The Philadelphia Union head back on the road this weekend for their second straight match away from home, this time facing CF Montreal across the northern border in a Saturday matinee at Stade Saputo. The action begins at 2:30pm – tune in for coverage on Apple TV.
This weekend’s match marks the Canadian side’s home opener, as the team, led by Marco Donadel in his first full-season as head coach after club parted ways with Laurent Courtois in March last year, started their campaign with six matches on the road.
During that stretch to open the season, they fared similarly to the Philadelphia Union, claiming just three points by way of a lone 3-0 win against Red Bull New York.
Prince Owusu and Wiki Carmona have been a pair of bright spots up top, combining for all seven of the team’s total goals so far this season, but on the defensive end, they’ve struggled, allowing nine goals in their last three outings, and 17 in total this year.
As for Philly, it’s been an indisputably challenging start to the season for Head Coach Bradley Carnell and his players. Through the team’s first six matches of the season, three on the road, and three at home, they've been unable to claim a point, opening their campaign 0-0-6. The team has hit the back of the net four times in league play, but haven’t found a lead, playing from behind for the large majority of their match minutes.
While results haven't fell their way, the team emerged from the two-week international window pause from play eager to compete against Charlotte FC, and although the match finished in favor of the hosts, there were some positive moments of note, including an impressive second-half equalizing goal from Danley Jean Jacques.
Saturday’s match brings about another opportunity for the group to both build on what they’ve done well and grow from their shortcomings as they continue their determined pursuit of points, something that 23-year-old striker Bruno Damiani said has been a theme in conversation amongst the group this week.
“We just need to to be resilient, to keep going, but also know that we are doing some things wrong. I think that we are, in all the weeks, trying to think about new ways to motivate us, and actually, this week, it's been different,” the Uruguayan shared after Wednesday’s training session.
“We had a long talk to each other in the locker room, and I think if you see the trainings, they are even better this week. We just need to keep going, bring the energy again, and go to Montreal believing that we’re going to win.”
