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Philadelphia Union: Are the Union Playoff bound?

By Francis Sorrentino

Aug 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Members of the Philadelphia Union celebrate a goal against the D.C. United at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Members of the Philadelphia Union celebrate a goal against the D.C. United at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 17, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Union midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta (10) kicks a corner against the New York Red Bulls during the second half at Talen Energy Stadium. The game ended tied 2-2. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

One for the Record Books

It’s a record setting year for the Philadelphia Union. In the club’s short seven year history, the Union 2016 Union have set the bar high for future Union squads.  The 2011 Union team that made the playoff’s set the club record for points in a season, with 48 in 34 games, they averaged 1.4 points per game. The 2012 Union team, that failed to make the playoff’s, set the club record for win’s in a season; 12 wins.

This 2016 Union team would blow both of those records out of the water. 16 wins on the season, besting the previous by four wins; to go along with 57 points, 9 more than the last.

No one could have expected this kind of season for the Philadelphia club, just one year removed from coming off their worst finish ever, 18 out of 20 MLS teams.

Playoff Standings

Predicting the final ten games of the season was a daunting task, but ultimately these are the results. Union finished a stunning 7-1-2 over their last 10 games of the season. The 10 game stretch starts and ends with winning streaks. To start an impressive 4 game winning streak, 5 straight total, the first and only MLS team to do so in 2016. A draw to end the streak, followed by the only loss, away at Portland. Then winning 4 of the last 5 games, finishing the season on a 3 game winning streak.

So where does that leave the Union in the playoff seeding and Supporters Shield? The Union fall just short of winning the Supporters Shield, with Western Conference side FC Dallas (63 points), winning the trophy.

Next: Philadelphia Union vs Toronto FC Match Preview

The Eastern Conference Standings look as follows:

  1. Toronto FC, 60 points
  2. Philadelphia Union, 57 points
  3. Montreal Impact, 56 points
  4. New York Red Bulls, 53 points
  5. New York City FC, 51 points
  6. Orlando City SC 47 points

The Union earn a first round bye, before facing the highest seed remaining from the knockout round: 3. Montreal Impact vs 6. Orlando City SC and 4. New York Red Bulls vs 5. New York City FC. The two Semi-Final match-ups will be decided by a two-game aggregate series.

Stay tuned for our playoff preview with more predictions to come.

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