Preview

FCC looking to end season well at Union

Lucho Acosta looks to score against Philadelphia Union. Photo Courtesy Megan Lee
Lucho Acosta looks to score against the Philadelphia Union. Photo Courtesy of Megan Lee

When the season schedule was released, both fanbases likely looked at this game as a preview and tune up for the playoffs. Each team has ended the other’s playoff runs, and there was an expectation that both would be solid contenders in the East in 2024.

Instead, only one team has held up their side of the deal. FC Cincinnati has locked up their playoff position as the third seed, but Philly is sitting outside of the playoffs and hoping for help.

Needing both a win Saturday and a loss by either Montreal or DC United in their matches to qualify, the Union will enter motivated to find a silver lining on the season. 

And this is a team that could use a silver lining. The season started off rocky after there was open dissent by players about the off-season negotiations they were having, often accusing the front office of lowballing players. And those calls have continued through the season, with players asking for an influx of talent to the roster.

Needing to quell the talk, the front office decided to instead sell one of its most influential players. Defensive midfielder Jose Martinez was sold to Corinthians in Brazil for a reported $2 million transfer fee. 

Dealing him did add an opportunity for reinforcement, and the front office replaced him with a similarly-priced deal for Metz midfielder Danley Jean Jacques. However, he hasn’t been a like-for-like replacement for Martinez and has only started four times in seven appearances and played a full game in two of those starts.

Understandably, this move, and no other squad building moves, has led to more questions about the squad and depressed fan sentiment of the team. The Union’s recent form hasn’t helped either, as they’ve only picked up seven pts since the All-Star Break. 

Reasonably, one could point to their schedule being incredibly tough as they’ve played Columbus twice, Orlando, and Inter Miami since the return to league play. And there have been moments where players have flashed their talent. Tai Baribo is one of those, as he scored two goals against FC Cincinnati, though there have been just as many low moments as highs.

Is there hope for the beleaguered squad? Yes. FCC has been in a run of form just as poor, amassing only eight points since the break. But with a chance to clinch a Concacaf Champions Cup spot and one final chance to find a positive playoff form, there is still an incentive to perform against their sister club.

No one would be surprised if Philly and FCC were the ones ending each other’s seasons at the beginning of the year. But for it to happen before the playoffs began, it would be another cruel swipe by a team that has taken so much from Philly already.

To Top