New York City FC Vs Philadelphia Union: 3 things to watch for

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New York City FC, Maxi Moralez (Photo by Timothy Bouwer/ISI Photos/Getty Images). /

On Thursday, New York City FC and the Philadelphia Union will face one another in their first MLS is Back game. Here are three things to watch for.

New York City FC and the Philadelphia Union are set to play each other in their first MLS is Back tournament game. The group stage counts toward the regular season, meaning both teams have the need and desire to win. Despite only two games played, NYCFC have zero points thanks to two 1-0 losses, while Philadelphia have one point after a loss and the thrilling 3-3 draw against Los Angeles FC.

Head to head in all competitions, NYCFC have eight wins and Union have three. What will happen in their 13th meeting is anyone’s guess, especially because of the long break due to the pandemic. Nonetheless, fans of both teams will be ecstatic to see their sides play, even at 9 AM.

Here are three things to watch for.

LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 8: Jakob Glesnes #5 of Philadelphia Union celebrates his goal on a free kick against Los Angeles FC during the MLS match at the Banc of California Stadium on March 8, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /

3. The impact of the 9 AM start

With Florida’s heat, Major League Soccer made the decision to play some games at 9 AM. The time is odd for MLS and many players have no experience playing at such an early time in their professional career. New York City FC and the Philadelphia Union will be the first to play at that time, and there are questions as to whether the early start time will impact the play of the game.

Both teams will want to win, of course, but will they play the same way they would if it was a 1 PM or 8 PM start? Both sides will have to wake up early. If there are players who struggle with sleeping, they will not have a chance to get an extra hour or two in the early morning.

Also, the early wakeup time means players will not have the morning or day to move their muscles around. They will be limited time-wise and will only have their pre-game warmup. This could increase the chance of injury to both sides. Furthermore, the early start reduces the time to wake up mentally. This could lead to both NYCFC and the Union to make mistakes, especially in the early stages. Focus is crucial and the disruptive start time could impact it.

With FC Dallas withdrawing from the tournament, MLS could move the NYCFC and Union game to the 10:30 PM time-slot. Television deals might make the move difficult, but a later game is more suitable for the players, giving them more time to prepare their body and minds, too. It would also attract greater viewing figures.

Ideally, MLS would move the NYCFC and Union game, but for now, both sides will have to endure the early start. Both teams face the same obstacle. Who handles it best will likely be the victor.

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