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MLS Matchday: Philadelphia Union vs Sporting Kansas City

By Nick Butler

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS - MARCH 10: Marco Fabian #10 of Philadelphia Union controls the ball as Felipe Gutierrez #21 of Sporting Kansas City defends during the game at Children's Mercy Park on March 10, 2019 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS - MARCH 10: Marco Fabian #10 of Philadelphia Union controls the ball as Felipe Gutierrez #21 of Sporting Kansas City defends during the game at Children's Mercy Park on March 10, 2019 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Where: Subaru Park, Chester, PA

When: 7:30 PM ET/6:30 PM CT

How to Listen:

Philadelpha: 97.5 the Fanatic

Kansas City: ESPN 94.5

How to Watch: Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass

Philadelphia Union: 2W-0D-3L 8th in the Eastern Conference

Kansas City: 0W-2D-3L 13th in the Western Conference

The Philadelphia Union and Sporting Kansas City are gearing up for their 21st match. In the previous 20 matches, both teams own a 7W-6D-7L, which could make this game a little more even. While the Union are looking to break a 2-game losing streak, Sporting Kansas City are searching for their first win of the season.

With the FIFA window closed, all teams in the MLS will be back to full strength, and that includes the Union. But that’s not all the Union will have returning to the pitch.

This is big news for the best Goalkeeper in the MLS to return for the Union. While Joe Bendik did his best to try to hold down the Union and play exceptionally well in the absence of Andre Blake, but Bendik is no Andre Blake. While not entirely his fault, Bendik did his best to play in the MLS as a starter for the first time in years after being behind both Andre Blake and Matt Freese. In retrospect, the team in front of him just wasn’t as great.

Of course, having Blake back doesn’t solve all of the issues that we have seen from the Union, but it should solve the goaltending issues and give the team a little more confidence knowing Blake is behind them. On the other hand, having Carranza, a healthy Uhre and Gazdag up front should solve some of those issues they have been having in the final third of the pitch.

On the other side of the Pitch, you have a Sporting Kansas City team looking for a win. Kansas City hasn’t given up a ton of goals this season. Their previous game against the Seattle Sounders where they gave up 4 goals. This will also be the 4th road game for Kansas City in the first 6 weeks of the season. That alone makes the season a little tougher when you aren’t playing in front of your supporters a lot and given that extra energy.

Kansas City will be without Left Backs Ben Sweat (1 game suspension), Tim Leibold and Logan Ndenbe(hamstring), Right back Kayden Pierre (hamstring), and center back Kortne Ford (Achilles) are also going to be sidelined. However, Kansas City will have center back Dany Rosero arriving, captain Johnny Russell, striker Alan Pulido and goalkeeper Tim Melia all returning to the lineup.

Pulido had 15 goals and 8 assists in 36 matches across all competitions in 2022. Unfortunately for Kansas City, he was sidelined due to knee surgery. Returning to the lineup for Kansas City should help bolster the lineup and help them score goals, which is a department of theirs’s that has been sorely lacking this season.

Overall, this is going to be another chippy game with two frustrated teams. A win is needed for both squads, not just for points, but for confidence as well. Get ready, its going to be on the second the first whistle blows.

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