The Philadelphia Union will look to extend their unbeaten streak in MLS play to six games when they host the New England Revolution on Saturday at Chester, Pa.
Philadelphia (5-4-3, 18 points) ended a three-game winning streak with a scoreless draw against visiting D.C. United on Wednesday.
New England (7-2-3, 24 points) had its eight-game unbeaten run in MLS play snapped with a 2-1 loss to host Inter Miami CF on Saturday, knocking the Revolution from atop the Eastern Conference standings. The Revs sit three points behind FC Cincinnati (8-1-3, 27 points).
The Union haven’t dropped an MLS game since a 1-0 setback to FC CIncinnati on April 8. However, Philadelphia has lost two games across all competitions since – a setback in penalty kicks to Minnesota United in the U.S. Open Cup on May 9 and a 3-0 shutout to LAFC in the CONCACAF Champions League on May 2.
Against D.C. United, Andre Blake, the reigning and three-time MLS goalie of the year, made three saves for Philadelphia to secure the third shutout of the season and 68th of his storied MLS career.
“I thought we struggled a bit and had a lot of guys that didn’t have a good half, got in at halftime and spoke and wanted us to create more and be a little more brave,” Philadelphia coach Jim Curtin said. “I think we had some chances, but not enough. It’s your ugly, 0-0 Wednesday game.”
The Revs also didn’t play very well in their last game.
After David Ruiz staked Miami to an early advantage in the sixth minute, Carles Gill pulled the Revs even in the 26th minute. But Josef Martinez gave Miami the lead for good with a tally in the 44th minute off Ruiz’s assist.
Miami held on despite playing a man down when Ruiz earned his second yellow card — an automatic red card — in the 81st minute.
New England had possession for 57.7 percent of the game, but it put just two of eight shots on target.
“I think the way we started the game was disgraceful, falling behind by a goal in the first seven minutes of the game,” Revolution coach Bruce Arena said. “The way some of our guys stepped onto the field was poor.
“I believe the game we gave away. We should not lose that game.”
–Field Level Media
