Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union
Who: Philadelphia Union vs Vancouver Whitecaps
What: MLS Regular Season, Matchday 33
Where: BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia
When: Saturday, September 13, 9:35 PM EST
Watch: MLS Season Pass on AppleTV
Whistle: Allen Chapman (Referee), Stefan Tanaka-Freundt (AR1), Felisha Mariscal (AR2), Mo Mohseni (4th), Edvin Jurisevic (VAR), Brian Dunn (AVAR)
After a two-week break, first-place Philadelphia Union are back in action this Saturday night, making the cross-country trip to face Western Conference contenders Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. The Union enter the match as Supporters’ Shield leaders with five games left in the regular season, looking to build on their recent momentum and stay ahead in the race for silverware. Vancouver, meanwhile, sit third in the West and will be pushing to lock up a playoff berth, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.
Scouting Report: Vancouver Whitecaps
The Whitecaps (14W-6L-7D, 49 points) enter the weekend third in the Western Conference and seventh overall in the Shield race, still with two games in hand on several teams. Under first-year head coach Jesper Sørensen, Vancouver have built a balanced side that blends veteran consistency with exciting young talent.
Injury Report: Sam Adekugbe (Out; Achilles), Ryan Gauld (Out; Knee), Joedrick Pupe (Out; Hamstring), Sebastian Schonlau (Out; Achilles), Ranko Veselinović (Out; Knee), Brian White (Out; Hamstring)
Disciplinary Report: Andrés Cubas (one caution away from suspension/fine), Mathias Laborda (one caution away from suspension/fine), Édier Ocampo (one caution away from suspension/fine)
Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union
The Union (17W-6L-6D, 57 points) arrive on the West Coast holding the league’s best record and a four-point cushion in the Supporters’ Shield standings. Under head coach Bradley Carnell, Philadelphia have struck a strong balance between veteran leadership and emerging youth.
Quinn Sullivan has become a creative spark with 10 assists, while Bruno Damiani and Mikael Uhre provide consistent attacking output. At the back, stalwarts like Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner continue to anchor one of MLS’s stingiest defenses.
Philadelphia’s last MLS outing was a statement road win, taking down second-place FC Cincinnati 1-0 at TQL Stadium on August 30. With just five regular season matches remaining, the Union know each result will shape their Shield fate and playoff seeding.
Injury Report: N/A
Disciplinary Report: Olwethu Makhanya (Suspended: Red Card – Second Caution), Jovan Lukic (one caution away from suspension/fine), Frankie Westfield (one caution away from suspension/fine)
Matchup to Watch: The Pierre Brothers
Adding a personal twist to this cross-conference clash, Vancouver forward Nelson Pierre will face his brother Neil Pierre, a defender for Philadelphia, for the first time in MLS. Both have starred in MLS NEXT Pro for their respective clubs; Nelson sits fourth in MLS goals with 13, while Neil has been a consistent presence in Philadelphia’s backline, making this sibling rivalry one to watch.
Player to Watch: Quinn Sullivan
The 21-year-old homegrown has taken a major step forward in 2025, recording 10 assists and two goals while cementing himself as the creative link in Philadelphia’s attack. His ability to find space and deliver the final pass will be crucial against a Vancouver side that’s difficult to break down at home.
Prediction: Union 1 -1 Vancouver
A hard-fought draw keeps the Union on top of the Shield race while giving Vancouver another valuable point in their playoff push.
While I’d love to nab all three points I would be happy with a draw. But I am concerned about our defense against their potent attack, and limiting them to one goal may be a bit optimistic. With Makhanya out and Danley on tired legs we could be vulnerable down the middle. This would be a good time for Neil Pierre to have a statement game.