Philadelphia Union
Union Look to Build Momentum Against Reeling Sounders
Exiting this season’s first half put the Union in a dreadful position, but a win this evening against the struggling Sounders would be two straight to start their end-of-season campaign. Recently, it’s been winless in Seattle. They’ve been beaten in their last four with only two goals in that span. Can the Union keep the good times rolling? Let’s break down the matchup in Chester.
Injuries and Losses Continue to Plague Seattle
Seattle is on their longest loss streak since their five-game streak in 2015, and they can match that tonight. Longtime manager Brian Schmetzer is struggling to get his squad on the right track to begin the second half of the season.
The last match was one to forget for Seattle. A midweek tie with Austin FC proved tragic for the Sounders as they dropped the road match 3-1. In that time, Seattle lost their homegrown centerback Jackson Ragen to yellow card accumulation, and he will be out of tonight’s match against the U.
The lone goal in the match came from American winger Paul Rothrock. The 27-year-old equalized in the 26th minute before Austin found the two closing goals in the final 15 minutes of the match. With the loss, Seattle dropped to sixth in the Western Conference with 24 points.
Tonight’s match will be the second of four consecutive road games for the Sounders, where they have consistently struggled this season. In eight matches on the road, the Rave Green have only scored six goals. This is the lowest in the MLS, and a gaggle of injuries to mark off the attack doesn’t help their case.
For Seattle, Jordan Morris, Alex Roldan, Cristian Roldan, and Pedro de la Vega are all out of tonight’s traveling squad due to injury. Because of this, expect the biggest threat in a green kit to be American winger Paul Rothrock. Rothrock, who has five goals and an assist in 2026, will play the left flank, making Frankie Westfield’s job the most difficult this evening.
Defensively, the loss of Jackson Ragen and a pair of injuries with centerbacks Kim Kee-hee and Nikola Petković should shake up the line that sits in front of starting keeper Andrew Thomas, who’s conceded 13 goals in his last five matches with the Sounders.
Altogether, Seattle sits in sixth in the West, with an even 0 goal differential, and after a rough patch of matches recently, still prides itself as being a playoff contender with the squad getting healthy down the final stretch. All that matters is they don’t drop too far beforehand.
Keys to Success
With all the injuries, I expect the Sounders to sit back and play for the draw this evening. They can find their moments with the Union, and they know the U’s defense hasn’t been the most consistent this season. If they can pick their moments, find the counters, and hold soundly in the defensive third, they could sneak out of Chester with a point.
Confidence Returns to Chester
Pinch me, I’m dreaming! The U doubled their win total for the season and grabbed their first home win of 2026 on Wednesday. The match went about as perfect as any Union fan could’ve asked for, and in the 3-1 victory, they likely could have scored at least six.
One of the prominent differences was the Kai Wagner factor. Kai’s return to Chester did not disappoint, and he had a hand in nearly every goal the Union scored. Picking up an assist on the final goal for Neil Pierre, Wagner’s presence was felt from whistle-to-whistle.
Additionally, the homegrowns were out and flying against Red Bull; Neil Pierre grabbed his first MLS goal, soaring over his defender for a perfectly placed header. Cavan Sullivan was nearly perfect, creating chance after chance with his speed and creativity on the flanks. Not to mention Frankie Westfield and Nate Harriel holding the back line.
However, the most special moment of the evening came in the 73rd minute. Quinn Sullivan, who missed the last 298 days recovering from a torn ACL, was met with a standing ovation from the Union faithful upon his return to the pitch. Sullivan completed the match, completing six of his seven passes and creating a chance.
The Union now continue their unbeaten streak against Red Bull at home since 2018, and look to continue this momentum into the evening. They are facing a beaten, battered, and struggling Sounders squad, who could be the perfect recipe to keep the good times rolling in Philadelphia.
My player to watch this evening is Milan Iloski, who has scored in his last four MLS appearances and has six goals in that span. The Sounders have conceded a lot recently, and I would expect him to grab another this evening.
On the other hand, a player that needs to step up this evening is Jovan Lukic. It has been a slow burn of a season for Jovan, who seems to still be in search of his place in this Union rotation. Found out of position defensively and quiet on the offensive front, can the young Serbian find his form in a match that screams for a confidence-boosting opportunity?
Keys to Success
Give me the Union in this one. The chances they created in their first match back were chances that we did not see for the entirety of the season’s first half. They were alive, energetic, and dare I say fun to watch Wednesday night. If they can replicate their attacking presence, capitalize on their chances, and remain defensively sound, the U might grab six points in their first two games of this three-match homestand.
You can catch the match at 7:30 p.m. on Apple TV+.
