The Seattle Sounders visit the Philadelphia Union on Saturday for the only meeting between the two sides in the 2019 MLS regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. PT at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Penn.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on JOEtv and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2019 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 7-1-4 (25 points, 2nd West), Union: 7-3-2 (23 points, 2nd East)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: WWDDD, Philadelphia: WWWDW
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 4-5-2 all-time against the Union, including a 0-3-2 mark on the road.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Seattle suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss to the Union at CenturyLink Field on Sept. 19, 2018, snapping the Sounders’ record nine-match winning streak. The Rave Green dominated all evening, but seemed destined to settle for a draw. In the 93rd minute, Union forward Fafa Picault pounced on an errant pass out of the back and calmly slid his finish into an empty net, stealing three points at the death.
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER: After consistently rolling out a 4-3-3 throughout the last couple of seasons, the Union have switched to a 4-4-2 diamond this year. The formation change has paid immediate dividends, as the Union sit one point of out of first place in the East with a game in hand on D.C. United.
DIRECTOR’S CUT: The formation isn’t the only thing that has changed for the Union this season. New Sporting Director Ernst Tanner has overhauled the team’s tactical identity, transitioning Philadelphia from a free-flowing, possession-heavy game model to one that focuses on high-pressing and scoring goals in transition.
CURTIN CALL: Union Head Coach Jim Curtin spent nine seasons as a dominant center back in MLS. Although he was on Chivas USA in 2009 during the Sounders’ inaugural season, he never featured in a match against Seattle, as he retired ahead of the 2010 campaign.
LEAGUE-LEADING LODEIRO: Guiding Seattle to a 2-1 win over Orlando City SC on Wednesday, midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro leads MLS in assists with seven.
PLAY YOUR KIDS: The Sounders and the Union have two of the most robust professional player pathways in MLS, with both teams boasting six Homegrown players on their respective rosters.
DEADLINE DAY MOVES: Seattle nabbed Joevin Jones and Xavier Arreaga on Deadline Day, bolstering the squad for a Supporters’ Shield push, while the Union dealt forward David Accam to Columbus Crew SC in exchange for $500,000 in Allocation Money and an international roster spot.
ALL HE DOES IS WIN, WIN, WIN: Homegrown winger Handwalla Bwana scored his third professional goal on Wednesday, netting the decisive score in the 68th minute against Orlando City. All three of his goals in MLS have been game-winners.
HAMSTRUNG: Sounders forward Jordan Morris exited Wednesday’s match with a hamstring injury, joining Víctor Rodríguez and Gustav Svensson as players currently out while nursing hamstring strains.
HOT HAND: Union forward Kacper Przybylko is on fire for Philadelphia, tallying three goals and one assist in his last four starts.
