This weekend the Philadelphia Union (7-4-5, 26 points) will put a 10-game home undefeated streak on the line as they prepare to defend Talen Energy Stadium from Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6-3-7, 24 points) on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Saturday night will offer a chance for one team to gain an edge in the all-time series lead. Philadelphia and Vancouver have met once every year since the Union’s inaugural season in 2010, and the all-time record between the two is a perfectly even (2-2-2) push.
Interestingly enough, the two clubs find themselves at completely opposite ends of the offensive and defensive spectrums this season.
Philadelphia has experienced a recent offensive surge and are now averaging three goals a game in the team’s last three MLS matches. This has allowed the Union to climb atop the scoring chart and into a league-leading tie for the highest scoring team in the MLS with 27 goals. The recent scoring frenzy has been powered by the emergence of midfielders Tranquillo Barnetta, Ilsinho, and most recently Roland Alberg.
“They’re all great players, great soccer players. You can tell when one gets on the ball they look for each other and they kind of come to life, and there’s a lot of great combination and a lot of great movement,” Union head coach Jim Curtin said. “They think and see the game differently than most players. Again, they will be a fit for defenses to handle.”
Less than two weeks ago, Alberg didn’t have a single goal to his name. But in the last three games, Alberg has netted four MLS goals in the last two games, and six total scores in the team’s last three matches. Culminated by a hat trick on Wednesday night against Chicago Fire, the MLS rookie’s explosive offense has become a critical boost for the Union.
“He’s great around the goal – that is for certain,” Curtin said. “He hits a heavy ball, great left foot, makes great decisions around the goal, can pass… When guys play him the ball they know that he is going to get it back to them. All of those little things build confidence in a group with the ball.”
On the other hand, Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s defense heads into Saturday night locked in a tie with the Portland Timbers at the bottom of the table in goals allowed – also with 27. Philadelphia’s attackers will certainly look to exploit a porous Whitecaps FC defense, one currently allowing more goals than all but one other club in the MLS.
It may be important for Philadelphia to get on the board early, considering the Union historically slow starts against Vancouver. Philadelphia has never been able to score in the first half against the Whitecaps FC.
What do you think is the key to success vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday? Leave your comment below.
