Photo: Mikey Reeves

Who: Philadelphia Union (11th place, 16 points, 4-7-4) vs. D.C. United (10th place, 18 points, 5-8-3)
What: 2017 regular season game
Where: Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pa.
When: Saturday, June 24 at 7 pm
Watch: TCN, MLS Live, Direct Kick
Whistle: Kevin Stott; Kermit Quisenberry and Craig Lowry; Sorin Stoica

The Eastern Conference’s cellar dwellers meet for the third time this season. Philadelphia Union and D.C. United both desperately need three points to quickly stave off their current slumps and retain a faint sliver of postseason hope. The two previous games between the teams have been awkward, messy affairs, including a 2-1 D.C. win punctuated by the Union’s defensive turnovers and a 4-0 stomping by Philadelphia triggered by an incredibly dumb red card. The rubber match will likely see more of the same as both teams are desperate for an end to their early summer slumps.

Projected D.C. lineup

Scouting report: D.C. United

Before last night’s win over Atlanta, D.C. simply could not get the ball in the back of the net, revealed by some galling stats: Just one goal in the prior seven matches (and it was a PK), two wins in their last ten games, and just four assists (as a team!) all year. Yikes.

Last night in RFK, D.C. got back in the winning column by jumping on some egregious defensive errors by Atlanta, while holding steady against the expansion team’s terrific counter attacks.

D.C.’s offensive problems are not solved by one good showing and are not wholly different from the Union’s own struggles. A fledgling defense and overran midfield simply can’t hold the ball and dictate the game whatsoever. Enigmatic, though talented, midfielder Luciano Acosta is often stranded at the top of the midfield triangle or goes about wandering all over the pitch to kick shins/look for the ball. In short, the team has been playing scattered and on their heels, leaving their best player without ample opportunity to dictate the game.

When Acosta can get on the ball in space – typically, in the fracas after turnovers when D.C. thrives – defenders gravitate to him and open up the field for his wing counterparts with mixed results. When Acosta, perhaps wisely, goes alone, he can be a deadly finisher. Now that Patrick Nyarko is back from injury and Acosta is not the lone creative force, expect the United attack to pick up.

• Injury report: Out – Rob Vincent (left meniscus), Nick DeLeon (lower abdominal strain), Sean Franklin (hamstring), Patrick Mullins (knee surgery), Bobby Boswell (groin)
• Suspended: None

Projected Union lineup

Scouting report: Philadelphia Union

In 2017, the Union have either been very hot or very cold. Whether it’s the never-ending winless streak to start the season, the little run of good form and consecutive shutouts, or the current return to the abyss, the Union have been maddeningly inconsistent.

Jim Curtin indicated in his midweek press conference that Alejandro Bedoya will be returning to at least the 18 and most likely the starting lineup. Bedoya’s return should help shore up the Union’s troubling return to their early season struggles. Bedoya’s absence cutting out opponents’ attacks and setting up Haris Medunjanin was on full display in both of the most recent matches versus the New York clubs. Medunjanin especially struggled against the Red Bulls, where he was pinned in the Union’s own half by the high press. Bedoya should help alleviate that pressure.

On defense, Oguchi Onyewu and Jack Elliott (and really the entire backline) will look to save face after letting Red Bull attackers drift behind them without consequence throughout the second half. Acosta likes to sneak around just above the 18 and it will take real communication and organization by whoever starts for the Union to track United’s runners. And as D.C. loves to capitalize on defensive miscues, the onus will be on Andre Blake and his defenders to be prudent with the ball.

• Injury report: Out – Fabian Herbers (right abductor); Questionable – Alejandro Bedoya (left hamstring strain), Brian Carroll (lumbar)
• Suspended: Derrick Jones (red card)

Key matchup

Oguchi Onyewu vs. Luciano Acosta

Gooch is terrific at stepping up and snuffing out attacks before they become dangerous. Acosta is a tricky and manipulative attacker who can pull defenders out of position and punish them with quick dribbling and a powerful shot. Onyewu will have to be disciplined and alert for Acosta popping up in space and pouncing on errors.

Player to watch

Chris Pontius

Chris Pontius needs to get the monkey off his back and bag a goal. After two poorly-taken chances last week, Pontius will have a ripe opportunity to stamp his name on the stat sheet versus his former club. Taylor Kemp has given the Union fits recently so it will be up to Pontius to own the left flank and open up the field – and his 2017 account.

Prediction: Philadelphia 1-0 D.C. United

If the Union can cut out the defensive errors, they should be able to stifle D.C.’s struggling attack and create some dangerous goal-scoring opportunities. The question is whether they’ll be able to put one or two away.