Preview | Friday Night Rivalry Match vs DC United 

The Union are back home for a showdown with rivals DC United with a chance to leap back into first place in the Eastern Conference. Philly picked up one point in two road matches last week and, following a Sunday night match against Columbus, Jim Curtin’s men are once again on relatively short rest. 

But the cavalry is finally arriving — and they’re bringing the swagger of champions. 

After a long MLS absence, Jack McGlynn, Paxten Aaronson, Brandan Craig, and Quinn Sullivan are back in the mix for Friday’s game. Aaronson and Sullivan combined for 13 goals in the Concacaf U-20 tournament while McGlynn turned deep-lying playmaker and Craig marshaled the back line. They may not start against DC United, but these young players will be desperate to show their fine international form can translate into domestic success. They will push for minutes, and even if they don’t get them from the first whistle it’s safe to say they will come. 

While the Union are welcoming some reinforcements and flirting with the top of the east, DC is looking for their first winning streak since the first two games of the season, and the catalyst has been Taxiarchis Fountas. The Greek striker exploded for three goals last weekend against Orlando City SC in less than 60 minutes. He now has seven goals and two assists in his last six starts and is generating an impressive number of shots for himself. 

Fountas, however, needs the support of his defense against a Union side in need of a confidence boost on the offensive end. Daniel Gazdag’s MVP-level form has created chances aplenty, but Philly hasn’t found the knockout blow they’ve needed to turn draws into wins. Additionally, while Mikael Uhre has shown he has all the talent to become a top MLS goalscorer, the connection between his runs off the shoulder of defenders and passes behind the opposition back line haven’t quite sync’d up yet. If they do, it will make an anxiety lurking in the back of the mind very real for opposition defenses and more space will open up for Gazdag and Philly’s fullbacks to push forward and turn counters into sustained periods of pressure. 

The Union will also welcome Jose Martinez back to the pitch after a one-match red card suspension. The holding midfielder had what Jim Curtin called his best game in a Union jersey last time he played at Subaru Park, and replicating that form will help Philly focus on turning chances into goals up front. 

The Union take on DC United live on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, July 8. Before the match, Union legends will sign autographs on the Subaru Plaza and there will be a post-game Fireworks show ten minutes after the final whistle.