Matchday 10 of the 2025 Major League Soccer campaign sees Philadelphia Union and DC United go head-to-head against each other at Subaru Park on Saturday evening.
Both teams head into this one off the back of respective victories last time out, with the home side running riot against Atlanta United while the visitors just about did enough to see off the New York Red Bulls.
Match preview
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Philadelphia Union flew out of the blocks with three straight wins to start the season but have since gone cold, winning just one of their subsequent five matches before a 3-0 victory over Atlanta United on Sunday.
Boasting just 29% of the ball possession, Bradley Carnell's men needed to be at their razor-sharp best on the counterattack as Quinn Sullivan, Danley Jean Jacques and Tai Baribo all got themselves on the scoresheet.
A three-goal display last time out was almost as important as the result for the Zolos, who had drawn blanks in their two matches prior, as they regained their status as the team with the most goals scored in the conference alongside Charlotte and Chicago Fire.
Now sitting fifth, Philadelphia are back in the top echelons of a closely packed West standings, where the top five teams are currently separated by just three points after the opening nine rounds of matches.
Should results elsewhere go their way, Saturday's hosts could end the weekend top of the pile but will first have to get the job done against an opposing outfit without a win from the last seven editions of this fixture.
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Guilty of throwing away a lead in their opening two matches against Toronto FC and Chicago Fire, DC United got themselves up and running with a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on March 9, after which a goalless stalemate against Montreal followed to leave them unbeaten from the first four games.
However, Troy Lesesne's men were beaten in their next four matches by a combined score of 13-3 before finally getting themselves back to winning ways with a narrow 2-1 triumph over the New York Red Bulls.
In what proved to be worth the wait, Brazilian forward Joao Peglow announced himself to his new employers with a first-half double, his first two goals since joining from Polish outfit Radomiak Radom back in January.
DC United have managed just nine points from as many matches so far and will need to string together a decent run of results in the coming weeks if they are to avoid being left with a mountain to climb in the playoff race.
Off the back of recently claiming a first away win of the season in New York, Saturday's visitors will now be looking to come out on top in consecutive matches on enemy territory for the first time since October.
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Team News
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Jovan Lukic received his marching orders for two bookable offences in Philadelphia's win over Atlanta, making him ineligible to play any part in this weekend's affair.
Olivier Mbaizo and Jesus Bueno are also unavailable for the home side due to hamstring injuries, while Ian Glavinovich is set to miss a third straight game with a knee issue.
After his man-of-the-match display last time out, Quinn Sullivan has now racked up one goal and five assists in nine league outings, making him one to keep an eye on.
Jackson Hopkins has been out of contention for DC United since August due to an ankle problem, and the midfielder is still a considerable way off returning to action.
Fellow Americans Hakim Karamoko and Conner Antley will also not play any part here through abdominal and knee injuries respectively, although the former is nearing a comeback.
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Wagner, Harriel, Glesnes, Westfield; Vassilev, Bedoya, Jacques, Sullivan; Damiani, Uhre
DC United possible starting lineup:
Barraza; Bartlett, MacNaughton, Rowles; Schnegg, Servania, Kijima, Herrera; Stroud, Benteke, Peglow
We say: Philadelphia Union 3-1 DC United
Recent meetings between Saturday's opponents suggest a high-scoring affair, and we are expecting the game to pan out that way.
That said, we are also backing the home side to flex their muscle in front of goal once again en route to a relatively comfortable win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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