New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 24
Gillette Stadium — Foxborough
August 11 - 7:30 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

Two teams separated by just two points on either side of the playoff line in the Eastern Conference square off at Gillette Stadium when the New England Revolution host the Philadelphia Union.

The Revs are reeling, winless in their last five following a 3-3 draw against Orlando City SC, while the Union have won two of their last three away from Talen Energy Stadium.

This is the second meeting this season, with the Union pulling out a 2-0 home victory on March 3 on goals by Anthony Fontana and CJ Sapong after the Revs were reduced to nine men as Antonio Delamea and Claude Dielna were sent off in each half.

The Union have won four of their last five games against New England (1L), keeping clean sheets in all four wins, per Opta.

New England Revolution

The three-game losing streak was snapped, but New England (7-7-8) extended a winless run to five games following a wild 3-3 draw against Orlando City SC.

The start couldn’t have been brighter for the Revs, who raced out to a two-goal lead inside of 18 minutes on goals by Juan Agudelo and Cristian Penilla. Dom Dwyer and Amro Tarek leveled for the Lions before Teal Bunbury gave New England a third lead. But in stoppage time, Scott Sutter equalized and the Revs were disappointed to leave Orlando with a share of the points.

“I’ve been involved in football for a long, long time, these sort of things happen, they happen to the best teams in the world and we are playing well,” Brad Friedel said of the club’s recent slide. “I’ve approached things no differently than I did on Day One. … There’s absolutely nothing to panic about here at all.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Chris Tierney (torn right ACL)

Projected Starting XI
(4-1-4-1, right to left)
GK: Matt Turner — Andrew Farrell, Antonio Delamea, Jalil Anibaba, Claude Dielna — Wilfried Zahibo — Juan Agudelo, Luis Caicedo, Scott Caldwell, Cristian Penilla — Diego Fagundez

Notes: The Revolution committed 23 fouls against Orlando last weekend, tied for the third most by a team this year. New England are averaging 14.4 fouls per game, the second most of any MLS club. … The Revolution have allowed 2+ goals in six of their last seven MLS games (1W-3L-3D). They had allowed multiple goals six times in their previous 15 league matches.

Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia (8-11-3) booked a third ticket in the U.S. Open Cup final in five years with a comprehensive 3-0 win over the Chicago Fire Wednesday night at Talen Energy Stadium.

After a scoreless first half, Cory Burke opened the scoring in the 59th minute and added his second goal 18 minutes later. When Sapong struck four minutes from full time, all that was left was the celebration for the Union, who lost to Seattle Sounders FC and Sporting Kansas City in consecutive USOC finals in 2014 and 2015.

“I think that it needs to be said that the players stuck together in a hard moment, rolled up their sleeves I thought in the second half, on a very hot night found energy,” Jim Curtin said. “Obviously we have a quick turnaround now so we’ll celebrate.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Fafa Picault
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Ilsinho (right quad strain); QUESTIONABLE: D - Mark McKenzie (mild knee contusion)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Andre Blake — Keegan Rosenberry, Jack Elliott, Auston Trusty, Raymon Gaddis — Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya — David Accam, Borek Dockal, Fafa Picault — CJ Sapong

Notes: Philadelphia have won 46.2 percent of the games that Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie have started this season (6W-6L-1D), averaging 1.5 points per game. When one or both do not start, they are 2W-5L-2D, averaging 0.9 points per game. … Philadelphia have conceded 3+ goals in four of their last five league road games (2W-3L),. They allowed 3+ goals in four road games last season.

All-Time Series

Overall: New England Revolution 6 wins, 27 goals … Philadelphia Union 11 wins, 36 goals … 4 draws
At New England: Revolution 3 wins, 13 goals … Union 4 wins, 14 goals … 2 draws
Last meeting at New England: New England Revolution 3, Philadelphia Union 0 (July 29, 2017)