In the next six days, the Philadelphia Union and Union II each have two matches, with the first team on the road and the second team at home. Returning from the mandated break, the first place Philadelphia Union travel to Chicago to take on the Fire today at 8:30 PM at Soldier Field. Union II, meanwhile, defeated Columbus Crew 2 on the road last Saturday and host New England Revolution II at Subaru Park on Thursday at 7:00 PM.
Philadelphia Union at Chicago Fire
Many fans (and probably the players too) would like to forget last season’s debacle at Soldier Field when the Fire made a three goal comeback for the win. The Union are 5-2-1 on the road in 2025 and are looking to extend their 10 game unbeaten streak (and this writer is not trying to jinx anything, for the record). After a congested schedule in May and a month of June that had two breaks from matches, the Union will need to make sure they are in the right mindset and get back in their rhythm.
Unfortunately, the squad will be missing several key players. Quinn Sullivan, Nathan Harriel, and Andre Blake are still away on national team duty. Danley Jean Jacques returned as of Monday. On the positive side, Quinn and Danley had strong performances when their nations faced off on Sunday in the Gold Cup, which Bradley Carnell praised during his presser. However, Andre Blake’s Jamaica got eliminated in the group stage of the Gold Cup on Tuesday night, so he should be returning soon. That can be a positive for the Union, of course, but a shame for Andre and Jamaica.
Other players who will be out for the Union are Tai Baribo (just returned from Israel), Ian Glavinovich (knee), Mikael Uhre (adductor), and Frankie Westfield (ankle). Olivier Mbaizo (adductor) is questionable. Chicago will be missing Chris Brady (international duty), Christopher Cupps (lower body), Rominigue Kouamé (lower body), Chris Mueller (not due to injury), David Poreba (lower body), and Carlos Terán (lower body). It will be a chance for other players to step up, and the most glaring question mark when looking at the Union’s lineup is right back. If Mbaizo is not able to play, Carnell may need to get a bit creative. Nick Pariano has played right back with Union II, but is normally a midfielder and tends to look better in that role. Isaiah LeFlore could fill in, though he usually plays left back. Jovan Lukic could possibly fill in as well, or perhaps Carnell will come up with something unexpected. It will also be interesting to see if Markus Anderson gets more playing time after the impact he made against Charlotte, and if anyone new gets to make a first team appearance for a regular MLS match.
Currently, Chicago is right below the playoff line at 10th with a record of 7-6-4. They have not been great at home, with only one win, two losses, and four draws, however they have been heating up (pun intended), aside from their most recent game where they lost to Nashville at home. They have the second highest number of goals scored in the East (35, behind Miami’s 36), but concede a lot (31) and have a goal differential of four. Meanwhile, the Union have the third most goals scored (34), have conceded 19, and have the best goal differential in the East at 15. Considering many of the games have featured 19 year old keeper Andrew Rick filling in for Andre Blake, it is even more impressive- not to discredit Rick who has done a fantastic job. So while the Union may be missing key components, it will be a chance to see if others can rise to the occasion.
New England Revolution II at Philadelphia Union II
In a rematch from opening day, Union II host Revolution II in a game that Union II may also be missing key players from the squad, but it is a chance for others to step up. In their first tilt, the match was scoreless in regulation, but Revolution II won the penalty shootout for the extra point 4:3. Union II (6-1-4) currently are in 3rd place in the East, with at least three games in hand over the teams above them. Revolution II are in 7th (4-4-4) and are 1-3-2 on the road.
Union II had a small bench with players away in their previous two matches, and could be missing several who have first team contracts who are traveling with the first team to Chicago, so it would not be the first time they have needed to be creative or have other players step up. I spoke with Coach Ryan Richter on Tuesday, and while he did not think it was their best performance against Columbus Crew 2, he took away several positives:
“Yeah, I thought, to be honest, I didn’t think it was our best game of the season. A lot of moments of things that we’ve been pretty good with in the year, just broke down a little bit, just especially in our overall organization as a team defensively. I thought some of our decision making and transition wasn’t great. But fair credit to the guys- they hung in there. Pierce [Holbrook] made a couple of really big saves, one at 1-1 and one at 2-1 that, you know, pretty much won us the game, and then we were able to get the next one on transition and was directly off the second save. So that was a good performance for the guys in tough conditions.”
With some players probably unavailable due to traveling/playing with the first team, some players who have not gotten as many chances so far may get them against Revolution II and Orlando City B on Monday. Richter did not see it as a too much of a complication, but shared, “It could be more opportunities for guys that normally haven’t gotten them. So I told the guys before training, like when it’s days like that, that excites me. I can’t wait to see what guys can do with it. You know, everyone wants the opportunity, let’s see what you do when you get them, we’re here to support them in that.”
Recently, one player who really has stepped up his game is Venezuelan midfielder Giovanny Sequera, who is on loan from Metropolitanos. He has now scored three goals this season (tied for the team lead), including a wonderful header against Crew 2. Richter has liked what he has been seeing lately:
“Yeah, he’s doing great, you know, and it’s been pretty much a month straight of really good performances- in training, and in games. I think the space that he is in mentally that he puts himself… you see him every day, the way that he commits himself to get better, so it’s no surprise to me that he’s having success in games. He deserves it.”
Most of the Academy players who were gone for the MLS Next Cup will likely be available. Richter mentioned that the normal players who have been with them at Union II will be around during the summer (Kellan LeBlanc, Jamir Johnson, Jordan Griffin, Malik Jakupovic), and possibly others. Jakupovic was shut down for a week or so to give him a break from the Academy season, but expect to see more of him soon. Willyam Ferreira, who signed a Union II contract back in February, has yet to appear with Union II, but had been sidelined with injury. He is back, however, and was out training with the squad on Tuesday.
The U-18s that have already featured with Union II now have a chance to make their marks. Richter noted, “Kellan, Jordan, and Jamir will be with us full time, so, you know, it’s time for them to take a big step forward. That’s what it comes down to. They have to get better, and they’ll have the opportunity.”
Speaking of the Academy, Richter, of course, at one time was the Union Academy U-15 head coach and took his squad to the MLS Next Cup Final before becoming an assistant coach with the first team. I asked him what he thought of the U-15s winning the trophy a few days ago, and with a proud smile, commented:
“Yeah, it’s so fun. I mean, we’re proud of those guys, and, you know, a lot of talent in that group, and we’ll be excited to- first of all, congrats to them and the coach, and now excited to see where they go in the next couple years and hopefully a couple of them in with us soon.”
For now, though, Richter and his squad turn their attention to the match on Thursday and are looking to win their fourth straight. Revolution II will bring challenges, which Richter is well aware of heading into the match:
“They’re one of the better teams in the league, really organized and you see in their buildup. They keep a pretty good structure that makes it difficult in transition to try to get behind them. But if we’re organized, and I think there is space that you can connect in front of the center backs, and kind of commit them and dribbling out the back line. So it starts, like always, with an organization against the ball, and then being really clean in that first pass forward. I think it can make some pretty interesting situations for us.”
Both the Union and Union II’s matches can be viewed on AppleTV/MLS Season Pass.
Main article photo credit: Philadelphia Union/New England Revolution II
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