Match: Philadelphia Union vs. Montreal Impact
Date: Saturday, June 27th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: PPL Park
Television: 6ABC
History
The Union have matched up with the Montreal Impact eight times since Montreal joined the league in 2012 with an overall record of 2-4-2. The last time these two teams met was August 9th, 2014 in a game that saw the Union take down the Impact 2-1 thanks to a Sebastien Le Toux brace. Despite the Union's poor record against Montreal, they have yet to lose to the Impact at home.
Recent Form
Philadelphia Union (5-10-3, 18 points) 7th place in Eastern Conference
Montreal Impact (5-6-2, 17 points) 8th place in Eastern Conference
The Union are finally at the end of a stretch of three games in seven days that was punctuated with a west coast road trip and subsequent drubbing at the hands of the LA Galaxy. They were able to grab three points against a seriously under-manned Seattle Sounders team and will face a Montreal squad that is also at the end of an crammed schedule of games. The Impact are fresh off of a 3-1 loss at the hands of their Canadian rivals Toronto FC and will be looking to take advantage of a tired and injured Union squad.
Notes
The Union and Impact are not as close in points as the standings may suggest. Thanks to their CONCACAF Champions League final run, the Impact have only played 13 games compared to the Union's 18. While the Union may be a point up on the Impact, they are not as bad as their point total may suggest. Their five wins have come against tough competition (Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas, Vancouver Whitecaps, Columbus Crew SC and Orlando City) and their dangerous attack led by Ignacio Piatti, Andres Romero and Jack McInerney will be a threat to a poor Union defense.
The Union will look to ride the hot hand of CJ Sapong who has now scored in four consecutive games, setting a team record in the process. It will be interesting to see what changes Jim Curtin makes to his already tired squad considering the lack of options at his disposal. Fernando Aristeguieta, Steven Vitoria and Sebastien Le Toux are unlikely to play, leaving an already thin squad with few options against Montreal.
Projected Union Lineup
GK: Brian Sylvestre
D: Sheanon Williams, Maurice Edu, Ethan White, Ray Gaddis
M: Vincent Nogueira, Brian Carroll, Zach Pfeffer, Andrew Wenger, Eric Ayuk
F: CJ Sapong
Prediction: Philadelphia 1, Montreal 1