After an unscheduled week off, the Philadelphia Union are back at it on Saturday. The Union host the San Jose Earthquakes at PPL Park. Last season the Union lost to San Jose by 1 goal each time they played them. Both teams have started the 2011 season with very different fortunes.
San Jose travels cross country on the back of a 2-1 home loss to Chivas USA bringing their record to 1-3-2. Sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference, they have been playing like a shell of who they were last year. The Quakes defense, which was a strong point in 2010 having recorded 13 clean sheets, seems to be a problem this season. So far San Jose has held their opponents scoreless just once and has allowed 9 goals against. The 2010 MLS Golden Boot winner, Chris Wondolowski, is always a threat. He’s scoring at a pace of 1 goal ever other game giving him a total of 3 for this campaign. Do to the Quakes poor run of form, their manager Frank Yallop is expected to be making some more changes to his starting XI. Will Philadelphia native Bobby Convey, who has played every minute for San Jose this season, be one of those dropped?
The Philadelphia Union come into this week’s match well rested. Their game versus Real Salt Lake that was scheduled for last Saturday was postponed due to RSL’s participation in the CONCACAF Champions League final. Last time out the Union played very well but conceded a late goal allowing Seattle to steal a point. The Union’s defense continues to be solid. The offseason acquisition of center back Carlos Valdes has proved to be a good one. He, along with goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, has played huge roles in the transformation of Philadelphia’s defense. Offense continues to be a problem for the Union. Carlos Ruiz, another one of their offseason pickups, was brought in to add a legitimate threat up front. The one time MLS MVP leads the Union with 2 goals, but still has not seemed to be firing on all cylinders. Philadelphia is hoping to kick start their offense against a porous San Jose defense.
Union manager Peter Nowak is hopeful too that Brian Carroll will be back in action this weekend after straining his right hamstring a few weeks back versus RBNY. Gabrial Farfan will miss another week with a dislocated toe. The Earthquakes will be without the services of midfielder Andre Luiz due to a knee injury while it is doubtful that Tim Ward will be able to play, which is a blow to their already weak back line.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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