Photo courtesy of Marjorie Elzey
Who: Philadelphia Union vs Columbus Crew
What: Leagues Cup, Semifinals
Where: Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio
When: Wednesday, August 21, 7:30 PM EST
Watch: Apple TV Season Pass
Whistle: TBD
For a second straight year in a row, the Philadelphia Union will play in the Leagues Cup Semifinals. This time around, they travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on the defending MLS Cup Champions, Columbus Crew. Ironically enough, the Union and Crew were slated to face off this upcoming Saturday for MLS play, but the match has been rescheduled to August 28 to accomodate both teams’ run in the Leagues Cup.
Scouting Report: Columbus Crew
Head Coach Wildred Nancy has led the Crew to third place in the Eastern Conference standings, and so far in Leagues Cup, they’ve taken down two top-of-the-table opponents in Inter Miami CF and New York City FC. While their games have been close (they defeated Miami by one goal and took NYCFC to penalty kicks), their overall Leagues Cup journey started with a group stage bye. Additionally, Columbus boasts a notable home field advantage, having only ever lost two of 41 games at Lower.com Field across all competitions.
Injury Report: N/A
Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union
Unlike their opponents, Philadelphia have played five games to get to the Leagues Cup Semifinals, and now, they’ll be playing with some notable roster changes. Tai Baribo, who leads the Golden Boot race in Leagues Cup, will miss the semifinal as a result of two contentious yellow cards courtesy of Selvin Brown against Mazatlán FC. In midfield, Jose Martinez will most likely be replaced by Leon Flach, as Martinez’s transfer to Brazilian club Corinthians is nearing completion.
Injury Report: Jose Martinez (Impending Transfer), Tai Baribo (YCA)
Matchup to Watch: Union Defense vs. Cucho & Rossi
It’s no secret how good Cucho Hernández and Diego Rossi have been this year–in the last 11 games across all competitions, the South American duo has combined for 18 goals and 13 assists. For a Union defense that at times looked like a shell of its former self, this will be the ultimate test.
Player to Watch: Daniel Gazdag
With Baribo out on Yellow Card Accumulation, the onus falls on Gazdag to ensure that the offense is firing on all cylinders. Despite 14 goals and two assists in 21 MLS games this season, he’s been held to just one goal in Leagues Cup play.
Prediction: Union 1 – 0 Crew
Like Jim said, “…we have guys who have guts”. And the truth of the matter is, when Philadelphia play the way they’re built to, they’re a hard team to play against. All that matters now is that it’s that team that got on the plane to Columbus.
I hope you are right about the final score !
Didn’t the Union contest the red card ?
its a wishful call on her part, but also a gutsy one. As Blake wears a shirt that says Jesus saves i second her call. We will be defensive minded for sure.
Curtin said that it wasn’t worth it as he felt it would not be reversed from a straight to nothing
Gotta throw the ball at the hoop…it could go in ?
The VAR review changed it from a straight Red, down to a yellow (second yellow).
+1
The real problem is neither of those cards should have been a yellow. Neither was really even a foul. I KNEW they were only going to take away the straight red and make it a second yellow… unfortunately the first yellow never should have been called as such which is what put Baribo in the pickle he was in.
Agree!
Union will probably sit back. We need to get an early goal somehow. Sullivan and or Uhre must get loose and past the back line. Both have outside speed and must time their runs perfectly. Sullivan has that extra move that can make a difference. UNION scoring first will boost the Unions defense confidence and allow them to not play overly conservatively and with much less anxiety to play perfectly .
Let’s go phili. Get stuck into these cunts.
Not cool. Wash your mouth out with soap.
Here at halftime, we’re down 2-1 atm, We don’t look good at all, should be losing by more, and probably will lose by more. Hopefully I’m proven wrong
Hey, you did your part and more.