Tuesday night’s 6-0 loss in the CONCACAF Champions Cup was one of historic measures for Philadelphia Union – the most goals conceded by an MLS side in the competition’s history, and the worst loss for the Blue and Gold since the club’s inception – maybe the harshest humbling this team could endure.
But now it’s a turning point – does the team put their heads down and quit on the rest of the season the same way they did against Pachuca on Tuesday night? Or will they rally behind the butt-whooping they received to right-the-ship before things go haywire? Just 4 days after being embarrassed down in Mexico, Union will have their first chance to turn things around in their first ever match-up against the Western Conference’s Austin FC.
Philadelphia Union vs Austin FC: How to watch
Union and Austin FC will kickoff at Q2 Stadium at 8:30pm EST on Saturday night – available to stream for free(as are all MLS games this weekend) on Apple TV via MLS Season Pass. In addition, PSN’s DOOP On The Volley Podcast will be going Live around 7pm for an in depth pre-game shown leading up to kick-off, be sure to come hang out and chat Union soccer prior to the match!
Philadelphia Union vs Austin FC: Betting info
Austin FC +165 | Draw +230 | Philadelphia Union +155
Season So Far – Austin
After finishing 5th from last in the 2023 MLS standings, Austin FC find themselves off to another slow start to the 2024 campaign just 3 games into the season. Verde kicked off their season with a 2-1 loss at home at the hands of Minnesota United, and have drawn their previous 2 games against Seattle (0-0, Away) and St Louis (2-2, Home).
Austin have scored just 3 goals across 3 games so far this season, with all 3 goals coming from defenders (Matt Hedges, Julio Cascante, and Guilherme Biro). Austin just look out of ideas offensively in the early goings of the season, ranking last in the league in offensive stats such as Total Shots (16), Shots on Goal (5), Shots Per 90 Minutes (5.33), Shots On Target Per 90 Minutes (1.67), Key Passes (13), Passes Into the Final 3rd (50), and Shot Creating Actions (28). Of the 3 goals austin FC have scored this season, just 1 of those has come from open play (1 from a corner, 1 from a throw-in).
4 Goals conceded in 3 games for Verde defensively, which is tied for 5th highest in the league, but also the 5th lowest in the league – so you can’t really take much from that stats so far this season. A clean sheet against Seattle on the road is typically something to build on, but that result might be more indicative of Seattle’s problems than it is of Austin’s form.
Just 3 games through the season, and Austin’s 6.2 Expected goals allowed is 3rd highest amongst all teams in Major League Soccer. Getting looks on net shouldn’t be too much of an issue against Austin, with opponents peppering 20 total shots towards Austin’s net through 3 games – the 3rd highest total in the league. A possible shining light for Austin is goalkeeper Brad Stuver, who’s already 2nd in MLS in total saves with 16, having played 1 game less than League Leading Zac McMath.
Season So Far – Union
Union are still looking for their first win of the 2024 MLS season. Through just 2 games played and one rain-out, Union have shown some resiliency through the early part of the MLS season with 2 stoppage-time equalizers – Daniel Gazdag in the 93rd minute against Chicago at subaru Park, and a controversial 95th minute goal against Sporting Kansas City from Ale Bedoya. The 3rd goal for Union in the young MLS season came from Mikael Uhre.
The bright spot for Union so far this season has been the emergence of 19 year old Quinn Sullivan. While Sullivan seems to be the favorite for the right midfield spot for Jim Curtin, Quinn has also been utilized as a duel #10 in a christmas tree formation and as the 2nd striker in the past – he’s someone that is gaining a lot of trust in Jim Curtin right now.
Much of the offense seems to be going through Quinn Sullivan down that right side currently, With Sullivan being one of the top 2 leaders on the team in stats such as Expected Assisted Goals (0.8), Shots (6), Key Passes( 3), Passes into the Penalty Area (3), Progressive Passes (10), Shot Creating Actions (7), Goal Creating Actions (2), Progressive Carries (11), Progressive Passes Received (22), Total Distance Carried (433), Progressive Distance Carried (224), Carries into the final 3rd (7), and Carries into the Penalty Area (4),
Defensively, Union are off to a lackluster start to the 2024 campaign. Just 3 goals across 2 games in MLS, but after Tuesday’s dismantling by Pachuca, Union have now conceded a total of 14 goals across 6 complete matches – that’s an average of 2.33 goals per game, which would have been the highest total in MLS last season.
Equally as concerning as Union’s defensive woes, is their tendency to start games slow early on this season. In 6 games across all competitions, Union have been outscored in the first half of games by a total of 7 to 3. While they have shown resiliency and the ability to fight back in all of those matches but Pachuca, we’ve still yet to see a full 90-minute performance from this Union team. Even in a 0-0 draw against Pachuca at home, it felt like Union could have done more to leave Philadelphia with a goal in their pocket, but the attack wasn’t clinical enough on the night.
Union vs Austin Predictions
Once again this season, it’s a bit difficult to predict the starting lineup Jim Curtin will roll out on Saturday night. Exiting the CONCACAF Competition will allow Union to fully focus on MLS until the Leagues Cup break, (especially with no involvement in the US Open Cup) which should allow Jim Curtin and his Union team to deploy a more consistent lineup week in and week out without the prospect of another competition to manage.
But at the same time, Jim Curtin needs to send his team a message moving forward. Tuesday’s performance against Pachuca was down-right unacceptable. It’s not losing – it’s the manner in which they were defeated. Heads down, no fight, zero pride for the club or the badge on the shirt, just a shell of the Union team we’ve come to know.
So Curtin has a few big decisions to make – does he go with his best XI, or does he start some guys who may be a bit too comfortable on the bench. Some tough love and a kick on the rear might be what some of these guys need right now – Mikael Uhre, Jakob Glesnes, Daniel Gazdag to name a few.
I don’t think Curtin will go crazy with the lineup adjustments on Saturday night, but I do think we’ll see a few changes with a hopeful message sent. In goal I think it’s safe to say we’ll see Andre Blake. He wasn’t an exception from having a poor performance on Saturday night, but he seems like one of the leaders you need out on the pitch on Saturday to glue things together.
In the backline, I think we’ll see Kai Wagner, Jack Elliott, Damion Lowe and Nate Harriel. The CB pairing is difficult to pick mostly due to all 3 showing signs of struggles early on this season, but I think Curtin giving Olwethu Makhanya his first ever start while on the road might be a bit of a long-shot, but we’ll have to see.
Jose Martinez came out at half-time against Pachuca, but it seems to have been just a sickness and I suspect Brujo will take his place at the 6 come Saturday night. Jack McGlynn should get the start on the left of the midfield after being called up to the Olympic National team. The rest of the attack is where I could see some changes coming in.
I’d love to see Markus Anderson up top with Julian Carranza to start the match on Saturday after another ghostly performance from Mikael Uhre against Pachuca. So the last 2 positions to work out are the #10, and the right side of the midfield. What’s most likely is Gazdag and Sullivan in their normal sports to start the season, and you probably aren’t dropping Quinn Sullivan at this point.
But if Daniel Gazdag doesn’t start, I could see wither Jeremy Rafanello or maybe even Quinn Sullivan taking his place. Maybe there’s a world where Jeremy Rafanello and Quinn play as duel #10’s in the christmas tree like we’ve seen curtin try with him and Sullivan.
At the end of the day, I don’t think we’ll see a ton of rotation because I think Curtin has belief and trust in his guys that have got him here, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a bit of a shake up in the lineup on Saturday night – especially with a handful of players set to be unavailable against Portland due to International call-ups. Get some of those guys on the field and finding some confidence BEFORE that game rolls around.
As for the prediction on the score-board, I just want Union to show up in this game. I don’t think a win or a loss is the end-all-be-all on Saturday night, but the way they show up and perform is going to give us a great look at what this team is going to be made of this season.
After the biggest loss in team history – one of the most embarrassing moments in the club’s existence – how do you respond? Do you keep your head down with a woe-is-me mentality? Or do you go out there and prove to everyone that you do belong in the title contenders conversation?
Thats the biggest thing I’m looking for on Saturday night – the fight, the motivation, the pride, the manner in which this team conducts itself is what’s most important to me this weekend. Because win or lose, at the end of the day we can handle any result. But Tuesday night? That wasn’t the Union we all have come to know and love. Let’s get back on track Saturday night.
Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Union
