5 Predictions: Union seek first win at Subaru Park in nearly 2 months in mid-week match against Toronto FC

Back-to-back results on the road keep Union as the only unbeaten team away from home in Major League Soccer so far this season. A 3-0 win against a 10-man Revs and a scoreless draw down in Charlotte mark consecutive clean sheets for this Union team – the first time in 2024 – and suggests Jim Curtin and co might be turning things around after going winless in 6 games and losing 4 consecutive games at home for the first time in club history.

5 Predictions Union vs TFC

1) Starting XI

Let’s kick this off with who I think Jim Curtin will throw out on the field in a stretch of 3 games in a week. Most importantly, Jim Curtin announced on Tuesday that Andre Blake has had a minor surgery on his knee to fix the ongoing issue he’s been dealing with, which should keep him out for around 4-6 weeks. Here’s how I think Curtin will line up against Toronto, a team he recognizes has a lot of attacking potential with Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi on the field. Because of that, I could see Curtin reverting to a slightly more defensive midfield like we were used to seeing in 2022/2023.

GK – Oliver Semmle
RB – Nate Harriel, CB – Jack Elliott, CB – Jakob Glesnes, LB – Kai Wagner
CDM – Jose Martinez
RCM – Quinn Sullivan, LCM – Leon Flach
CAM – Daniel Gazdag
ST – Julian Carranza, ST – Mikael Uhre

This current back-line has two consecutive clean sheets, so no need to mess with that even during a short week. Jim Curtin said Jose Martinez is ready for selection and will play a part in Wednesday’s game – but wouldn’t tip whether that’s as a starter or off the bench. Curtin did talk a lot about the attacking potential that Toronto possesses, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see Jim Curtin tighten up his midfield with an extra defense-minded player. Leon Flach has gotten a lot of praise since returning to the lineup and is an important piece to Jim Curtin’s plans.

2) Another strong defensive performance

While Toronto does have a pretty potent attack, scoring 24 goals (tied for 6th best) in 15 games, most of their offensive production comes at home. Toronto has yet to be shut out in 8 games and has scored 18 of 24 goals while playing in front of their home. Away from home, however, Toronto has been shut out in 3 of 7 games, has lost 4 of 7, and has only scored 6 goals.

While Union has struggled to keep goals out of their own net this season, many goals have been self-inflicted or world-class goals you’ve got to tip your hat to. 2 clean sheets on the bounce should have their defense feeling much better about themselves, and some solidity in the midfield with the return of Leon Flach has been positive as well.

3) Daniel Gazdag keeps song form going into International Break

Daniel Gazdag was once again called into the Hungarian National team to compete in this Summer’s UEFA Euro 2024 tournament and has been on a tear for Union this season, especially after receiving some criticism from the Hungarian National Team Manager in March saying “I expect more from Daniel Gazdag. He got his chance, but he didn’t perform well tonight either.”

Gazdag is leading the Union in goals this season with 9 and recently surpassed Sebastien Le Toux as the Union’s all-time leading goal scorer. Gazdag has 5 goals in his previous 8 games, with 2 coming in a 3-0 win on the road against New England. Of his 9 goals 2 have been from the PK spot, and the remaining 7 have been scored from within 12 yards out. Daniel Gazdag does a great job of finding the open space in the box and finishing off plays. I’d expect Gazdag to keep the strong form going after his most recent call-up.

4) A Full, 90-minute performance

4 losses in a row at home is something this team and its fans have never experienced before, and the energy around the halls of Subaru Park was really bleak for a moment. But after 2 straight solid results on the road, Union returned home looking to put together a strong, 90-minute performance in front of their home crowd for the first time in a while.

Union returns home for the first time since Raccoonion

I’m not saying the Union is going to come out and win 6-0, but I think we’ll walk away from this one feeling more confident about the state of this team than we have in a REALLY Long time.

5) Score Predictions – The Curse of Union Yards ends!

Since the opening of Union Yards – a 7,000-square-foot brew hall and 32,500-square-foot tailgate zone that is open to all fans both pre and post-game down at Subaru Park, Union has a record of 0W-0D-4L at home. Yes, the club’s first and only 4-game home losing streak started the same night the team-owned beer garden opened its doors.

But it all ends tonight, and we all enjoy $5 victory beers at Union Yards post-match in a celebratory nature as opposed to one filled with misery. a 3-1 Philadelphia win, their first a Subaru Park since March 30th – almost 2 months ago – and the first since the opening of Union Yards.

But if they drop 3 points again, and Philly’s home-losing streak since the opening of Union Yards is extended to 5 games, I’m sure superstitious DOOP fans will be ready to boycott the newest addition to Subaru Park until the losing streak is over(and I’ll be right there with ’em”).