Photo courtesy of Kevin Barrett
Who: Philadelphia Union vs Charlotte FC
What: MLS Regular Season, Matchday 19
Where: Subaru Park, Chester, Pennsylvania
When: Saturday, June 14, 7:30 PM EST
Watch: MLS Season Pass on AppleTV
Whistle: TBD
Following a two-week hiatus from Major League Soccer action, the conference-leading Philadelphia Union are back in action this weekend, welcoming ninth-place Charlotte FC to Subaru Park. Saturday’s match will be the seventh regular season meeting between the two sides, with the all-time series level at two wins, two draws, and two losses apiece.
Scouting Report: Charlotte FC
Charlotte FC enters the weekend with a balanced record of eight wins, one draw, and eight losses, and remains a competitive side despite missing key players. Leading goal scorer Patrick Agyemang (six goals, one assist) and veteran defender Tim Ream are unavailable due to international duty with the U.S. Men’s National Team. In their absence, attacking responsibilities will fall to Wilfried Zaha (four goals, three assists) and Pep Biel (five goals, seven assists), while younger players like Idan Toklamati and Tyger Smalls will be counted on to contribute offensively and help maintain momentum in the final third.
Injury Report: N/A
International Duty: Patrick Agyemang, Tim Ream
Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union head into their upcoming match at the top of the Eastern Conference and second in the Supporters’ Shield race, boasting an impressive 35 points from 17 games (10-4-3). Despite this strong start, Head Coach Bradley Carnell is preparing to rely heavily on squad depth, with six consistent starters unavailable—four due to international duty (Andre Blake, Danley Jean Jacques, Nate Harriel, Quinn Sullivan) and two (Tai Baribo, Mikael Uhre) sidelined with injuries. Baribo is receiving treatment in Israel with cooperation from his national team, while Uhre is making steady progress and has returned to light training. Both strikers are projected to be back in about 10-12 days, possibly in time for the Union’s trip to Chicago Fire FC. Carnell emphasized the team’s cohesion and mentality during a strong May stretch but remains focused on consistency and performance in the critical second half of the season.
Injury Report: Ian Glavinovich (Out), Tai Baribo (Out), Mikael Uhre (Out)
International Duty: Andre Blake, Danley Jean Jacques, Nate Harriel, Quinn Sullivan
Matchup to Watch: Zaha & Biel vs. Union’s Midfield
With Charlotte FC leaning heavily on Wilfried Zaha and Pep Biel to drive their attack, the pressure will be on the Union’s rotated midfield to contain their creativity and limit their space. Zaha’s pace and flair paired with Biel’s vision and technical precision pose a constant threat between the lines. The Union’s depth will be tested as they look to disrupt that duo’s rhythm, stay organized defensively, and prevent Charlotte from building momentum.
Player to Watch: Bruno Damiani
With both Baribo and Uhre sidelined, the stage is set for Damiani to step up and make a significant impact. This is an ideal opportunity for him to find his rhythm, showcase his ability to influence the game in the final third, and start producing consistently.
Prediction: Union 1-0 Charlotte FC
Forced to rely on their depth won’t prove to be a problem for the Union, who showed throughout May that their versatility and squad rotation can maintain a high level of performance.
Can anyone imagine the Premier League or La Liga playing games the night before the Euro’s start? But we get to pay full price to watch a game where both teams are missing top players due to the Gold Cup.
This would be the one of the few good things that could come from a switch to the European schedule. Gonna be interesting to see what happens next year.
They will probably take a week off and start playing again. Be interesting to see how the Union draw when Iran is playing Senegal at the Linc on the same night.