Philadelphia Union vs. Real Salt Lake | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Philadelphia Union vs. Real Salt Lake
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 12
Talen Energy Stadium — Chester
May 19 - 7:30 pm ET
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Fresh off a rare road win, the Philadelphia Union seek a second-consecutive win for the first time this season against a Real Salt Lake squad that rebounded from their first back-to-back losses of the season to defeat D.C. United, 3-2, Saturday night.

If the Union do capture a second-straight win, it would be the first in 10 all-time meetings against Real Salt Lake, which is 4-0-6 in the series.

Philadelphia Union

Jim Curtin made five changes to the side that fell to Columbus Crew SC in the midweek, bringing on Ray Gaddis and Mark McKenzie in the four-man backline, Fafa Picault and Marcus Epps on each wing and Cory Burke up top to faceoff against the Montreal Impact.

Burke netted his first career MLS goal two minutes prior to halftime before being sent off on a straight red card in the 58th minute and Haris Medunjanin added the insurance goal two minutes from full time as Philadelphia (3-5-2) won on the road for the first time since May 13, 2017 and just the second time in their last 27 games away from Talen Energy Stadium.

“We talked a lot about improving on the road and finally had a breakthrough,” Curtin said on Wednesday. “In that moment I think it’s good for the guys confidence now, but we do recognize and we mentioned to the group, that result means nothing if we don’t follow it up with three points against Salt Lake.”

Suspended: F - Cory Burke
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Richie Marquez (sports hernia surgery), D - Joshua Yaro (concussion); QUESTIONABLE: F - CJ Sapong (lower body injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Andre Blake — Keegan Rosenberry, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Fabinho — Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya — Ilsinho, Borek Dockal, Fafa Picault — CJ Sapong

Notes: Since joining the Union prior to the 2017 season, Medunjanin has had a hand in 28.1 percent of Philadelphia’s goals (three goals, 13 assists). Only C.J. Sapong (42.1%) has been involved in more. … Philadelphia’s 2-0 win last weekend was just their second victory in their last nine MLS matches (5L-2D) and the third time they have managed to score a goal in that time span.

Real Salt Lake

Mike Petke went with an unchanged lineup from the squad that dropped a 3-1 decision to Orlando City SC the week prior.

After conceding inside of the opening 10 minutes, Corey Baird and Albert Rusnak scored five minutes apart for Real Salt Lake (4-5-1), which opened up a 3-1 lead on Jefferson Savarino’s second goal of the season in the 56th minute.

Steve Birnbaum scored two minutes from full time, but Real Salt Lake held on to defeat D.C. United.

“I’m sure we will create chances again, I’m sure we’ll play on a front four, put high pressure on them although we’re on the road because you see over the last three or four games that we are better when we put pressure on teams than if we just sit back and wait for them to come out,“ Rusnak said on Tuesday. “I’m sure that will be the gameplan and it will be about us finishing chances again.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Tony Beltran (right knee surgery), M - Jordan Allen (knee injury), D - David Horst (knee injury), GK - Alex Horwath (Achilles surgery), D - Shawn Barry (knee injury), D - Demar Phillips (ankle injury); QUESTIONABLE: M - Luke Mulholland (back injury), F - Joao Plata (undisclosed injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Nick Rimando — Brooks Lennon, Justen Glad, Nick Besler, Pablo Ruiz — Kyle Beckerman, Albert Rusnak, Damir Kreilach — Jefferson Savarino, Corey Baird, Sebastian Saucedo

Notes: The Philadelphia Union is the only MLS team that Nick Rimando has not lost against (4W-3D in seven starts) since moving to Real Salt Lake prior to the 2007 season. … Real Salt Lake is winless in their last nine league road games (7L-2D), the longest such run in the team’s MLS history. They have been outscored 21-9 in those matches.

All-Time Series

Overall: Philadelphia Union 0 wins, 11 goals … Real Salt Lake 4 wins, 17 goals … 6 ties
At Philadelphia: Union 0 wins, 5 goals … Real Salt Lake 1 win, 6 goals … 4 ties
Last meeting at Philadelphia: Philadelphia Union 1, Real Salt Lake 2 (July 31, 2016)