Thursday, September 22, 2011

Philadelphia Union Scouting Report

Sporting Kc vs. Philadelphia Union might just be the biggest game this season in terms of playoff contention. Sporting Kc are currently in 2nd place in the East with 40 points, while the Philadelphia Union sit right below them in 3rd with 39 points. Should Philadelphia win they would leap frog Columbus and Sporting Kc. On the flip-side if Sporting Kc win the find themselves at the top of the East with a little bit of breathing room.

Most Dangerous Player
Sebastien Le Toux. The Frenchman will be looking to his already impressive scoring and assisting record for Philadelphia. The former Seattle man has scored 7 times and assisted on 8 occasions for the Union. His strength and awareness could do serious damage to Sporting Kc.

Weakest Link
Goalkeeping. Philly's goalkeeping situation is in shambles. Both Mondragon and MacMath have been injured. Leading Philadelphia to dip into the MLS keeper pool and take one. While it is hard to say whether this reserve goalkeeper is good, Mondragon has been a rock back there and having him out of the starting XI is a huge blow.

Football Style
Philadelphia like to use a quick passing system that helps them get up the field as quick as possible. They don't like to sit back and let other teams come at them. It's a very in-your-face type of footballing style. While the Union have been good this season I believe Sporting Kc deserve to be ahead of them in the standings and anything but a win at LSP on Friday night could be devastating for either teams.

Key Match Up
Sporting Kc's strikers vs. Philly's goalkeeper. While the MLS reserve pool keeper will certainly have a tough time trying to keep the likes of Kamara and Bravo from scoring the real problem could be in the striker delema for Sporting Kc. Vermes will have to pick between either Sapong or Bunbury. While Bunbury looked lively against RSL Sapong has been tremendous this season, scoring goals from all types of angles.

Prediction
Sporting Kc - 2 (Sapong, Bravo)
Philadelphia Union - 1 

1 comment:

  1. I agree Besler and whoever teams up with him in the heart of the Sporting defense will have to keep Le Toux in check tonight. He's finally hitting his form.

    I also agree with your scoreline. I think it'll be a tough game, but the team plays very well at home, and I'm expecting a sold out crowd.

    3 points!

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