r/PhillyUnion

Battle of the 2025 Champions: It’s once again time for the battle of the 2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield Champions vs the 2025 MLS Champions. This is the second time these teams are facing off this season, and as most of you probably remember, the first game was a defensive masterclass that ultimately ended in a 4-6 loss for the Union. That loss ended up being the last act of Bradley Carnell’s story with the Union as we entered the World Cup break. I would expect tonight to be another high scoring affair as these teams do have a habit of leaking goals with the Union allowing 35, and Miami allowing 36. And if history repeats itself, it's going to be an uphill battle for the Union as they are still winless in 6 games during the Inter Messi era.

Union Preview (19 Points 13th in the East): Well I’ll be damned, the Union are tied with Houston as the hottest team in MLS as they ride a 4 game win streak that includes not one, but two come from behind deficits of being down 2-0 to then win 3-2. This is the first 4 game win streak the Union have had in MLS since Matchdays 13 thru 16 in 2023 and someone pinch me, because Damiani bagged his first brace in MLS play vs NYCFC over the weekend. But all good things must come to an end as Iloski’s 6 game scoring streak was finally broken. Interestingly enough, Iloski has now taken the 2nd most shots in the league with 74, trailing only Messi who has taken 100 on the season. With Lukic out on yellow card accumulation, I expect Bueno to be sliding into CDM at midfield tonight, and maybe we’ll get to see Quinn start, considering we will need extra fire power on offense. Raquinho is not expected to be in attendance due to a sprained ankle after tripping on the pitcher’s mound at Yankee Stadium.

Miami Preview (38 Points 2nd in East): Well here we go again, Inter Messi and the plastics are back in town so tonight should be a fun one. Miami are entering tonight leading the league with 46 goals, but they are currently on a 3 game losing streak, 2 of which were during Leagues Cup, and then a 4-1 beatdown at Nashville over the weekend. This offensive juggernaut is terrifying as Messi has 12 goals and 8 assists, Suarez follows with 10 goals and 6 assists, and overall this whole team can score as they have 12 total goalscorers. As mentioned above though, that comes at the expense of the defense. This team is averaging 1.89 allowed per game and are actually going through a goalkeeper battle right now. Former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Dayne St. Clair started the season as the obvious pick in goal, but after averaging 2 goals per game allowed, and backup, Rocco Rios Novos averaging 3 per game, it's unclear who will get the nod going forward. Miami have been playing mainly out of the 4-4-2 post the World Cup break, but with De Paul out on suspension, we’ll see who slides into midfield for him. 

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Union Last 5 vs Miami: 0W/4L/1D

Form Guide Union: 3W/2L/0D

Form Guide Miami: 1W/3L/1D

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Disciplinary Report: 

• Jovan Lukic (Yellow Card Accumulation)
• Rodrigo De Paul (MIA - Yellow Card Accumulation) (I’m confused on this one, he was on suspension watch entering their game vs NSH, but I can’t see anywhere that he was carded during that game)

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Suspension Watch: 

• Sery Larsen (2 games until card reduction) 
• Danley (1 game until card reduction) 
• Besard Sabovic (ATX - Relevant for this weekend)
• Myrto Uzuni (ATX - Relevant for this weekend)

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Union Injury Report:

• OUT: Raquinho (Sprained Ankle)

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Miami Injury Report:

• OUT: Tadeo Allende (Long Term Injury)
• OUT: German Berterame (Concussion Protocol)
• OUT: Micael (Ankle)
• OUT: Santi Morales (Quad)
• OUT: Mateo Silvetti) (Shoulder)

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Kickoff/Streaming: 

• Advertised for 7:30 ET
• Expected kickoff is 7:40 ET
• AppleTV
• Radio Broadcast on 97.5 The Fanatic

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Announcers: 

• AppleTV - TBD
• Radio - Dave Leno & Sebastian LeToux

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Referee: Filip “Mr. However” Dujic

• 80th MLS match over the last 5 seasons with MLS
• 14th match this season
• Averaging 4.07 yellows per game this season
• Issued no second yellows so far this season 
• Issued 2 straight reds so far this season
• Awarded 5 PK’s so far this season
• Union 1 Loss and Miami 1 Win with him this season

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Theme Night: Plastics Night

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Weather: 83° and Partly Cloudy

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Points Graph: Thank you to u/GungaDin16 for providing the relevant Union and MLS point totals graphic.  

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Trivia Question courtesy of u/WJMorris3:

Who scored the only goal for the Union the last time they wore a predominantly white kit in MLS play?

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Prediction: 3-2 Loss with a Messi Brace, but Quinn gets a consolation goal

DOOP!!!

They posted a video of the kits being prepared and for some reason there’s a wierd yellow filter on it.

started to fall apart midway through my run! and decided it was the right thing to do , been thinking about adding the retro bimbo sponsor .since i already have the file lol but undecided of whether to do it or not and if i do what color apply