Match Preview

Match Preview | #PHIvDC

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D.C. United are set to play the Philadelphia Union in the 13th match of the 2021 MLS Regular Season on Saturday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET. After breaking the club’s single-match goal record in their last MLS match against Toronto FC, D.C. United will look to keep their positive momentum going when they travel to Subaru Park to take on the Union on Saturday night.

In their last match, D.C. United won 7-1 against Toronto FC on July 3. The first goal of the match was scored in the second minute when Kevin Paredes finished off a cross at the back post to score his first career goal for D.C. United. Nigel Robertha doubled United’s lead in the eighth minute when he finished a breakaway chance to the right of the Toronto goalkeeper. The third goal came in the 21st minute when a shot by Russell Canouse took a deflection off a Toronto defender and rolled into the net for an own goal. Toronto scored their lone goal of the match in the 39th minute through Ayo Akinola’s first-time finish from close range. United led 3-1 going into halftime. 

Paul Arriola scored the first goal of the second half in the 71st minute after he beat a defender in the box and finished around the keeper into the bottom left corner. Ola Kamara, who came on as a substitution in the second half, scored in the 81st minute when he connected on a long, lofted pass by Griffin Yow and finished with his left foot. Yamil Asad then scored his first goal of the season in the 85th minute when he finished with a header off a cross by Arriola. The seventh and final goal came from Yow, who snuck his shot past the goalkeeper at his near post after making a winding run in from the corner.

D.C. United have an 8-15-5 record against the Philadelphia Union all-time but only a 3-10-0 record against them on the road. Their last match came on May 23, 2021, at Audi Field when Philadelphia won 1-0 despite being outshot 17-7 by D.C. United. The Black-and-Red will look to improve on their road record against Philadelphia and earn three points on Saturday night.

D.C. United against the Philadelphia Union on July 17 at 7:30 p.m. EST will be broadcast on NBC Sports Washington and TeleXitos and can be streamed on www.dcunited.com.