The action continues in Major League Soccer this weekend as Philadelphia Union and Los Angeles FC go head to head at Subaru Park on Saturday night.
The Black and Gold head into the weekend unbeaten in each of their last seven games against the home side since July 2018 and will be looking to extend this dominant run.
Match preview
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Philadelphia Union turned in a superb show of fighting spirit at the Bank of America Stadium as they scored twice in the final 20 minutes to salvage a 2-2 draw against Charlotte FC on Wednesday night.
Following a goalless first half, Justin Meram and Karol Swiderski found the back of the net to put the Crown two goals up but Quinn Sullivan pulled one back in the 70th minute before Daniel Gazdag restored parity with a 97th-minute penalty.
Jim Curtin's men have now gone unbeaten in six of their last seven matches MLS matches — picking up four wins and two draws — with a 3-1 loss at Toronto on August 31 being the exception.
With 48 points from 28 matches, Philadelphia Union are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, level on points with Columbus Crew and New England Revolution, albeit with two games in hand.
Next up for the Union is the challenge of an opposing side who they have failed to get the better of in each of their previous seven meetings, losing three and picking up four draws since July 2018.
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Los Angeles FC, on the other hand, were denied successive victories for the first time since June as they were held to a goalless draw by St Louis City at CITYPARK on Thursday.
Prior to that, the Black and Gold snapped their run of three consecutive defeats on September 17, when they picked up a 4-2 victory over LA Galaxy courtesy of goals from Ryan Hollingshead, Timothy Tillman and a brace from Denis Bouanga.
Following Thursday's result, Los Angeles have now gone six consecutive away games without a win, losing four and picking up two draws since claiming a 2-1 victory at Sporting Kansas City on June 18.
With just five games left to play before the regular MLS campaign draws to a close, Steven Cherundolo's men sit third in the Western Conference table, six points off first-placed St Louis City, albeit with one game in hand.
Los Angeles FC will head into the weekend looking to pick up a morale-boosting result as they also ramp up preparations for the 2023 Campeones Cup final against Mexican Liga MX champions Tigres UANL on September 27.
Team News
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Philadelphia Union will take to the pitch without German midfielder Leon Flach, who has missed each of the last two matches after recently sustaining an abdominal problem.
Jose Martinez was forced off injured midway through the game against Charlotte on Wednesday night and the Colombian midfielder is also a doubt for the Union.
Having missed the trip to Charlotte, Jack Elliot is back from his one-game suspension and should return to the starting XI, forming the back three with Jacob Glesnes and Damion Lowe.
With his late equaliser on Thursday, Gazdag has made the net ripple in four of his last five matches and the 27-year-old, who now has 13 league goals this season, will be one to keep an eye on.
Los Angeles FC boasts a clean bill of health and could name an unchanged back four of Sergi Palencia, Giorgio Chiellini, Jesus Murillo and Ryan Hollingshead following their solid display against St Louis City last time out.
Carlos Vela started off the bench on Thursday morning but the veteran forward, who has nine goals and seven assists in 29 appearances, could return to the XI this weekend.
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Lowe, Wagner; Bedoya, Martinez, Bueno; Gazdag, Donovan, Baribo
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Crepeau; Hollingshead, Murillo, Chiellini, Palencia; Acosta, Sanchez, Tillman; Olivera, Vela, Bouanga
We say: Philadelphia Union 2-1 Los Angeles FC
Following their impressive comeback against Charlotte, Philadelphia Union return home where they have lost just once across all competitions since the start of April. Los Angeles' form on the road is currently nothing to write home about and we fancy the Union ending their winless run in this fixture.
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Top tip
Joshua Ojele
