Philadelphia Union vs. LAFC: Match Preview

Where: Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pennsylvania

When: Saturday, September 14, 4:30 pm PT

How to Watch: YouTube TV and KVMD in the LA viewing area, and ESPN+ in the rest of the United States.

Los Angeles Football Club, fresh off their 2-2 draw on the road to Orlando City, will travel to Philadelphia to take on the Union, and attempt to right the ship against one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

LAFC have not won a game in their last three matches, an odd dip in form that Bob Bradley’s men have not had to deal with yet this season. Their 3-3 draw with the Galaxy snapped a five-game winning streak, followed by a 2-0 home loss to Minnesota United. Without Carlos Vela, LAFC then drew 2-2 on the road to Orlando City, putting together their worst stretch of the season. LAFC still sit on top of the Western Conference, having locked in their place at the top for the MLS Cup Playoffs and clinched a spot in the 2020 Concacaf Champions League. Their 63 points are best in MLS by a wide margin, and the Union are the second-closest team to that mark with 51. While LAFC has 76 goals for, Philly has 54, tied for closest to LAFC. As an update for the points record that LAFC are pursuing, the record is 71, set by the Red Bulls last season, so LAFC has five matches for 6 points. This, however, will be no easy task.

Philly are coming off back-to-back home 3-1 wins over Eastern Conference rivals Atlanta United and D.C. United. Philly have been either on top or near the top of the East for most of the season, and have the most goals (tied with NYCFC) in the East, second only in MLS to LAFC. They have the fourth-best Eastern Conference goals-against tally with 42, behind Atlanta, NYCFC, and DC.

LAFC have nine wins, four draws, and two losses on the road this season in MLS play, while the Union have a record of 10 wins, three draws, and two losses at home. The only previous meeting between these two sides was last season, when the Union came to The Banc at the end of June, only to have a hat-trick dropped on them by Adama Diomande in a 4-1 LAFC win.

Prediction: Union 2, LAFC 2. This is a hard game to call. The Union are a very good team and have proven it all season, so this will not be easy. LAFC are in a slump, and have plenty of teams they would rather play than Philly. However, LAFC are finally getting Carlos Vela back, and will want to get three points on the road. I think this will be tough, though, and will end in a draw.

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