For the second time in the 2023 Major League Soccer campaign, the Philadelphia Union and CF Montreal will square off on Saturday, this time from Subaru Park.
On Wednesday, the Union extended their unbeaten run domestically to eight matches thanks to an own goal as they beat Charlotte FC 1-0, while Le CFM have points in back-to-back encounters, erasing a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw at DC United.
Match preview
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It looks as though the Union have started to settle down after a difficult start to the campaign, up to third in the Eastern Conference right now following their midweek triumph.
Since exiting the CONCACAF Champions League, Philly have looked virtually unbeatable, claiming 16 out of a possible 18 points, and now after exiting the US Open Cup at the beginning of May, they have one clear objective, to finally get their hands on the MLS Cup.
Over the past few weeks, Jim Curtin has tweaked his formation from its typical diamond to one which offers more defensive stability in a 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2 set-up.
The players have responded well to the adjustments, particularly at home, where they have held their last three MLS opponents off the scoresheet and conceded a combined five shots on target in those three matches.
Their current unbeaten run in this competition is one shy of their longest from 2022, while they have only suffered one defeat in their last 27 matches played at Subaru Park in the regular season and playoffs.
Philly have won all five of their MLS matches this year in which they have scored first, but they have also done well when trailing, claiming three victories when conceding the opener.
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On Wednesday, Montreal did something we have rarely seen over this campaign, claiming a point on the road for only the second time all season and the first time they had done so when trailing.
Not only have they had their struggles on the road, but this team, in the early portion of the season, completely fell apart when going behind, suffering seven road defeats in 2023, without a goal in six of those contests.
They come into this encounter without a victory at Subaru Park since September 2018, though they have shown plenty of resilience in their recent visits to Chester, claiming a 1-1 draw last year after conceding the opener just beyond the 20th minute.
More encouraging news for Hernan Losada has to be the fact that his players finally earned a point against a team currently above the playoff line, only the second time that has happened all season, the first time being in a narrow 3-2 victory at home to the Union in March.
Outside of Stade Saputo, Le CFM have been poor in front of goal, and they have not been the stingiest defensively on the road either, conceding multiple goals in seven encounters.
Montreal are currently a point behind Orlando City for that final playoff spot but with plenty of opportunities to climb up the table, as four of their next five matches after Saturday take place at Stade Saputo where five of their six domestic triumphs have occurred.
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Team News
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Alejandro Bedoya missed the previous encounter for the Union due to a quad injury, and he will be questionable this weekend, while Curtin went with the same starting 11 on Wednesday as he had in their victory over New York City FC (3-1).
An own goal from Kristijan Kahlina was all Philly would need to get past Charlotte, as Andre Blake collected his third successive clean sheet at home, while Daniel Gazdag failed to score for the first time in three matches after netting three times in their two previous fixtures.
Gazdag set up Mikael Uhre twice in their 3-2 defeat at Olympic Stadium in Montreal earlier this year, while Julian Carranza had the only goal in their 1-1 draw at home to them last season.
Montreal were without Romell Quioto on Wednesday because of a hamstring strain, Mason Toye is recovering from a left knee problem and Samuel Piette remains sidelined with an adductor injury.
Sunusi Ibrahim notched his first of 2023 for Le CFM earlier this week, bringing them to life with 10 minutes remaining, with Ariel Lassiter putting home the equaliser shortly after.
Quioto had a brace, including the winner in their earlier meeting versus the Union, with Chinonso Offor also netting and Mathieu Choiniere setting one up.
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Glesnes, Elliott, Lowe; Mbaizo, Martinez, Flach, Wagner; Gazdag; Uhre, Carranza
CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Sirois; Corbo, Camacho, Campbell; Herrera, Wanyama, Choiniere, Lassiter; Duke; Offor, Ibrahim
We say: Philadelphia Union 2-0 CF Montreal
The Union have found their groove, and that is terrible news for the rest of the league as a Philly team oozing with confidence do not have to be at their best to come away with three points.
Le CFM have not made life easy on Philly in their recent meetings, but a slow start away from home versus the Union will not be nearly as easy to recover from as with other MLS clubs.
How to watch
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
