Philadelphia Union vs. FC Cincinnati | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 16
Philadelphia Union vs. FC Cincinnati 
Subaru Park – Chester
October 7 – 7:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV:  Star64, PHL17

The Philadelphia Union are looking to rebound from a tough loss to Toronto FC when they host FC Cincinnati at Subaru Park Wednesday night.

The Union (8W-3L-4D) had a five-match unbeaten streak, which included four wins, snapped in East Hartford Saturday night, while FC Cincy (3W-8L-4D) fell to Minnesota United, 2-0, for their second straight shutout defeat.

This is the second meeting between the teams this season following a 0-0 draw at Nippert Stadium on Sept. 23. 

Philadelphia Union

The Union raced out to an early lead thank to a Sergio Santos goal five minutes after kickoff. But Toronto FC roared back to score a pair of unanswered goals and pull away with a 2-1 victory in a clash of Eastern Conference titans. 

"Overall, a night where we weren't quite sharp enough against a really good team in their building," Jim Curtin said after the match. "We knew it would be difficult to come on the road and play 90 minutes. I thought we played good for stretches in the game, but not a complete game you need to beat a team like Toronto."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Ray Gaddis (D) - undisclosed injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Jack Elliott (D) - undisclosed injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Kai Wagner (D) - undisclosed injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Warren Creavalle (M) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty:  None

FC Cincinnati

It's a third straight match without a goal for FC Cincinnati, which fell on the road to Minnesota United, 2-0, Saturday night. Jurgen Locadia was denied a point-blank equalizer in the second half and moments later Kevin Molino scored the insurance goal for the Loons. 

“I’m very happy with our performance,” Cincinnati head coach Jaap Stam said after the match. “We played very well. I think we dominated big parts of the game. In the second half, we created opportunities, but we didn’t score. And we give away two goals. One over a penalty and one we defend very sloppy. Then, you can see the differences between them and us. They score and we don’t.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Jimmy McLaughlin (M) - ankle injury
  • OUT: Nick Hagglund (D) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Andrew Gutman (D) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Siem de Jong (M) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: Kendall Waston (D)
• International duty: None

Series Matchup at Union

• This is the second meeting between the Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati at Subaru Park with the Union claiming a 2-0 home victory May 1, 2019.

Officials

• Referee: Jon Freemon
• Assistant Referees: Kyle Atkins, Eric Weisbrod
• 4th Official: Robert Sibiga
• VAR: Guido Gonzales Jr.