MLS Match Preview: Philadelphia Union vs. Toronto FC
The MLS returns and the Philadelphia Union will begin their 10th season in the league when they play host to Toronto FC at Talen Energy Stadium at 1:00 PM ET kickoff.
The Union-Toronto matchup in Chester will open up the MLS season as the first game played in the 24th season in MLS history as there are now 24 teams in the league. New Union acquisition and Mexican playmaker Marco Fabián will debut in his first game with the Union at the number 10 position as his salary is the largest salary in Union history. Fabián has earned 34 appearances with the Mexican national team and Sporting Director Ernst Tanner believes that Fabián can set this over the top and reach new heights that they have never reached before. This offseason the Union also made a splash by acquiring the speedy, talented Brazilian striker Sergio Santos, reaching a deal with the experienced center back Aurelien Collin, and signing left back Kai Wagner who has plenty of potential and sheer skill at the age of 21. The game will be broadcasted on 6abc as JP Dellacamera and Tommy Smyth will be on the call. The game can also be streamed on ESPN+ but blackout restrictions may apply.
.@wallo267 on the mic ?
? comin’ tomorrow ?#ThisIsPhilly | #MLSisBack | #DOOP pic.twitter.com/0xpA6FzlPh— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) February 28, 2019
Last season the Union went 15-14-5 to notch their first 50 point season in franchise history as they finished in sixth place in the Eastern Conference before falling to NYCFC on the road in the knockout round of the MLS Playoffs. Philadelphia was also the runners-up in the U.S. Open Cup for the third time in five seasons as they are still looking to attain their first-ever piece of hardware or trophy. They will be looking to have an even better season in 2019 and go further in the playoffs with their new-look team and improved depth. The Boys in Blue will open the season against Toronto FC at home for the second time in three seasons while they tied by a final score of 2-2 on March 11th, 2017 in an exciting contest that was full of eye-popping plays.
Toronto FC finished the 2018 season in 9th place and missed out on the playoffs after they were victorious in the 2017 MLS Cup over the Seattle Sounders. Toronto FC will begin a new era without Sebastian Giovinco, their leading goal scorer and top player on the team as well as in the league due to the fact that he tallied 15 goals and 13 assists in 28 games in 2018 along with 83 goals and 64 assists in his time with the club. On Wednesday, January 30th, Italian forward and MLS Cup champion Giovinco was sold to Al-Hilal FC of the Saudi Professional League, which has won two straight Saudi titles, for reportedly $2-3 million. In their first two games since the Italian star departed, TFC conceded four goals to Panamanian club Independiente, and only managed to earn a 1-1 draw in the second leg on Tuesday. The 5-1 aggregate defeat ended Toronto’s hopes of returning to the CONCACAF Champions League final, and it has has sparked concerns about Toronto’s upcoming MLS campaign. TFC certainly regressed big time last season, as they finished the season with an overall record of 10-18-6 and 36 points as they also lost in the CCL Final on penalties. Stats and Toronto FC insight via The Brotherly Game.
Philadelphia had a very promising 2018 but ended the season wanting more and feeling as if they could have made a deeper run in the playoffs. Taking this into consideration, the team decided it was finally time for a formation change and in the 2019 preseason, Tanner and manager Jim Curtin implemented a 4-4-2 attacking lineup opposed to the 4-2-3-1 possession lineup that failed to do them justice over the past few years. According to MLSsoccer staff on mlssoccer.com, “The Union passed their way to a club-record point total, but are undergoing a full tactical transformation in 2019. Philly are looking to press high up the field in a 4-4-2 diamond rather than relying on patient possession in a 4-3-3.”
We got the first 90 in 90 presented by @advocare right here – with some extra time added ⏱
What do @adamtcann and @DaveLenoTV have to say about the three big storylines ahead of our home opener vs @TorontoFC tomorrow? Take a listen ?▶️#ThisIsPhilly | #MLSisBack | #DOOP pic.twitter.com/A0nYZd8QQZ
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) March 1, 2019
In 21 all-time matchups, the Union’s overall record against Toronto FC is 6-9-6 and 4-3-3 at Talen Energy with a goal differential of +1. The Union last took on TFC on June 8th but fell victim to them by a final score of 2-0 after Jonathan Osorio scored both goals for Toronto. Furthermore, the Union went 0-2 versus Toronto FC in 2018 after they defeated the Union in the first matchup at BMO Field on May 4th by a final score of 3-0 with goals scored by Víctor Vázquez, Sebastian Giovinco, and Jay Chapman. Toronto FC also showed their dominance over Philly in the 2016 MLS Playoffs by manhandling them by a final score of 3-1 after Sebastian Giovinco, Jonathan Osorio, and Jozy Altidore scored for TFC while Alejandro Bedoya scored the lone goal for Philadelphia.
Our home opener is comin’ up fast ?
We enlisted the help of @marcofabian_10 to get you the deets on some of the new stuff at Talen in this week’s episode of #DOOP Download!
Getcho Meal Deal ? http://t.co/lZPNhpN7A3#ThisIsPhilly | #PhillyLovesSoccer | #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/wrPed8zb6x
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) February 28, 2019
Although Borek Dockal departed this offseason as the Union’s assist leader in 2018 with 18 assists, Marco Fabián and Haris Medunjanin plan on serving as Philly’s distributors in hopes of scoring many goals this season and creating plenty of scoring chances. 20 year-old, 6’4” center back Auston Trusty signed as a Homegrown Player in 2016, was the first ever Union signee to graduate from the academy, was ranked #10 on the 2018 22-Under-22 list, and played every minute of every game in 2018 so he will certainly be looking to emulate his early success and have another great season on the back line. Some positions are still up for grabs or up in the air for the home opener as fans will be left wondering who will start at center striker, left central midfielder as the shuttler next to Fabián, and both outside backs. It will be very interesting to see who coach Curtin will select to start the team’s first game but here’s hoping that he makes the right decision and the Union play very well.
Below is an image of the team’s first starting lineup of the 2019 season courtesy of mlssoccer.com
The Union do not have any players listed on their injury report. Toronto FC’s USMNT star forward Jozy Altidore is doubtful with an ankle injury, and defender Eriq Zavaleta is questionable with a shins injury.
All Philadelphia Union fans should be excited for today’s game merely based off of the brilliant moves that the team made this offseason and the fact that this team has the potential to post an even better regular season record in 2019. Feel free to come chat with me about the Union, MLS soccer in general, or anything that you wish as I will be sitting with my friends in section 132, row G for tomorrow’s highly anticipated matchup against an Eastern Conference foe. The Sons of Ben will be in full force tomorrow but the Union will also need every other fan in attendance to make as much noise as possible in order to encourage and cheer them on so that they play to the best of their ability and hopefully come out on top with a win. Soccer is officially back in the City of Brotherly Love and myself along with other Union Nation members are so excited and pumped for the 2019 season to begin! DOOP! #ThisIsPhilly #MLSisBack #PhillyLovesSoccer
Union Nation Predictions
Skyler (Section Manager): I say 3-1 Union win. 2 goals by Cory Burke and Marco Fabián bags his first ever goal for the club.
Connor (Senior Consultant): 2-1 Union win. Sergio Santos, and Fafa Picault with the goals.
Sean (Blogger): 2-1 Union win. This game will be much closer than many think it will be as the Union will concede the first goal of the game but prevail and come back to score to unanswered goals. Marco Fabian will score his first goal with the Boys in Blue in his first regular season game and newcomer Sergio Santos will get his name on the score sheet with a finesse shot goal. Union begin the season on a high note at 1-0-0.
Featured Image: mlssoccer.com
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