Photo: Marjorie Elzey 

Who: Philadelphia Union (3rd in Eastern Conference, 8-4-3, 27 pts) vs. CF Montreal (10th in Eastern Conference, 6-8-1, 19 pts)

What: MLS Regular Season

Where: Subaru Park, Chester, Pennsylvania

When: Saturday, June 3rd, 7:30pm ET

Watch: Apple TV (Free)

Whistle: REF: Jon Freemon, AR1: Kyle Atkins, AR2: Diego Blas, 4TH: Rubiel Vazquez, VAR: Carol Anne Chenard, AVAR: TJ Zablocki

The Philadelphia Union look to make it four wins in a row when they welcome CF Montreal to Subaru Park on Saturday night.

CF Montreal ended a 6-game winless streak against the Union with their 3-2 comeback win at home back in Week 3.

The Union boast just a 30.8% home win rate over Montreal, which is their lowest against any opponent that they have hosted at least 10 times.

Scouting Report: CF Montreal

After an atrocious start to the season, having gone 1-6-0 through the first 7 weeks and executing a trade on April 12th that had many MLS pundits scratching their heads, Montreal has seemingly righted the ship. Since then, they have a record of 5-2-1 in their last 8 MLS matches.

Their lone draw came this past Wednesday while playing away against DC United, as they stole a point having been down 0-2 entering the final 10 minutes.

Forward Sunusi Ibrahim found the back in the 80′ via a header after coming of the bench in the 61′ and then provided the assist on the equalizer just two minutes later, when midfielder Ariel Lassiter struck home his well-played cross into the box.

Montreal head coach Hernan Losada will be happy with the come-from-behind draw, especially since a few of his high profile players remain unavailable due to injury, including forward Mason Toye, forward Romell Quioto, and midfielder Samuel Piette. All three players will remain unavailable for Saturday’s contest.

Despite those injuries, there are still a few key players to keep an eye on in Losada’s 3-4-1-2. Central midfielder Victor Wanyama has pieced together an impressive stay in MLS, now in his forth year with Montreal. He has started 14 out of Montreal’s 15 matches so far in 2023.

Lining up next to Wanyama is 24 year old Mathieu Choinier, who has notched 2 goals and 2 assists on the year thus far.

Looking to create chances in central attacking midfield will be 22 year old Bryce Duke, who came over from Inter Miami FC (along with teammate Ariel Lassiter) in the aforementioned trade on April 12 in exchange for defender Kamal Miller. Duke is still searching for his first goal and assist with Montreal.

Injury Report: Samuel Piette (OUT, adductor) Mason Toye (OUT, knee) Quioto (OUT, hamstring), Camacho (QUESTIONABLE, abdominal)

Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union

Having gotten off to their own shaky start in MLS, the Union have been rolling as of late, winning 3 straight and staying unbeaten in their last 8 MLS matches.

The Union won their midweek match on Wednesday at home against Charlotte FC, 1-0. Central attacking midfielder Danial Gazdag got his head on the end of a Kai Wagner cross, with the ball first hitting the post, then ricocheting off the Charlotte goalkeeper and into the net. The goal would’ve marked three straight games with a goal for a Gazdag, having converted penalties in the Union’s previous two matches. However this chance was ultimately ruled an own goal.

The Union’s attacking trio of Gazdag and forwards Julian Carranza, and Mikael Uhre have seemed to found their form after a sluggish start to the season. However, it’s the turnaround of the Union defense that has provided the foundation for their strong run of play.

After logging only 1 clean-sheet in their first 8 matches, they have blanked their opponents in 4 of their last 6 matches, and have given up only 1 goal in those 2 matches in which they have conceded.

Head coach Jim Curtin has veered away from his tried and true 4-4-2 diamond formation as of late, instead deploying consecutive 3-5-2 formations, with center-back Damian Lowe joining Jack Elliot and Jakob Glesnes in the backline. The shift in formation can be partially attributed to the recent injury to midfielder Alejandro Bedoya and midfield maestro Jack McGlynn currently being on international duty with the USMNT U-20 squad at the World Cup in Argentina.

McGlynn will still be away for Saturday’s contest, while Bedoya’s status is in question.

Injury Report: Bedoya (QUESTIONABLE, strain injury)

Match-Up to Watch: Gazdag vs Wanyama

Gazdag is in great form but will have to navigate Wanyama, who is the linchpin for this Montreal midfield.

Player to Watch: Mikael Uhre

He had goal waved off for a questionable offside call on Wednesday against Charlotte.  He’ll be hungry to find the net in this match.

Prediction: Union 2 – 1 Montreal