Preview, projected starting lineups and how to watch the Philadelphia Union vs Toronto FC

Toronto FC comes to Chester tonight with a lot on the line for the Philadelphia Union as they eye both the No. 1 seed in the East and the back on again Supporters’ Shield.

After deciding to not award the Supporters’ Shield last week, the Supporters’ Shield Foundation announced a reversal in that situation on Friday. Toronto is currently in first place, but a three points for the Union would put them in the top spot with three games left to play.

Plenty has been made about this game this week after the Union picked up a win at Gillette Stadium on Monday night but beyond what it could mean in the standings, the Union will want to avenge one of only two losses they’ve suffered since the regular season resumed in home markets back in August.

“We respect Toronto FC a ton,” head coach Jim Curtin said earlier this week. “What they’ve done over consecutive years is something that is exemplary and really hard to do in our league, where there is so much change in parity, to be in finals like they are consistently is something that we aspire to be.”

The Union will go into the game with all of their starters available for the first time in a few weeks. Jose Martinez is available for selection after a league-mandated quarantine following his trip to join the Venezuela national team and captain Alejandro Bedoya is back after serving his second yellow card suspension this season.

“You see (Jose Martinez) on the field and he looks sharp and like he hasn’t missed a beat so hopefully he’ll be able to jump in and contribute in a big way, either as a starter or off the bench,” Curtin said.

Toronto has a full injury list with Jozy Altidore and Jonathan Osorio both out among others and Ayo Akinola listed as questionable. Matt Real and Warren Creavalle will both be out for the Union.

The Union are unbeaten at Subaru Park this season and have picked up 10 points in the four games since losing to Toronto in Connecticut on October 3.

How to Watch

Where: Subaru Park, Chester, Pa.
When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, October 24
TV: PHL 17
Streaming: PhiladelphiaUnion.com in market; ESPN+ out-of-market
Radio: Fox Sports The Gambler 1480 AM and 105.3 HD2
Audio Streaming: IHeart Radio App, Fox Sports The Gambler

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Projected Starting Lineup

Philadelphia Union: 4-4-2 - Andre Blake, Kai Wagner, Mark McKenzie, Jakob Glesnes, Ray Gaddis, Jose Martinez, Alejandro Bedoya, Jamiro Monteiro, Brenden Aaronson, Sergio Santos, Kacper Przybylko

Toronto FC - Quentin Westberg, Auro, Laurent Ciman, Omar Gonzalez, Rich Laryea, Marky Delgado, Michael Bradley, Alejandro Pozuela, Pablo Piatti, Nick DeLeon, Patrick Mullins