In-form Philadelphia Union aim to end a 13-year wait for success against Los Angeles Galaxy in Wednesday night's MLS fixture at Subaru Park.
The hosts enter the gameweek 13 fixture on a four-match unbeaten streak, placing them fourth in the overall table and third in the Eastern Conference, while last season's MLS Cup champions' winless start took another negative turn with a humiliating 7-0 defeat against the New York Red Bulls in the 12th round.
Match preview
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When the Philadelphia Union defeated the Galaxy 2-1 in July 2012, fans of the Union likely did not expect that they would not secure another win against the Western Conference outfit for another decade.
While this unwanted streak without a victory over Wednesday's visitors now stands at 13 years, the U approach the midweek fixture with confidence, hoping to finally triumph over Los Galacticos.
Their optimism is bolstered by an ongoing four-match unbeaten run, during which Zolos have claimed three victories.
Bradley Carnell's side should have notched four wins from four if not for Sean Zawadzki, who scored a 93rd-minute equaliser to deny the Union a third consecutive home victory in the previous gameweek.
Despite that result, the Union remain in a strong position within the coveted top seven places in the Eastern Conference, sitting five points ahead of Orlando City in eighth and six above New York City FC in 10th.
With a place in the automatic playoff spots not under threat regardless of Wednesday's result, the Onion enter the gameweek 13 fixture without added pressure as they aim to end their eight-match winless run in this matchup.
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While six of those encounters have ended in defeats, supporters of the LA-based opponents come into this week's fixture with little optimism due to their side's dismal start to the season, which worsened with a 7-0 thrashing by the Red Bulls, whom they beat in last year's MLS Cup final.
The humbling continues the winless start for 2024's Western Conference winners and MLS Cup champions, who have suffered a staggering nine losses in their opening 12 matches, already one more than their total defeats throughout last year's regular season.
Having outscored every team in their division in 2024, Greg Vanney, a two-time MLS Cup-winning manager, has seen his team score a paltry eight times in 2025 while conceding 28, making them the most porous defence in the overall MLS table.
The Galaxy enter the midweek round on a four-match losing streak, failing to find the net in three of those losses, and they are desperate to avoid a fifth consecutive away defeat in MLS.
Further complicating their 2025 struggles is the bottom-placed club's ongoing four-match losing streak on the road in the league, where Vanney's team has failed to score in defeats to Real Salt Lake (2-0), Austin (1-0), Sporting Kansas City (1-0) and the Red Bulls (7-0).
Aiming to turn around their wretched start to the season, historical precedent suggests that the tide should turn on Wednesday; however, even the most optimistic Galaxy supporter might dread visiting one of the form teams in MLS this week.
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Team News
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Andre Blake and Olivier Mbaizo's knee injuries will be assessed by the Union before Wednesday, although Ian Glavinovich and Neil Pierre are expected to miss out due to similar issues.
Tai Baribo sits atop the goalscoring chart along with Brian White of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Cristian Arango of the San Jose Earthquakes and Hugo Cuypers of the Chicago Fire, and the forward bids to add to his tally.
Five of Baribo's goals have come in Philadelphia; only White (eight) has scored more home goals, highlighting the Union forward's tendency to do his damage on home turf.
Edwin Cerrillo is suspended for the Galaxy due to an accumulation of bookings, while Gabriel Pec (hip), Joseph Paintsil (thigh) and Riqui Puig (knee) are also out for the visitors.
Although his teammates have struggled, Christian Ramirez has netted 50% of the away team's eight goals this season, highlighting the need for his colleagues to step up in attack for league's second-lowest scoring side.
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Rick; Westfield, Glesnes, Harriel, Wagner; Sullivan, Lukic, Jacques, Vassilev; Damiani, Baribo
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Garces, Yoshida, Nelson; Yamane, Fagundez, Lepley, Reus, Aude; Ramirez, Berry
We say: Philadelphia Union 2-0 Los Angeles Galaxy
Despite the Philadelphia's failure to win in this fixture in 13 years, LA Galaxy's poor form in 2025 presents a huge opportunity for Carnell's men, and we are backing the Union to extend the away side's winless streak to 13 matches.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
