Union Matchday 6 Preview: Smothered and Covered DOOPBQ

In what can only be described as one of the ugliest games this writer has ever seen, the Union lost at home 2-1 to Orlando City. With both teams missing some key players and both benches relatively small, it was going to be an interesting matchup. Orlando decided to throw the first few punches, scoring twice within ten minutes to absolutely silence Subaru Park. While the team did get one back towards the end of the half they, unfortunately, could not muster another one and Orlando absolutely shithoused their way to a win and ended the Union’s long unbeaten run at home for the first home loss since 2021.

Union vs SKC Preview

The international break did not come at a great time for the team. With that being said, the international break is over and the team will be getting right back into the swing of things. They do not have much time to dwell on the Orlando game as they welcome Sporting Kansas City into Subaru Park. Let’s take a look at how this SKC side is doing this year, the player to watch out for, and the prediction for the upcoming matchup at home.

2023 MLS Season

It has not been very easy to be an SKC fan the past few seasons. Last season was arguably one of the worst they’ve seen from a Peter Vermes coached side in a long time. They finished twelfth in the west with a record of 11-16-7 for eleven wins, sixteen losses, and seven draws. Their defense was bleeding goals and their attack was not getting much going.

Missing players like Alan Pulido and Tim Melia through injury absolutely gutted this team and it was apparent on the field how players like this were missed. Their defense also seemed to be struggling.
Going into this season, fans were unsure how to feel given that there were a few moves but nothing super big. The loss of Kortne Ford to a ruptured Achilles injury was a gut punch to start the season. Unfortunately, unlike last season, this season has not gone according to plan.

Through five league games, SKC has a record of 0-3-2 for zero wins, three losses, and two draws which plants them firmly in thirteenth place in the western conference. To say that this season isn’t going very well is a bit of an understatement. In their last game, they got put to the sword 4-1 by Jordan Morris and the Seattle Sounders. Their other games have been a bit closer, but only three goals scored through five games is a rough go of it.

X-Factor

The player that the Union needs to watch out for is one who showed a bit of promise last season after coming in the summer window. While still young, William Agada, the young Nigerian forward, has the ability to take defenders on and get into the right positions in the box. Last season, Agada had eight goals and two assists in twelve games played.

For an SKC side that is struggling to get things going, Agada is absolutely a player to watch out for. While the SKC defense might be struggling to keep up, Agada has been working well with Daniel Salloi and Erik Thommy to try and frustrate opposing defenses. If the Union are to rebound from their current two-game skid, they cannot let Agada link up with Salloi or Thommy.

Prediction

It’s been a tough stretch for the Union in this very early part of the season. The international break did not hit at the right time and to be honest, the last game against Orlando was dreadful. But, in a stroke of good news, the Union will get all of their players back who were out on international duty along with Julian Carranza who had to miss the Orlando match due to the two yellow cards he took in the Montreal game.

With all these players back, Jim will have his full complement of players to select from and I think we’ll gladly see a return to a familiar lineup. SKC will not be a pushover as Peter Vermes drills his sides very well. However, I do see the Union rebounding from this awful skid. Put me down for a 2-1 Union victory to right the ship. Game time on Saturday is 7:30 pm.