The Philadelphia Union can advance into the second round of the MLS Cup playoffs for a third successive campaign with a victory at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday versus the New England Revolution.
Game one of this best-of-three series went the way of the Union, 3-1, leaving the Revs on the brink of elimination for this upcoming clash in Greater Boston.
Match preview
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A disastrous opening half in the first match of this series was too much for New England to overcome as they found themselves behind 3-0 at the interval, losing for a third successive time away from home in MLS play.
New England have also lost three consecutive MLS playoff games, conceding the opening goal in each of those defeats.
Their backline have looked especially messy away from home, conceding three goals in three successive encounters as the visitors, but they have been a little better at Gillette Stadium, allowing just a single goal in two of their last three home games.
The Revs have never lost an MLS playoff game in Foxborough within 90 minutes, though they were beaten in their previous home playoff fixture on penalties versus New York City FC in 2021.
Clint Peay's side have conceded first in five successive domestic encounters, losing four of those matches, though that lone victory came the previous time they hosted Philly in October (2-1).
During the regular season, New England won 12 matches at Gillette Stadium, equalling their mark from 2021 when they captured the Supporters' Shield, while they suffered just one domestic defeat on home soil this season, tied with the Union for the fewest all year.
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Philadelphia began the 2023 playoffs well, winning a third successive MLS post-season fixture versus an Eastern Conference opponent, with all of those triumphs taking place at Subaru Park.
They were effective at attacking down the flanks in the opening match of this series, playing with width and creating plenty of scoring opportunities.
On Wednesday, the Union can do something they have never done in the MLS Cup playoffs before, win away from home, with Jim Curtin's men coming closest a season ago, losing on penalties at Los Angeles FC in the final.
In 2023, collecting points on the road proved a little more complicated for the Boys in Blue who suffered eight defeats as the visitors during the regular season, matching their highest total in a single domestic campaign since 2019.
The Union conceded the third-fewest goals in the Eastern Conference over the regular season (41) but looked vulnerable on the back end at times away from home, conceding multiple goals on 10 occasions.
They have only emerged victorious in one of their previous six away matches played against the Revs, defeating them 2-1 in 2020, while the Union have never beaten New England in an elimination contest since the 2014 US Open Cup quarter-finals (2-0).
Team News
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The health of 2021 league MVP Carles Gil is up in the air for this match after the Revs talisman was taken off in the opening match with a knock, Ian Harkes is still suffering from a head injury, Damian Rivera sat out due to a right knee sprain, Brandon Bye was unavailable after previously undergoing season-ending right ACL surgery, while Dylan Borrero is out because of a left knee strain.
Gustavo Bou had the only Revs goal in the opening match of this series, drawing even with Charlie Davies for the fourth-most post-season strikes in club history (four), while Giacomo Vrioni picked up his first career playoff assist in his first post-season affair.
Noel Buck, Tomas Chancalay, Nacho Gil, Jacob Jackson, Christian Makoun and Ryan Spaulding made their playoff debuts in their previous encounter, while Bobby Wood picked up his fourth MLS post-season cap, winning a team-high six duels.
Tai Baribo is questionable for the Union because of a back problem, while Jakob Glesnes is also a question mark after injuring his core.
Daniel Gazdag got the ball rolling for Philly, scoring the opening goal against the Revs from the penalty spot, with Mikael Uhre and Nathan Harriel each netting later in the half.
Uhre has a goal contribution in his last two visits to Gillette Stadium, setting up their only goal scored by Julian Carranza when they lost to New England 2-1 on Decision Day.
New England Revolution possible starting lineup:
Jackson; Jones, Kessler, Romney, Makoun; Boateng, Polster, Kaye; C. Gil; Vrioni, Bou
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Harriel, Lowe, Elliott, Wagner; Martinez; Bedoya, Flach; Gazdag; Carranza, Uhre
We say: New England Revolution 2-2 Philadelphia Union (Philadelphia wins on penalties)
The status of Carles Gil could play a big part in this encounter for New England, but despite all of their quality in the attacking third, the Revolution do not look comfortable when pressured in their own area of the field.
Philly know how to handle these pressure situations, and we believe their big three of Gazdag, Uhre and Carranza, along with the shot-stopping ability of Andre Blake, will power them into the next round.
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