Union looks to take 1st place in the East and spoil Gazdag’s return

The Philadelphia Union is off to its best start in team history. Their seven wins from 11 matches, five clean sheets, 21 goals scored (2nd best in MLS), and 10 goals against (tied for third best in the league) have Philly flying! They are among the best teams in a stacked Eastern Conference. Columbus, Cincinnati, and Miami round out the top four, with Philadelphia. The Union faces Columbus in a clash determining who sits atop the East this week.

Union, MLS — Image Credit: Philadelphia Union

Union looks to take 1st place from the Crew.

Philly has punched above its weight all season, and now, with a third of the season complete, a big test comes to the banks of the Delaware River. Columbus is a top team in MLS. They are a model club with a top coach who likes to play pretty possession-based soccer. It’s the exact opposite of how the Union operates.

This match will be a clash of styles. Which can withstand 90 minutes in a must-win match? We will have to wait and see. The prize is first place in the East, and whoever can claim that a third of the way through the year will likely be favored to stay at or near the top as we continue in spring and move on to the dog days of summer.

Philly looks to spoil Gazdag’s return to Chester.

Columbus is the cream of the crop in the East. They have only lost once this season and have weathered the storm of losing superstar striker Cucho Hernandez. In his place, the Crew looked inside the MLS for their next attacking star, trading for former Union player Daniel Gazdag.

Philly got $4,000,000 guaranteed from Columbus, and a possible $5,000,000 more if specific incentives are hit. The Union traded their all-time leading scorer to fit their game model, which seems to have paid off so far.

The Union has relied on its midfield speed and intensity to get the better of its opponent. The addition of Indiana Vassilev to the starting XI has made their midfield quartet with Q. Sullivan, Lukic, and Danley one that never stops moving. Those players must be flying all around the field if Philly wants to get the better of Columbus in this one.

A thin back line will also have to stop Gazdag and the MVP frontrunner, Diego Rossi, from taking points in Chester. One blow that could spell calamity for Philly is the health status of star goalkeeper Andre Blake, who is listed as questionable with a knock. Could we see homegrown Andrew Rick reprise the role he took up on Wednesday night and help Philly take first place in the East?

Projected Lineups & what to watch for

Projected Union Lineup

Formation: 4-2-2-2

GK: Blake
RB: Westfield, CB: Glesnes, CB: Harriel, LB: Wagner
CDM: Danley, CDM: Lukic
CAM: Q. Sullivan, CAM: Vassilev
ST: Uhre, ST: Damiani

Projected Crew Lineup

Formation: 3-4-3

GK: Schulte
CB: Moreria, CB: Zawadzki, CB: Cherberko
LWB: Farsi CDM: Chambost, CDM: Nagbe RWB: Arfsten
LW: Rossi, ST: Russell-Rowe, RW: Gazdag

This match will say a lot about both teams. Columbus is still trying to show that they are a top team in MLS after Cucho. The Union wants to show that their car-crash style can bring them back to being a contender in the MLS.

So far this season, results have gone either way when the Union gets hot and comes up against a strong opponent. Look at the big win vs Cincinnati, and the loss to Messi and Miami. If those games showed us anything, it’s that the first 25 minutes will be telling.

If Philly can get on the board early and limit Columbus’s chances, it could look like the Cincy match; however, if things flip, it might look like it did against Miami. If this Union team can keep their intensity up after playing 120 minutes on Wednesday, then points will be there for the taking, and first place could be in their possession by the end of the night!