Major League Soccer has long been a bastion of parody. Even superteams like Inter Miami, LAFC, and the LA Galaxy have had difficulties, especially in the playoffs, in navigating the leagues unique mechanisms and salary cap to maintain dominance atop the league.
The Philadelphia Union were long held to be regular season greats, winning two Shields and routinely being among the top teams in the East the last few years save for a miserable injury filled 2024 season that saw Jim Curtin sacked and Bradley Carnell rebound last year with the club's second stint atop the overall table.
But my how the turn tables, as the New England Revolution host the Philadelphia Union tonight at Gillette Stadium (730pm, Apple TV), the Union find themselves in last place with a sputtering offense unable to help a still solid enough defense. The Flyers could use some of that defense as they're getting absolutely wrecked by the NHL Team That Shall Not Be Named currently... I ask my Eagles hockey brethren for very little and they're letting this Whalers fan down. Greater Philly sports fandom probably looks something like The Upside Down even if stranger things and turnarounds have occurred in MLS history.
On second thought...MLS and Jay Sugarman probably wouldn't spring for production quality that high. We need something more 90's cheese and doop appropriate...Chester, PA probably has turned into Outworld from Mortal Kombat II: Annihilation. Much better, and I will hear no slander about that perfect train wreck in the comments either.
Ayomide Oguntimehin
The Union have pitched two shutouts in their recent games...problem being getting shutout a total of three times with scoreless draws to DC United and a heavily rotating Nashville side along with with a 3-3 draw at Toronto that saw the Union blow leads of 2-0 and 3-2. Philly has only two multi-goal games this year, the other being a 2-1 win at Montreal.
Perhaps letting your leading goal scorer and leading assist creator from a Shield winning side leave was not a good idea, as Tai Baribo already has six goals for DC United and Kai Wagner has 16 appearances and three assists for Birmingham City in the English Championship. Milan Iloski had some monster games on loan for San Diego last year, including a four goal outburst against Vancouver, but clearly needs more help to get Philly going.
Still, if this game were in Pennsylvania it would have a hint of trap game in it. New England has been great at home and are enjoying a long unbeaten streak, but a midweek contest with Nashville on deck is worth looking ahead towards. I'm sure the Revs want to make up for that season opening drubbing but must focus on the task at hand. You can't catch the Coyotes dropping points to Doop.
That being said the Revs have been playing well and are seeing not just drastic individual improvements but some solid team wide improvements. Seth took a look at the Revs build up play against Charlotte and there's a lot to like here. The Revs are getting goals from multiple phases - set pieces, counters, run of play - and are still figuring out how to balance all of these tendencies and doing it and winning while dealing with midgame injuries.
Seth Macomber
Helping the cause is the return of Matt Polster and Brayan Ceballos who are still questionable on the injury report but good to go according to head coach Marko Mitrovic. But with a busy week ahead and just four games until the World Cup break in the schedule it's entirely possible the Revs will ease their two veterans back into the lineup. Plus with Ethan Kohler and Alhassan Yusuf in great form, as Thomas Pinzone details, not a whole lot of reason to change something that isn't broke.
Joining us as always is our good friend Matt Ralph of Philadelphia Soccer Now, who hopefully is not stuck in between inter planal dimensions like AJ Brown is right now stuck seemingly between Philly and New England. It's still gonna cost you at least one first rounder Pats fans...hopefully.
Anyway make sure to head on over to their site for my answers to Matt's questions and all of their game coverage.
Jake Catanese
1) Please attempt to explain...no, there is to much...please sum up the terrible no good very bad start the Union's 2026 season. Most importantly, where have all the goals gone?
It's been a combination of things but the Kai Tai exit seems to be a big reason for the struggle with goals this season. Not having a left-footed left back (and one as good as Wagner) has meant a change in the way the Union attack and while Frankie Westfield is more than capable of sending in a good ball from the right side Bruno Damiani and Ezekiel Alladoh have really struggled in front of goal. Milan Iloski is both the best creator and finisher on the team but he can't do it all by himself. Fortunately, there have been signs of things coming together but plenty of work to do for the offense to be clicking the way it is intended to work, turning transition moments into quick strikes.
2) Okay the offense has been brutal but the defense seems to be alright, especially after a 0-0 draw against Nashville. What went right in that game last week for Philly?
Japhet Sery Larsen going down with an injury early in the game was a big concern. Larsen and Olwethu Makhanya have been formulating a solid partnership but Geiner Martinez stepped in and did a fine job. Nashville not having Sam Surridge and rotating many of their players was also a big help but for a team built on shutting teams down and not conceding first it was good they were able to do both against even a rotated Nashville squad.
3) Is there any hope the Union pull out of this after the World Cup break? Any summer signings being rumored or are we looking at a team that might take a shot next spring in that short sprint season?
Getting to the World Cup break without further damage should be the goal for the Union. Even scoreless draws are an improvement if they can sprinkle in a win at home. The two-month break will be vital for them to regroup and any hope they can give the fanbase before the World Cup break will be important. There haven't been any rumors of signings but with GAM to spend an interleague deal would be wise. Getting Quinn Sullivan back whenever that happens will also be like adding a big signing. It might not look like it now but the Union still have the talent and plenty of games left after the break to make a Flyers-esque run to the playoffs.
Lineup/Injuries/Predictions/Etc.
Jesus Bueno, who has been one of the Union's most consistent players is out injured along with star-in-the-making center back Japhet Sery Larsen and defender Philippe Ndinga. Predicted XI (4-2-2-2): Andre Blake, Nathan Harriel, Olwethu Makhanya, Geiner Martinez, Frankie Westfield, Jovan Lukic, Danley Jean Jacques, Indiana Vassilev, Milan Iloski, Bruno Damiani, Ezekiel AlladohScore Prediction: 1-1 draw
