Photo Courtesy of Philadelphia Union

Who: Philadelphia Union vs Seattle Sounders

What: MLS Matchday 18

When: Saturday, July 25th, 7:30 PM EST

Where: Subaru Park, Chester, Pennsylvania

Watch: Apple TV

Whistle: Timothy Ford (REF), Adam Wienckowski (AR1), Ben Pilgrim (AR2), Sergii Demianchuk (4th), Jose Carlos Rivero (VAR), Cladiu Badea (AVAR)

The Union returned to action after more than a month this past Wednesday, and they returned in style, smashing NYRB 3-1 at Subaru Park. That win was the first home win of the season for Philly, and their first win since mid-April. Kai Wagner and Quinn Sullivan made their returns; Wagner registered an assist after starting while Sullivan logged over 20 minutes in his first time playing since tearing his ACL.

Head coach Ryan Richter’s Union squad looked stylish on Wednesday, and a lot of his help came from some of the youth he’s coached in recent years. Cavan Sullivan looked solid while Niel Pierre scored a header after coming off the bench. Their upcoming opponents, the Seattle Sounders, come in sitting in 6th in the West, but are losers of their last four. 

Scouting Report: Seattle Sounders

Seattle comes into the weekend in rotten form, even after the month away. After putting up 24 points in their first 11 matches, the Sounders have floundered, losing their last four games by a combined score of 11-2. They’ve scored 19 while also allowing 19 in their 15 games this year en route to their 7-5-3 record. 

Head coach Brian Schmetzer, the longest-tenured MLS coach, didn’t make any moves during the summer break, and the team did not send many players to the World Cup. In Seattle’s first match after the break, also this past Wednesday, they lost 3-1 on the road in Austin, with Paul Rothrock scoring the team’s lone goal and Jackson Ragen picking up a late red card. 

The Sounders are top-half in the league in possession while not scoring or conceding a ton, indicating a strong ability to control the ball but not the ability to do a lot with it. They’ve kept 5 clean sheets, only conceding 19 goals in the other 10 games as keeper Andrew Thomas settles into his first full season between the sticks. 

In attack, Rothrock leads the way with Christian Roldan and Jesus Ferreira, two 2020s USMNT figures, helping out. Schmetzer usually lines his side up in a 4-2-3-1 with Rothrock and Ferreira as the wingers. Albert Rusnak slots into the CAM role, which he’s done nicely, putting up 3 goals and 4 assists to this point. 

Injury Report: Omir Fernandez (Lower Body; Out), Gage Guerra (Lower Body; Out), Jordan Morris (Muscle Injury; Out), Juan Mosquera (Foot/Ankle; Out)

Disciplinary Report: Jackson Ragen (Red Card)

Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union

Richter’s squad looked reborn last time out after an abysmal start to the season. The win didn’t move them in the table at all, but it showed that this season is far from over. The importance of Wagner’s return to the team cannot be overstated, and it certainly helps to have both Sullivans healthy and lively again. 

Makhanya’s absence in the starting XI was noticeable against Red Bulls, but Pierre played very well in his cameo, which definitely gives some hope during and after Makhanya’s absence. 

This is only the second time these two sides have met this decade, with Seattle winning 3-2 in 2024. The Union’s two most recent wins over the Sounders came in 2018 and 2017, respectively, and only goalkeeper Andre Blake is still on the team that played those games. 

Injury Report: Olwethu Makhanya (Out; Personal) 

Disciplinary Report: N/A

Matchup to Watch: Albert Rusnak vs Danley Jean Jacques

Rusnak has been very lively this season as a playmaker for Seattle, but with Danley lined up opposite him with the task of slowing him down, we’re in for a treat. Rusnak, the 32-year-old Slovakian, is not rapid or physically imposing, but he can create and is a tough task for opponents. Danley will have to get physical to stop Rusnak from supplying his team in attack. 

Player to Watch: Milan Iloski

Iloski has scored in four consecutive MLS games, albeit over the course of a few months. In that stretch, he’s scored six times, including a hat trick against Miami. He’s got 8 goals in 16 matches, and is as in-form as it gets. Seattle’s backline has been very strong this year, but Iloski absolutely has the talent to break through. 

Score Prediction: Union 2 – 1 Seattle

The Union emerged from the break with a resurgence of life and are likely to parlay that in another home game, especially with how Seattle has been sliding. Seattle has only scored 6 times in 8 away matches, and the Union has conceded a goal a game at home, setting up this scoreline nicely.