- Chivas USA are on a 13 game winless streak
- Philadelphia, 3-0-2, have never lost to Chivas
- Freddy Adu scored the winner when these sides last met
Friday night action down by the banks of the Delaware River. Does it get much better than that?
That what’s in store tonight as two team desperate for a win go head-to-head. The Philadelphia Union are on a three-game winless streak and they lost 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo last time out. While Chivas USA are in one of the deepest slumps the franchise has ever seen, and there’s been a few, as it’s now 13 games without a win for the Goats.
Union boss John Hackworth is without duo Jack McInerney, Keon Daniel who are on Gold Cup duty with the USA and Trinidad & Tobago respectively. Chivas only have one absentee through Gold Cup action, as defender Steve Purdy is away with El Salvador.
Coming off a closely fought defeat to Houston, the Union will be looking to grab a vital victory that could momentarily push them up to second place in the Eastern conference. Hackworth has impressively assembled a solid core of young US talent and despite losing leading goalscorer McInerney to the USA, he will be hoping to see veteran striker Conor Casey step up to the plate.
The only times these two teams met last season was a feisty affair in Carson, Calif. as former Union boss Peter Nowak was sent off for entering the field, while Philadelphia finished the game with nine-men as Keon Daniel and Gabrial Farfan were given red cards.
Fast forward to today, and Chivas come off the back of a spirited tie with Eastern conference leaders Montreal. Chivas’ Eric Avila put the Goats 1-0 up but the Impact rallied to net a late equalizer. The draw was Chivas’ third in a row, and interim head coach Jose Luis Real must be taking heart from the way his troops are fighting.
All the stats point to a big Union win down at PPL Park, but can Chivas defend for their lives and grab another draw? The game kicks off at 7:30pm ET and you can watch it on MLS Live.
What they’re saying
Union boss John Hackworth after the defeat to Houston: “This is a tough league; you’re going to win some and you’re going to lose some, especially when you play in these kinds of conditions with our third game in eight days. I thought our team put out a fantastic effort. It just wasn’t there tonight. I think it was a great opportunity for some of our younger guys. I had no problem with how they played. I think they all did great.”
Chivas’ interim manager Jose Luis Real after the Montreal tie: “In my opinion, this game was the most important, the best for our team. Because Montreal is at the top of the teams and our team was always at the top today.”
Chivas USA captain Dan Kennedy: “Every point is important in this league. We’re at a stage where we’re growing up under our new coach. There’s been a lot of change, so you can see each game we’re growing a little bit.”
Prediction
Everything is pointing towards a Union win, and a big one. But Chivas have been solid, yet unspectacular in recent weeks. They are fighting for their new manager and for their own pride. But after long road trips for both teams prior to this, energy levels will be low. I fancy Philadelphia to snatch all three points but it will be tight and tense.
