Photo courtesy of Kevin Barrett

Who: Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC

What: MLS Matchday 28

Where: Subaru Park, Chester Pennsylvania

When: Saturday, September 26, 7:30 PM EST

Watch: AppleTV

Whistle: Sergii Demianchuk (REF), Kyle Atkins (AR1), Matthew Nelson (AR2), Joe Surgan (4TH), Kevin Terry Jr (VAR), Tom Supple (AVAR)

The Philadelphia Union return to Subaru Park on Saturday night looking to extend their club-record-tying unbeaten run to 12 matches when they welcome Orlando City SC.

Philadelphia has been nearly unstoppable since the World Cup break, climbing from the bottom of the table into sixth place in the Eastern Conference after going 9W-0L-2D during its 11-game unbeaten streak. The latest chapter was perhaps the most dramatic yet, as the Union erased a three-goal deficit to defeat Sporting Kansas City 4-3 last weekend.

Orlando presents a very different challenge, however, as the Lions have also transformed their season since the World Cup break and sit just two points behind Philadelphia in seventh. With both teams fighting for playoff positioning while missing key contributors Saturday’s matchup could have major implications in the Eastern Conference.

Scouting Report: Orlando City SC

Orlando has followed a similar script to Philadelphia since the World Cup break, going 6W-3L-2D and climbing into the playoff picture after a difficult first half of the season. The Lions’ transformation was fueled in large part by the arrival of Antoine Griezmann, who scored seven goals across five consecutive MLS matches before suffering a knock in the US Open Cup semifinal. His status remains uncertain heading into Saturday, leaving Orlando potentially without the player who has provided its biggest attacking spark since the summer.

Even without Griezmann, Orlando has plenty of dangerous pieces. Martín Ojeda has been the club’s leading scorer with 12 goals and two assists, including a two-goal performance against Philadelphia earlier this season. Iván Angulo has also found his scoring touch, contributing four goals and two assists since the World Cup break. Orlando will need both players to carry more of the attacking burden if Griezmann remains unavailable.

Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union

It is difficult to overstate just how different Philadelphia looks from the team that entered the World Cup break at the bottom of the league. Ryan Richter’s side has gone unbeaten in 11 straight matches, winning nine of those games, and has developed an attacking confidence that has turned the Union into one of the hottest teams in MLS. Cavan Sullivan has been at the center of that resurgence, but with the 16-year-old away on USMNT duty alongside Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield, Philadelphia will have to find a way to recreate that production without three important homegrowns.

Fortunately for the Union, there is plenty of attacking firepower still available. Bruno Damiani enters the match on a three-game scoring streak after producing five goals and an assist over that stretch, while Milan Iloski has established himself as one of Philadelphia’s most consistent attacking threats with 13 goals and six assists. Quinn Sullivan has also returned to form as he continues to regain his fitness, recording a goal and five assists over his last three appearances. Behind them, the return of Kai Wagner has provided another creative outlet and a familiar source of service from the left flank.

The bigger question may be how Philadelphia handles the absences elsewhere, as Richter will have to make several changes to a lineup that has remained remarkably consistent throughout the unbeaten run. The Union have built tremendous momentum, but this will be a test of their depth as much as their form.

Injury Report: Frankie Westfield (Out; International Duty), Cavan Sullivan (Out; International Duty), Neil Pierre (Out; International Duty), Andre Blake (Out; International Duty), Danley Jean Jacques (Out; International Duty), Philippe Ndinga (Out; International Duty)

Disciplinary Report: Kai Wagner and Japhet Sery Larsen are both one caution away from suspension/fine based on yellow card accumulation. 

Matchup to Watch: Philadelphia’s Attack vs Orlando’s Defense

The most intriguing battle could be whether Philadelphia’s attack can maintain its recent explosiveness despite losing several of the players who have driven the team’s resurgence.

If Philadelphia can continue generating the kind of attacking momentum we’ve seen in recent weeks without its USMNT contingent, it could make life very difficult for an Orlando backline that is also missing several regular contributors. But if the Lions can disrupt the Union’s rhythm early, the absences could become much more noticeable as the match progresses.

Player to Watch: Milan Iloski

With Cavan Sullivan unavailable, Milan Iloski feels like the natural player to watch for Philadelphia. The 26-year-old has been one of the Union’s most reliable attacking outlets throughout his first full season in Philadelphia, leading the team with 13 goals and six assists. He’ll likely be asked to shoulder an even greater portion of the offensive responsibility against Orlando.

Prediction: Philadelphia 2 – 1 Orlando City SC 

Orlando has enough attacking quality to cause problems, particularly through Ojeda and Angulo, and the uncertainty surrounding Griezmann adds another variable.

Still, the Union are playing with an enormous amount of confidence, and Subaru Park should provide a boost as they attempt to extend their unbeaten streak to 12 matches. Expect Orlando to make them work for it, but Philadelphia’s attacking depth ultimately proves enough to secure another three points.