Match Day #27 Game Thread: Union vs. Impact

Game Information: Philadelphia Union vs. Montreal Impact

Where: PPL Park. Chester, Pennsylvania

When: 7:30 pm

Channel: Comcast Sports Net and *MLS Live (* subject to local blackout)

Meet the Opposition: Mount Royal Soccer

Officals Edvin Jurisevic. Assistants: Adam Wienckowski and Kevin Klinger. 4th: Sorin Stocia.
Jurisevic MLS Career: 63 games; FC/game: 22.8; Y/game: 3.6; R: 8; penalties: 9

SUSPENDED: PHI: Amobi Okugo (through September 8); MTL: Head coach Marco Schallibaum (through September 1)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: PHI: Danny Cruz, Sheanon Williams MTL: Patrice Bernier, Matteo Ferrari

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (1-2-0): Impact 2 wins, 8 goals / Union 1 win, 5 goals

AT PPL PARK (1-0-0): Impact 0 wins, 1 goal / Union 1 win, 2 goals

Injury Report: PHI: Raymon Gaddis (R ankle sprain), Chris Konopka (L knee sprain). MTL: Nelson Rives (L knee surgery), Maximiliamo Rodriguez (foot fracture).

Philadelphia Union starting XI:

MacMath, Fabinho, Parke, Williams, Gaddis, Carroll (c), Le Toux, Daniel, Cruz, McInerney, Casey

Philadelphia Union bench:

Nikolov, Lahoud, Fernandes, Farfan, Kleberson, Wheeler, Hoppenot

Montreal Impact starting XI:

Perkins; Brovsky, Nesta, Ferrari, Camara; Romero, Bernier (C), Bernardello, Mapp; Felipe; Di Vaio

Montreal Impact bench:

Bush, Lopez, Warner, Arnaud, Paponi, Pisanu, Nyassi.

The teams are meeting for the second time this season. The lone previous meeting this season between the two was at Saputo Stadium where the Impact escaped a Union comeback and hung on for a 5-3 win. That was three wins ago, and the Union's defense is not in good shape now. With Okugo suspended, the Union will need a makeshift backline probably featuring one of Michael Lahoud or Aaron Wheeler. Against Marco Di Vaio, that could be a recipe for disaster.

The Montreal Impact currently sit atop the Eastern Conference with 41 points and 1.71 points per game. But it must be said, for them this is a road game and they have done most of their damage this season at Saputo. Last week, the Impact throttled Houston Dynamo 5-0.

The Philadelphia Union are fighting for their playoff lives. After suffering a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of New England Revolution last week, a win would do wonders for the Union. Three points separate the Union from first place, but only two points separate them from 6th place. We have entered the squeaky-bum portion of the season.

Use the thread below as a place to discuss the game and please remember to follow @brotherlygameand @tbglive on Twitter for updates.