The Philadelphia Union travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts to take on the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
How things look going in
The Union enter Saturday's following a run of four games without a win that's seen them drop from first to fifth in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, New England have lost two straight in the league, despite securing a place in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final and sit in sixth- the East's last remaining playoff spot.
The match is the second time the two sides have met in the league this season, the third overall with Philadelphia having trounced New England 3-0 at Talen Energy Stadium back in March with goals from C.J. Sapong, Fabinho, and the recently departed Sebastian Le Toux. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference sides met at Harvard's Jordan Field in the Quarterfinal of the Open Cup back in July with New England emerging victorious on penalties following goals from Je-Vaughn Watson and Fabian Herbers.
History to repeat itself?
In league play, Philadelphia hold a 8-5-4 record versus the Revolution with an average of a surprisingly high two goals per game in their last five showdowns including March's 3-0 Philadelphia victory. Last season's sole showdown at Foxborough, which was a 1-1 draw featured goals from Lee Nguyen and the "ginger prince", Fernando Aristeguieta.
Injuries and suspensions
The injury list for both sides remains significantly longer than either would prefer. While long-term absentee Gershon Koffie has just returned to fitness for New England, the Masschussets based side will still be without Designated Player, Xavier Kouassi who has yet to appear for the Revolution in a competitive match since signing from FC Sion in Switzerland back in February due to a right knee injury. Also absent for the Revs are rookie forward, Femi Hollinger-Janzen who remains out with a right adductor strain and as well as Juan Agudelo and Donnie Smith who are questionable with a right knee sprain and right hamstring strain respectively. Despite being declared fully fit, Koffie will miss the match due to yellow card accumulation.
As for Philadelphia, they remain very light in midfield as captain Maurice Edu continues his rehabilitation from a stress fracture to his left tibia. Stand in captain, Brian Carroll is a new addition to the list with a plantar fasciitis injury. Carroll is joined by back up goalkeeper, Matt Jones who is nursing a right MCL sprain and Bethlehem Steel midfield duo, Cole Missimo and Derrick Jones who have a lower ab strain and right adductor strain respectively.
Key players and match ups
Both sides line up similarly, often in a 4-2-3-1 with a big number nine, in Philadelphia's case C.J. Sapong and for New England- Kei Kamara. The match also marks the return of Charlie Davies following his trade from New England to Philadelphia, though he's likely to start on the bench. As such, some the tactical match ups are likely to be similar- forward versus center back, the battle in the middle of midfield etc. But let's take a look at the specifics.
Alejandro Bedoya vs. Daigo Kobayashi
Alejandro Bedoya's debut could not come at a more perfect time. The U.S. international is likely to slot into central midfield next to Warren Creavalle with Brian Caroll out for at least three weeks and captain Maurice Edu only now returning to training with the first team. While Creavalle sits in front of the defense, breaking up attacks as the defensive midfield, Bedoya is likely to play the number eight role, starting attacks that Philadelphia have been sorely missing since the departure of Vincent Nogueira. Expect Bedoya, along with Tranquillo Barnetta to be the creative force for Philadelphia and expect Kobayashi, who will likely slot in next to Scott Caldwell in Koffie's absence to try and stop him. Kobayashi is likely to be a key creative player for New England as well, should coach Jay Heaps choose not to start Lee Nguyen once again.
Image Courtesy of Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe
Kei Kamara vs. Richie Marquez
Kamara hasn't been in brilliant form since trading the yellow of Columbus for the blue and white of New England with just four goals in twelve matches since he joined the team in May, but the Sierra Leone captain remains one of the best headers of the ball in Major League Soccer. He also has four goals and one assist in his last five matches versus Philadelphia. As such, Union defensive stalwart will be expected to stop him and at 6ft 2in, he's likely the best-equipped player on the Union squad to do so. Expect plenty of aerials battles in the match, not just from these two.
Line up and score prediction
Due to injury and rotation expect changes to primarily occur in defense and central midfield. With Bedoya's debut, Barnetta is likely to be shifted up and despite the fact that Ken Tribbett matches up with Kei Kamara better due to height, his poor play in recent weeks is likely to see him dropped for Joshua Yaro.
Predicted XI:
Goalkeeper: Andre Blake
Defense: Keegan Rosenberry, Joshua Yaro, Richie Marquez, Fabinho
Midfield: Warren Creavalle, Alejandro Bedoya, Chris Pontius, Tranquillo Barnetta, Ilsinho
Forward: C.J. Sapong
While both teams seem to have major defensive issues, in part the result of constant rotation of players on the back line, Philadelphia seem the more together of the two teams. Prediction: 2-1 Philadelphia