The Philadelphia Union return home to PPL Park to host the first-ever meeting with expansion club New York City FC. The Union enters the match having lost three straight, including the last two on the road in Chicago and Kansas City. Saturday’s match is the first of a home-and-home, with the return leg being played Thursday at Yankee Stadium. New York also enters this match having lost its’ last game, 1-0 at home to Sporting Kansas City. Philadelphia suffered a particularly disastrous defeat Sunday in Kansas City, giving up two goals in stoppage time.
Union manager Jim Curtin has decided changes are necessary and began with perhaps the biggest and boldest move he could make by benching Algerian goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi. Curtin not only benched but also sent him back home to France to clear his head. He may have played his last game for the Union and is at or near the bottom of every goalkeeping statistical category. He will be replaced by Philadelphia native John McCarthy. Andre Blake, the 2014 first overall Superdraft pick, had offseason knee surgery and is not yet match fit but will back up McCarthy Saturday.
The Union has been dealing with injury and indiscipline problems this season. Zach Pfeffer completed his to game suspension for a red card and should be available. The injury situation is improving as Sheanon Williams and Conor Casey have been full participants in training this week and Williams returning to the lineup should greatly benefit the defense. Cristian Maidana is still nursing a knee injury and participated in light workouts this week. Vincent Nogueira has an ankle injury and will probably sit out again. Fernando Aristeguieta, the only Union player to score a goal so far this season, suffered a broken hand Sunday night and had surgery Tuesday morning. He should be available Saturday as well. A healthy C.J. Sapong will also help. He trained without a face mask this week after wearing it Sunday.
The Union will have their hands full with David Villa, the Spanish international forward, and Mix Diskerud in the midfield. The Union will want to limit the amount of set pieces and offensive restarts for New York as they have continually struggled to defend them. Philadelphia will continue playing a high, hard press and look to catch New York on the counter. New York will look to control possession and frustrate the Union into committing fouls or giving away set pieces close to goal.