On Sunday, we will see a rematch of the 2021 Eastern Conference Final as the Philadelphia Union have a chance to avenge that defeat versus New York City FC this weekend at Subaru Park.
The Union are back in this position after blanking FC Cincinnati 1-0 in the last round, while the reigning MLS Cup champions took care of CF Montreal 3-1.
Match preview
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A year after what the club had hoped would be a historic moment, the Union have an opportunity for redemption on Sunday.
Last season, Philly looked poised to make it into the MLS Cup Final for the first time, but a bout of COVID-19 forced 11 players out of the lineup, including nine starters, as they fought hard but were ultimately defeated by the Pigeons 2-1.
This encounter has been on their minds for a while as they have made no secret that this Sunday is a revenge game against a team they defeated on two occasions in the 2022 regular season, winning two of their last three matches against them at Subaru Park.
In 2022 Philly have been one of the teams to beat from the early going, setting a new club record for goals scored in a regular season (72) and a new record for points (67), as well as a new franchise mark for the fewest goals ever conceded in a campaign (26).
Those numbers helped manager Jim Curtin capture the Sigi Schmid Award for MLS Coach of the Year, as the native of Pennsylvania owns the fifth-highest regular season winning percentage of all MLS head coaches with at least 100 victories (54.5%).
Since a 4-0 defeat at Charlotte FC to begin the month of October, his side have been as compact as ever along the backline, posting consecutive clean sheets, and holding a dangerous Cincy squad off the scoreboard last week.
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Previous postseason experience seems to have come in handy for Nick Cushing and his NYCFC team, who have recaptured the magic which took them all the way to the MLS Cup title a season ago.
On the road in Montreal last Sunday, the Pigeons came out more determined and composed than the home side, hitting them on the break numerous times, capitalizing on their transition moments, and scoring on three of their four efforts on target.
Rarely do we see this group have fewer than 50% of the possession over 90 minutes, but although they only had the ball for 36% of their match versus Montreal, the visitors showed composure along the backline, managing to limit the scoring opportunities against them.
Since their triumph at the Campeones Cup in mid-September, New York have not conceded more than one goal in any match played, while their six goals scored so far in the postseason is only one fewer than they had in their entire 2021 playoff run.
The Pigeons come into this encounter having won their last two away fixtures by a combined score of 5-2, while they have also triumphed in four straight road playoff games, and they have not lost a postseason encounter in 90 minutes since 2018.
A victory on Sunday would make NYCFC the first defending champions to return to the MLS Cup Final since the Seattle Sounders did that in 2017 after winning it all the previous season.
Team News
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Leon Flach had the only goal for Philly in their Conference semi-final triumph as Andre Blake stopped five shots for the clean sheet.
The stellar season by the Union did not go unnoticed as Blake was named Goalkeeper of the Year, and Jakob Glesnes won the Defender of the Year Award, while Cory Burke has three goals in his career versus the Pigeons.
Alejandro Bedoya is listed as questionable with a hip flexor strain, while Curtin made one change to his opening lineup last Thursday as Kai Wagner reclaimed his spot at the back in place of Matthew Real.
Maxi Moralez, who had the equalizer in the East Final last year, became the all-time top playoff goalscorer for NYCFC last weekend, scoring his fourth of the campaign, surpassing Valentin Castellanos and David Villa.
Heber notched the winner last weekend, while Talles Magno, who scored the goal which gave his side the victory against the Union in the playoffs last season, also scored against Montreal, his first since the start of October when they defeated Orlando City 2-1.
Tayvon Gray and Alfredo Morales sat out of the Pigeons' previous encounter, and they are said to have each sustained lower body injuries.
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner; McGlynn, Martinez, Flach; Gazdag; Carranza, Uhre
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Callens, Martins, Chanot, Tinnerholm; Moralez, Parks; O'Toole, Rodriguez, Pereira; Heber
We say: Philadelphia Union 1-1 New York City FC (Philadelphia advances on penalties)
Both sides are in fine form defensively, and this game could go either way as they are both well-drilled and disciplined with two goalkeepers who have proven they can steal a game.
We will give the Union a slight edge because they have home-field advantage, plus they might be a little more motivated given the curveball thrown at them before the East Final last season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
