PHILADELPHIA UNION vs. TORONTO FC
Talen Energy Stadium | Chester, Pennsylvania
August 20, 2016 | Week #24 | MLS Game #242
7 pm ET (MLS LIVE, SN360, The Comcast Network)
A massive match in the Eastern Conference reckoning is ahead when Philadelphia Union entertain Toronto FC on Saturday evening at Talen Energy Stadium. The teams come into the match holding down playoff positions in the conference, separated by just three points. Union are in fourth place in the division, putting an end to a four-game winless run last weekend in a 4-0 win at the New England Revolution. TFC sit in second place in the East, opening their road swing by extending their overall undefeated streak to five games in a 1-1 draw at the Houston Dynamo.
DOWNLOAD FULL GAME GUIDE (PDF)
- Union matched the largest of margin of victory in the club’s history, equaling their season-high with four goals in their 4-0 defeat of the New England Revolution on Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium. Chris Pontius scored a goal and added an assist, now with 10 goals for the season, four of those coming in the last five matches.
- Toronto FC saw their four-game winning streak come to an end but still extended their overall undefeated streak as Jozy Altidore scored his third goal over the last four matches, leaving his club in a 1-1 with the Houston Dynamo on Sunday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium in a weather-delayed match.
- The teams met three times a year ago, and Toronto FC won all three, including the last two both at BMO Field. Sebastian Giovinco scored in each game in the series, with three goals and one assist in the three meetings.
- Before the last year’s season series sweep, TFC’s last win vs. Philadelphia came May 26, 2012, when they won 1-0 at BMO Field. Union had won four of the seven meetings in between, with three draws, a three-game winning streak in the series snapped in the first meeting last year.
REFEREE: Mark Geiger. AR1 (bench): Claudiu Badea; AR2 (opposite): Kevin Klinger; 4th: Rubiel Vazquez
MLS Career: 156 games; FC/gm: 26.6; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 36; pens: 49
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: PHI: Raymon Gaddis
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: PHI: Brian Carroll, Ken Tribbett … TOR: Justin Morrow, Marky Delgado, Michael Bradley
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (15 meetings): Union 6 wins, 22 goals … Toronto FC 5 wins, 16 goals … Ties 4
AT PHILADELPHIA (7 meetings): Union 4 wins, 9 goals … Toronto FC 1 win, 4 goals … Ties 2
RETURN MATCH: 9/24: Toronto FC vs. Philadelphia Union, 5 p.m. ET
LAST YEAR (MLS):
5/2: PHI 0, TOR 1 (Giovinco 34)
7/18: TOR 2, PHI 1 (Delgado 29; Giovinco 32 – Casey 91+)
10/3: TOR 3, PHI 1 (Giovinco 28; Altidore 63; own goal 91+ -- Vitoria 66)
- The teams met three times a year ago, and Toronto FC won all three, including the last two both at BMO Field. Sebastian Giovinco scored in each game in the series, with three goals and one assist in the three meetings.
- Before the last year’s season series sweep, TFC’s last win vs. Philadelphia came May 26, 2012, when they won 1-0 at BMO Field. Union had won four of the seven meetings in between, with three draws, a three-game winning streak in the series snapped in the first meeting last year.
- Coaches record: Jim Curtin vs. TOR: P5 W2 L3 T0… Greg Vanney vs. PHI: P5 W3 L2 T0
