Photo: Earl Gardner

Who: Philadelphia Union (5th in the East, 30 points, 9-3-11) vs. New York City FC (3rd in the East, 47 points, 15-2-6)
What: 2018 regular season game
Where: Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, PA
When: Saturday, August 18 at 7 pm
Watch: PHL17, YES, ESPN+, DAZN
Whistle: Fotis Bazakos; C.J. Morgante, Craig Lowry; Alejandro Mariscal; Edvin Jurisevic

As exciting as it is that the Union have qualified for their third U.S. Open Cup Final, it’s important to remember that there’s still over a month left until that fateful Wednesday. That month is full of regular season games, which are games the Union need to take seriously if they want to bring the team back to the playoffs at the end of this season.

This weekend’s challenger is making a short trip to the friendly confines of Talen Energy Stadium. But despite their geographic proximity, these teams are coming from a very different philosophy. While the Union acknowledge they’re bringing a knife to a gun fight, New York City is backed by the financial and logistical might of City Football Group, one of the wealthiest and most powerful sporting empires in the world. “Built not bought” is the obvious cheeky retort in this kind of situation, but it raises an honest question: can a team build something stronger than what another team can buy?

Scouting report: New York City FC

Possible New York City Lineup

If you follow MLS as a whole, you’ll regularly hear New York City FC mentioned as one of the top preforming teams in the league. And they do deserve that recognition. Even after head coach Patrick Viera left the City Football Group to coach “back home” in Nice, they’ve consistently been one of the more active and aggressive teams, currently sitting eight points clear of the scrum for Eastern Conference playoff spots number four, five, and six.

But even though they’re tied on points with their New York neighbors, they’re not the complete package like the Red Bulls are. Their high-horsepower offense has been let down consistently by a leaky defense. And that is a problem made only worse by goalkeeper Sean Johnson’s lingering shoulder injury. With him unavailable, replacement head coach Domènec Torrent has had to make do with Brad Stuver, an Ohio native who spent most of his time in Ohio on the bench or being lent out to USL teams.

One thing the Pigeons have going for them is an ability to draw a card when they need it. In their last five games the opposing team has had a player sent off three times, and it’s hard to not see a correlation when you realize they didn’t win the two games where the other team kept their full 11. With a physical style of play and an apparent ability to get under the other team’s skin, the Union will have to demonstrate an unusual amount of discipline to ensure they keep the numbers on the field from turning against them.

• Injury report: Yangel Herrera (M, ankle), Cedric Houtondji (D, hamstring); Questionable: Sean Johnson (GK, shoulder)
• Suspended: None.
• International: None.

Scouting report: Philadelphia Union

Possible Union Lineup

Fans who’ve been clamoring for a change in how head coach Jim Curtin organizes his offense are in for a treat. Fafà Picault is suspended due to yellow card accumulation, Ilsinho is dealing with a lingering quad strain, and David Accam continues to struggle. Even if C.J. Sapong returns to the wing where he played against New England, there’s still an open seat on the other side of the field. In an alternate dimension where the Union are more daring than the in our dimension, this would be when Alejandro Bedoya returns to the position he’s seen the most success for club and country. But the reality is likely to be less dramatic than that. Fabian Herbers has returned from obscurity over the past few games, but it’s reasonable to expect Marcus Epps to get the start since he has more (or any) experience on the left wing.

Expect the other ten spots on the field to remain unchanged from last week’s road win over New England. The Union will need exceptional performances from several players if they hope to succeed. Luckily many of those players (Bedoya, Blake, the entire back line) have done enough over the course of the season for confidence that they’ll be able to do it again. The pointy end remains a question as it has for quite a long time, but the Union have won every game Cory Burke has started and C.J. Sapong looks less lost and is less of a liability back on the wing where he made his name with Sporting KC.

• Injury report: Mark McKenzie (D, left knee); Questionable: Ilsinho (M, right quad), Josh Yaro (D, illness)
• Suspended: Fafà Picault (1 game, yellow card accumulation)
• International: Adam Najem (AFG, friendly vs. PLE)

Key matchup: The Union Attack vs. Brad Stuver

While they Union have improved significantly since its early-season goal-scoring drought, they’re still not exactly a high-powered offensive threat. But if Sean Johnson doesn’t make his return this weekend for NYCFC, it could be the Union’s chance to get away from that reputation if they’re able to light up New York’s second string keeper. This matchup remains equally important if Johnson makes his return, just with a higher degree of difficulty for the Union.

Player to watch: David Villa

New York’s captain still has enough skill to challenge most teams in the world, but he’s been particularly deadly against the Union in the past. From the first time the teams met to a more memorable embarrassment. Keeping Villa in check will be essential if the Union want a result of any kind.

Prediction: Philadelphia Union 1 – 2 New York City FC

Being fifth in the east and on their way to a U.S. Open Cup Final is unquestionably a great position for the Union to be at this point in the season. But the simple fact remains that they’ve yet to get it done when playing against the league’s best teams. While it is possible that the Union surprise everyone and get a result, it doesn’t seem particularly probable.