Union look for their second home win of the season against a Messi-less Inter Miami team
The Philadelphia Union haven't won a home game since March 30th. If they hope for that second win, they'll have to do it without multiple key players due to Int'l Duty, injuries and a suspension.
Chester, PA — After having the last week off, the Union return to action against the league leaders in the Supporters Shield Inter Miami. Miami sits in first place in MLS with a record of 10-3-5 (35 points), and have won two of their last five matches in the league. Meanwhile, the Union are sitting 17th place in the Supporters Shield standings, and 8th place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 4-4-8 (16 points). The Union have only one win in their last five (lone win coming against a ten man New England Revolution), and have drawn their last three. The Union are looking to get their second win of the MLS season, with that lone win coming on March 30th against Minnesota United in a 2-0 win.
Which Team Will Concede First
One of the main talking points in the first half of the season for the Union was the amount of goals they’ve conceded first this season. They’ve conceded the first goal in nine of their 16 games so far, with five of those coming at Subaru Park, including conceding 50 seconds into the game against CF Montreal two weeks ago. Jim Curtin has mentioned numerous times this season and in the past that this team isn’t built to play from behind, and to their credit they’ve been able to turn some of those results from what would be losses into draws or even a win with a record of 1-3-5 (8 points) when they concede first. Meanwhile, Inter Miami have the same issue as the Union with conceding the first goal, with a league high of 12. But unlike the Union, Inter Miami have been able to pick up 21 points (6-3-3) from when they’ve conceded first. That’s by far the most points and wins in MLS, with the next closest being Real Salt Lake and Austin FC who both have 11 points and three wins.
Who Replaces Dániel Gazdag
With plenty of players missing for both teams due to International tournaments and injuries, maybe the biggest question the Union have to deal with is, who replaces Dániel Gazdag? Naturally, the Union have two options in homegrown players David Vazquez and Jeremy Rafanello. Vazquez has yet to appear for the first team this season, playing all of his minutes for Union II this season, where he has appeared eight times, scoring two goals, while assisting three. Vazquez signed a homegrown contract on April 29th and has yet to appear on the bench for the first team, but that could change this weekend, as Jim Curtin mentioned on Thursday that Quinn Sullivan, Jeremy Rafanello, and David Vazquez “should be in the 20 most likely this weekend”. Rafanello has appeared in three games this season for the Union, with two of those being starts. Jim Curtin mentioned on Thursday the versatility of Rafanello and the option he gives the team with switching formations.
“[He’s] taken a lot of reps at the 10 spot, has played as a central midfielder for us, if you remember in Portland, a little more in a flat four, so he can do a job there,” Curtin said. “Obviously now when you factor in opponent, Sergio Busquets is that six that you need to get around for Miami. The formation we’ll have to choose but he’s a big part of their success and we have to have someone who can get around him and be tough there.”
Jim Curtin also mentioned that Quinn Sullivan is another guy who has the versatility to play as a ten, which we’ve seen Quinn play plenty of different roles this season for the Union whether it be on the outside as an eight, or whether it’s playing up top as a second striker.
Union Don’t Appeal Jack Elliott’s Red Card
Another issue the Union are facing is who replaces Jack Elliott since he is suspended for the red card he received against CF Montreal. Naturally, the replacement would be Damion Lowe, but he is unavailable due to preparations for Copa América with Jamaica. That leaves the Union with only one natural centerback on the roster in 20 year-old Olwethu Makhanya, who the club signed last summer from South African club Stellenbosch FC. Makhanya has yet to feature for the first team since being signed, playing all of his minutes with Union II. This season, Makhanya has started 10 games for Union II, playing 945 minutes, while scoring one goal. Jim Curtin mentioned on Thursday that the young centerback would be up for selection for Miami.
“Passes the eyeball test in terms of size, physicality, intensity, good defending, [but] has to try to eliminate the little mistakes that happen in training sessions when he trains with the top top players,” Curtin said. “But there’s been stretches of Union II games where he’s been really good. He’s had some mistakes in those games too that he’s going to work on like any young good defender. So he’s close, he’ll be up for selection, it’ll be a close decision.”
Another option the Union could go with is Nathan Harriel, who is a right back by trade, but we’ve seen him play centerback in the past for the Union as well. Jim Curtin mentioned that the decision for who pairs next to Jakob Glesnes comes down to matchup, and the pairing that is on the same page and knows each other well.
Player Availability Report
Both teams are set to be without multiple key players due to International Duty with the Copa América and Euro’s going on from June-July. As mentioned above, both Dániel Gazdag, and Damion Lowe won’t be available due to International Duty, Jack Elliott is suspended due to his red card, Andre Blake is still recovering from meniscus surgery, though Jim Curtin mentioned that Andre was “a little ahead of schedule” in terms of his recovery, Isaiah LeFlore is out for the season with his ACL injury, and José Mártinez is also out for international duty. Jim Curtin had mentioned on Thursday that Julián Carranza would be available for selection after recovering from a knock he suffered two weeks ago. But Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Friday that Carranza WOULD NOT play on Saturday, as a deal between Philadelphia Union and Feyenoord was close for the transfer of Carranza. A few moments after that tweet, Fabrizio Romano sent out a tweet with his signature “here we go”, saying that Philadelphia Union and Feyenoord had agreed a deal. Nothing has been official from either club, but in the coming days I’m sure there will be some sort of announcement.
As for Inter Miami, they will be without Lionel Messi, Matías Rojas, and Luis due to International Duty, Facundo Farías and Nicolás Freire are both out with ACL injuries, Federico Redondo is still out with an abductor injury, and Diego Gómez is still out with an ankle injury. A few weeks ago, Inter Miami were without Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez against Vancouver Whitecaps, and despite those players not being there, Miami still came away with a 2-1 victory. Jim Curtin was asked on Thursday if there’s anything the Union can take away from that game with no Messi and Suarez, and Curtin was quick to say there are multiple players that can still hurt you.
“They still have an [Jordi] Alba, a [Sergio] Busquets who can get hurt you and win the game by themselves,” Curtin said. “They have a [Leonardo] Compana who is a starter everywhere else in the league, he just happens to be behind, again, a world class striker in [Luis] Suarez. [He] has scored a ton of goals in our league, is real dangerous, great with his hold up play, and is ruthless in the box. Robert Taylor for me is underrated as well in the attack and can hurt you so many different ways. So it's still a really really great team.”
Series History (MLS Play ONLY)
The Union currently lead the series 4-2-2, with a 3-0-1 record at Subaru Park. The last time these two teams played at Subaru Park, the Union won 4-1. Jakob Glesnes, Leon Flach, Julián Carranza and a David Ruiz own goal were all on the scoresheet on the day for the Union, while Robert Taylor scored the lone goal for Inter Miami. In this point of the season Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi weren’t with Inter Miami yet, nor was head coach Tata Martino. A few months later in Leagues Cup play, the scoreline was reversed and it was a Inter Miami 4-1 victory at Subaru Park with both Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba getting on the scoresheet for Inter Miami.
There are five current Union players with goals against Inter Miami: Julián Carranza, Dániel Gazdag, Kai Wagner, Leon Flach and Jakob Glesnes (1). As for Inter Miami they have three current players with goals against the Union: Robert Taylor, Julian Gressel (2), and Robbie Robinson with (1).
Player availability Report:
Philadelphia Union
Andre Blake - Knee (Out)
Julián Carranza - Not Due to Injury (Out)
Dániel Gazdag - International Duty (Out)
Damion Lowe - International Duty (Out)
Jóse Mártinez- International Duty (Out)
Isaiah LeFlore - Knee (Out)
Inter Miami
Facundo Farías - Knee (Out)
Nicolás Freire - Knee (Out)
Diego Gómez - Ankle (Out)
Lionel Messi - International Duty (Out)
Federico Redondo - Adductor (Out)
Matías Rojas - International Duty (Out)
Luis Suárez - International Duty (Out)
Where to watch
MLS Season Pass on Apple TV with kickoff set for 7:30 pm, June 15th