2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 8
Philadelphia Union vs. D.C. United
Subaru Park – Chester
August 29 – 7:30 PM ET
STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada
LOCAL TV: WJLA 24/7 News, PHL17
The Philadelphia Union are looking to extend a regular season unbeaten streak to seven straight games Saturday night at Subaru Park when they host a D.C. United side winless in their last five.
The Union are coming off an emotional 1-0 rivalry win over the New York Red Bulls Wednesday night, while D.C. suffered a 2-1 home defeat to the New England Revolution.
It's been one-way traffic between these teams of late, with the Union winning six consecutive games, including a 3-1 triumph in the last match at Chester last August. United's last win against Philadelphia came April 1, 2017.
Philadelphia Union
Kacper Przybylko split defenders to latch onto a Raymon Gaddis cross and fire home the game's lone goal in the 31st minute of a 1-0 win over the Red Bulls.
"I think it's clear I like 1-0 wins because that means we were organized, tough to play through," Jim Curtin said after the match. "We got our goal, defended well as a team. Another clean sheet for Andre [Blake], but our team shares in it. When our team is cohesive and together, we're very difficult to break down. It's a group now that has confidence no matter who is on the field."
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Aurelien Collin (D) - leg injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution:None
- International duty: None
D.C. United
After back-to-back games with a goal, D.C. finally found the back of the net Wednesday, but it came via a late penalty kick by Ola Kamara, which made things interesting, but ultimately didn't result in the Black-and-Red winning their second game of the regular season.
As such, D.C. are now 1-3-3 in 2020, 12th of 14 in the Eastern Conference standings, and haven’t won since their comeback victory over expansion side Inter Miami in Week 2. Goals have been nearly as elusive as Ws, with seven scored in seven matches, just two of them from the run of play – both conjured off the bench by Federico Higuain during the MLS is Back Tournament, where United went three and out.
“From a soccer side, from a tactical side, from an identifying-who-we-are standpoint, that’s getting better,” Ben Olsen said postgame on Tuesday. “Every game it’s getting better, but what needs to be enhanced right now is our ability to win.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Paul Arriola (M) - ACL injury
- OUT: Edison Flores (M) - facial injury
- OUT: Russell Canouse (M) - leg injury
- OUT: Chris Odoi-Atsem (D) - undisclosed injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Frédéric Brillant (D) - undisclosed injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at Union
- Union: 9 wins, 20 goals
- D.C. United: 3 wins, 10 goals
- 0 draws
Officials
- Referee: Fotis Bazakos
- Assistant Referees: C.J. Morgante, Adam Wienckowski
- 4th Official: Tori Penso
- VAR: Alan Kelly
