Jim Curtin believes sustaining an organised, coordinated press shall be key for the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, once they tackle CF Montreal at Subaru Park.
The Union sit eighth within the Jap Convention standings, 5 locations however simply three factors away from Montreal, after enjoying out a goalless draw with Toronto FC in midweek.
Philadelphia have solely gained one in all their final 9 MLS matches however have taken 5 factors from their final three (one win, two attracts), whereas retaining three straight clear sheets.
Curtin feels choosing their moments to strike is the best way to go in opposition to Laurent Courtois’ staff, saying: “We anticipate a extremely powerful take a look at in opposition to Montreal. You’ll be able to inform they’re well-coached, they’re well-drilled in the best way that they attempt to cross out of the again.
“They’ve some actually intricate actions inside their group. They’re courageous residence and away in the best way they attempt to play.
“We’ll must do a superb job of being organised, and attempt to flip them over as near their purpose as attainable, and create probabilities.”
Take the sector with Jack Elliott#DOOP pic.twitter.com/hPA03eInbv
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) Might 31, 2024
Montreal ended a run of seven league video games and not using a victory (three attracts, 4 losses) by beating D.C. United 4-2 final outing, with Ariel Lassiter among the many scorers.
Lassiter hopes that consequence is usually a turning level of their season, saying: “Profitable adjustments every part, successful adjustments the outlook of the locker room and the mentality.
“It’s the victory, the three factors that we have to go into Philadelphia to get factors there, after which to complete for the worldwide break on a excessive.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Philadelphia Union – Daniel Gazdag
The Union have failed to attain in back-to-back MLS matches for the primary time since April 2023. They haven’t gone three straight MLS matches (together with playoffs) with out discovering the online in over a decade, final doing so in September 2013.
His staff’s main scorer with 9 targets in 14 league video games this time period, Gazdag will look to finish their barren run.
CF Montreal – Sunusi Ibrahim
Ibrahim scored a brace off the bench for Montreal on Wednesday, changing into simply the third participant in membership historical past to attain a number of targets off the bench in an MLS match.
He was the primary Montreal participant to realize the feat since Ahmed Hamdi in July 2021.
MATCH PREDICTION – PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN
The Union have gained solely one in all their final 9 matches (4 attracts, 4 losses) following their scoreless draw with Toronto on Wednesday.
Philadelphia’s seven factors throughout this time is their fewest in a nine-match span in a single season since they took seven factors from 9 video games between March and Might 2017.
Nonetheless, they’ve solely misplaced one in all their final eight video games in opposition to Montreal (4 wins, three attracts), who have been winless in 9 throughout all competitions earlier than their midweek victory. Residence benefit makes them favourites.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Philadelphia Union – 58.5%
CF Montreal – 19.9%
Draw – 21.6%
