Philadelphia’s quest for an elusive MLS Cup will resume Saturday when the Union host the Columbus Crew in each club’s season opener in Chester, Pa.
The Union went 19-5-10 (67 points) last season and came excruciatingly close to winning their first Major League Soccer title, losing the final on penalty kicks to Los Angeles FC.
Nearly everyone is back from a team that had a league-best 72 goals and allowed 26 goals, an MLS record for a 34-game schedule.
“We’ve been able to stay together, and we all know each other’s strengths and that includes both the coaches and players,” Union coach Jim Curtin said. “Maybe more importantly, we know how to hide each other’s weaknesses which is a really powerful thing.
“It will be tough to replicate our goals against and goals for, but we’ll do our best to do that, and that will mean another very special season.”
Philadelphia, unbeaten at home last season (12-0-5), boasts 2022 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake. They sold forward Paxten Aaronson to Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga but acquired attacking midfielder Joaquin Torres in a trade with Montreal.
The Crew (10-8-16, 46 points), after winning the MLS Cup in 2020, have missed the playoffs the past two seasons, costing coach Caleb Porter his job.
The Crew hired Wilfried Nancy from Montreal, which finished second in the Eastern Conference in 2022.
Nancy brings an attacking mindset to a roster that features Lucas Zelarayan (10 goals, 12 assists) and Cucho Hernandez, who had nine goals and three assists in just 16 games.
“(Nancy) wants you to take more risks going forward,” Crew midfielder Sean Zawadzki told the Columbus Dispatch. “He wants you to make mistakes. He’s really emphasized that. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. … In the past, you were scared to do too much because then you would have some negative repercussions coming your way.”
The Crew traded defender and captain Jonathan Mensah to San Jose on Feb. 10 and will be without goalkeeper Eloy Room, who started every match last season, while he secures his green card.
–Field Level Media
