Philadelphia Union vs. Atlanta United | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Philadelphia Union vs. Atlanta United
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 19
Talen Energy Stadium — Chester
July 7 - 7 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

Having lost three of their last four, the Philadelphia Union are hoping to turn things around and move above the playoff line in the Eastern Conference against an Atlanta United team that remains atop the table even after a 3-2 loss at FC Dallas that snapped a six-match unbeaten streak.

This is the second meeting this season, with the Five Stripes defeating the nine-man Union, 3-1, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 2. Josef Martinez scored a hat trick, including two goals from the penalty spot, after both Alejandro Bedoya and Haris Medunjanin were sent off for second bookable offenses inside the first 20 minutes.

Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia (6-8-3) continued to struggle away from Talen Energy Stadium, falling 4-1 to LAFC at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday. Adama Diomande scored twice in the first half, but Fafa Picault pulled the Union back a goal just before halftime.

Diomande had his hat trick 10 minutes into the second half and Latif Blessing added a late insurance goal for the expansion side as the Union fell to 1-6-1 on the road.

“We had our chances early [and] we had some youthful mistakes today, but that’s something we’ve signed up for and are on board with because we still see a lot of progress with our young center backs,” Jim Curtin said. “Were there some critical errors tonight? Absolutely, and a good team like LA punishes us, so there is a bit of a learning curve for our guys.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Josh Yaro (concussion); QUESTIONABLE: D - Richie Marquez (sports hernia surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Andre Blake — Keegan Rosenberry, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Raymon Gaddis — Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya — Marcus Epps, Borek Dockal, Fafa Picault — CJ Sapong

Atlanta United

In a matchup of two of the top teams in MLS, Atlanta (11-4-4) conceded a pair of late goals to fall at FC Dallas, 3-2, Wednesday night.

Martinez struck for a brace, his 16th and 17th goals of the season, creating a six-goal gap in the Golden Boot race, as the Five Stripes rallied from an early deficit to take a 2-1 lead in the 73rd minute. But Tesho Akindele came off the bench to score a pair of goals two minutes apart in the closing moments of the second half to snatch all three points from Atlanta.

“I hope the loss doesn’t affect us for the next match,” Gerardo "Tata" Martino said. “These kinds of losses hurt. They hurt the most when you don’t deserve to lose. When the opponents are better than you, it’s a different kind of feeling because you know that team outplayed you. You are able to accept that loss more even though it still hurts you.. In our case, we did everything we could to win but ended up leaving emptyhanded.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: F - Romario Williams, D/M - Chris McCann
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Greg Garza (shoulder surgery), M - Darlington Nagbe (right adductor injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Brad Guzan — Franco Escobar, Michael Parkhurst, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Mikey Ambrose — Julian Gressel, Jeff Larentowicz — Hector Villalba, Miguel Almiron, Ezequiel Barco — Josef Martinez

All-Time Series

Overall: Philadelphia Union 0 wins, 3 goals … Atlanta United 2 wins, 8 goals … 1 draw
At Philadelphia: Union 0 wins, 2 goals … Atlanta United 0 wins, 2 goals … 1 draw
Last meeting at Philadelphia: Philadelphia Union 2, Atlanta United 2 (Aug. 26, 2017)