea; Osorio, Coello; Corbeanu, Dominguez, Longstaff; Kerr

We say: Philadelphia Union 1-0 Toronto

The Union always seem to find an extra gear in critical junctures, and that could make the difference on Saturday as they face a side that have rarely shown any consistency all year.

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