Philadelphia Union starting XI: MacMath, Gaddis, Valdes, Okugo, Williams, Lahoud, Carroll, Cruz, M.Farfan, Martinez, Adu

Philadelphia Union bench: Konopka, Albright, McInerney, Hoppenot, Hoffman, Daniel, Torres

Houston Dynamo starting XI: Hall, Sarkodie, Boswell, Hainault, Taylor, Camargo, R. Clark, Davis, Boniek, Bruin, Kandji

Houston Dynamo bench: Deric, Ching, Weaver, Carr, Creavalle, Moffat, Barnes

With a draw or a loss, the Philadelphia Union will be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Not that the playoffs were ever that realistic a possibility for the Union once they got off to such a rough start under Peter Nowak, but any dreams or aspirations some may have had after the hot start under John Hackworth can finally (mercifully?) come to an end.

Prediction: Pain. Lots and lots of pain. The Dynamo are in a playoff race. The Philadelphia Union are playing some of the worst major professional soccer this side of the prime meridian. Thankfully Toronto FC is always worse, but that's little consolation. Houston Dynamo 2-0.

The is scheduled for 4:00 and can be seen on 6ABC. If you hear random bouts of sobbing, that's me watching the Eagles lose to Arizona knowing that a DVR'd Union game awaits me.