Union at Toronto FC
8 p.m. on TCN
Fresh off a frustrating draw in San Jose, the Union (8-11-6) have an even tougher road game as they face first-place Toronto FC (14-3-8) at BMO Field on Wednesday night.
Here are five things to know:
1. Road woes
The Union have only won once on the road this season - one of five teams in MLS with less than two away wins in 2017. And of all those results, perhaps none were as disheartening as Saturday's 2-2 draw with the Earthquakes, as a penalty in the final minutes caused them to blow a very late lead.
The result spoiled an overall good performance, including the first career goal from rookie Jack Elliott, and did little to help them in their playoff chase. With 30 points, the Union currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, six points out of the final playoff spot.
"It was a good team performance and a heartbreaking ending to the game," Union head coach Jim Curtin said. "Guys put a ton into it. I thought it was one of our better road performances, so there are positives in that regard."
They'll need an even better road performance to get a result against a Toronto side that's a whopping 9-0-3 at home.
Philadelphia Union
2. The league's best ever?
With 50 points in 25 games, Toronto FC is not only comfortable in the Supporters' Shield lead but also on pace to become just the third MLS team this millennium to reach the two-points-per-game plateau and finish with the best record in league history.
So is this the best team Curtin has ever seen?
"I know with the Twitter world, you have to talk about best ever everything, best eclipse, best whatever," Curtin said. "I don't like comparing generations because it's always challenging to do. But I do think they're a special team."
And the reason they're special, he said, is not only because of Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley but the effective role players they've filled out around their star trio. Curtin shouted out last week's MLS Player of the Week Justin Morrow, midfielders Victor Vasquez and Marky Delgado and defender Drew Moor as just a few examples.
"Toronto has three key guys but then people forget about the pieces they have around them now," Curtin said. "They've done a heck of a job assembling their roster."
3. Blake set to return
The good news for the Union is that they'll have a big weapon to try to slow down Altidore, Giovinco and the rest of TFC's star-studded attack.
Curtin announced that reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake, who missed the last eight games because of the Gold Cup and a hand injury, is set to once again man the net.
"It's good to have him back," Curtin said. "I think Johnny [McCarthy] did an excellent job in his absence. But to have Andre back in net is a good thing for the group."
With Blake returning and even Maurice Edu finally on the mend, the Union are quite healthy for their upcoming stretch that includes a home game vs. Atlanta on Saturday. Only Fabian Herbers is out with Curtin saying that Ilsinho (right adductor strain) and Oguchi Onyewu (left groin strain) will be available for selection.
4. Keep an eye on …
Jack Elliott: The Union center back and MLS Rookie of the Year hopeful had arguably his best game of the season in San Jose and is now set for his toughest test yet. Curtin thinks he'll be up for the challenge, though he does want to see the rookie improve his defensive heading. "He's playing way behind the years," the Union coach said. "He's playing against some of the top forwards in the league and has been our most solid guy back there."
Sebastian Giovinco: Curtin thinks the Italian playmaker is maybe the best player the league has ever seen. And Giovinco often shows that against the Union, scoring in his first five games vs. Philly before that streak ended earlier this year when he left a game with an early injury. "Giovinco can beat you 100 different ways," Curtin said. "You give him a free kick and it's all but a certainty that it will at least be a scare for Andre. You have to be smart, have to be disciplined."
5. This and that
• Keegan Rosenberry, last year's Rookie of the Year runner-up, made his first appearance since May on Saturday after Giliano Wijnaldum was forced to exit with an injury. And he might see some more action this week. "Whether it's Toronto or Atlanta, he will play a role in these games moving forward," Curtin said.
• TFC are unbeaten in their last 13 regular-season home games, winning 10 of them and drawing three.
• Toronto's scored four goals in each of their last two home games. They've never scored four goals in three straight home games.
• The Union are averaging 16.2 aerials won per game this season, the most of any MLS team.
• In 17 regular-season meetings, the Union and Toronto have each won six times to go along with five draws.
