Philadelphia Union vs Real Salt Lake Match Preview

The Philadelphia Union look to get back to their winning ways.

The Ins and Outs

Philadelphia Union 8-7-6, 30 points vs Real Salt Lake 8-6-7, 31 points

Sunday at 7 p.m., Talen Energy Stadium

PRO assigned Referees: REF: Juan Guzman AR1: Peter Manikowski AR2: CJ Morgante 4th: Mark Geiger.

Coaches: Jim Curtain, Philadelphia Union; Jeff Cassar, Real Salt Lake.

Where To Watch: The Comcast Network, KMYU, MLS Live.

By the Goals: Philadelphia Union 35 goals for, 33 goals against; Real Salt Lake 30 goals for, 31 goals against.

Last games: Union away at Montreal, 5-1 defeat; Real Salt Lake home vs San Jose Earthquakes 1-1 draw.

More from Philadelphia Union

The All-Star break could not have come at a better time for a depleted Philadelphia Union squad. The Union had a tough loss in U.S. Open Cup play on Wednesday away at New England, losing 1(2)-1(4) in Penalty Kicks after a thrilling late goal from Fabian Herbers.

The match lasted 120 minutes, with some of the usual starting XI going the full distance, all players playing significant minutes. Followed by a trip to Eastern Conference foe Montreal Impact, losing 5-1 . This was the Union’s worst defeat of the season. Thankfully the All-Star game was on this past Thursday, giving the Union eight days of rest until their next match Sunday night vs Western Conference Real Salt Lake.

The team was given some personal days, before resuming normal training schedule on Wednesday. While most of the team trained, two Union players were in San Jose preparing for their All-Star team debuts. Goalkeeper Andre Blake and Rookie Defender Keegan Rosenberry were both selected by fans to represent the Union and the MLS, Forward CJ Sapong was named to the All-Star inactive roster, in a friendly against English Premier League team Arsenal Gunners.

Both had tremendous games, for the All Stars, in losing efforts in a 2-1 showdown. Blake made an incredible fingertip save, in the first half, as we are now so used to him making. While Rosenberry did what he does best, shutting down the right side of the field, forcing Arsenal to abandon that side and try to force things down the opposite side. The two look to stay in form in the upcoming match.

While Blake and Rosenberry make their return to the team, the Philadelphia Union will be without central midfielder and Captain Tranquilo Barnetta, who is the victim of Yellow Card Accumulation and will be suspended for the game. Barnetta, the usual 10 on the pitch, has been playing the number eight role since Vincent Nogueira and the Union mutually agreed to part ways.

The team also announced this week

their first Homegrown Player signing in four years

, 19-year-old Midfielder Derrick Jones. Jones is a Philadelphia Union Academy product and was the first ever signing for USL side Bethlehem Steel, where he had 4 goals, 3 assists in 18 games played; in Bethlehem Steel’s inaugural season.

Real Salt Lake comes into town looking for their first win since June 22nd, a 2-1 result vs New York Red Bull, going 0-2-4 in their last 6 matches while on scoring 6 goals. Led by Defensive Midfielder, Captain, U.S. Men’s National Team player Kyle Beckerman , who was selected to his ninth All-Star game.

Goalkeeper Nick Rimando was named to the All-Star inactive Roster. Like the Union, Real Salt Lake will be without one of their best players, Forward, Yura Movsisyan. Movsisyan has a strained hip flexor. He is the teams leading goal scorer, with 7 on the season. For a team who is struggling to score goals, let alone win games, this is a big blow.

Next: Union All-Stars Shine vs. Arsenal F.C.

What to Expect

The Philadelphia Union will look get back to their winning form, in a place where they have been strong all season, at their home stadium, Talen Energy Stadium. The Union are 7-1-3 at home, while Real Salt Lake are just 3-6-2 on the road. You can expect to see the Union in their normal 4-5-1. With Barnetta out, Jim Curtain will probably start Defensive Midfielder’s Brian Carroll and Warren Creavalle, while most fans would like to see Derrick Jones make his first career start, don’t get those hopes too high. I predict that the Philadelphia Union will keep their form at home while getting back to their winning ways, in a dominating 2-0 win, goals coming from CJ Sapong and Roland Alberg.

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