United host the Union for the first time this season Saturday, August 6, at 7 PM in their first match since the league's Secondary Transfer Window closed on August 3. Both teams' general managers have been quite active this summer, bolstering their respective squads with attacking pieces as the race to stay above the red line in the Eastern Conference enters the final stretch of 2016. United will look to extend their undefeated streak against the Union at home, which dates back to 2013.
Dave Kasper, United's general manager and VP of soccer operations, completed deals way before the deadline, bringing Patrick Mullins and Kennedy Igboananike to D.C. from NYCFC and the Chicago Fire, respectively.
Mullins, who scored his first goal for his new team in United's 1-1 draw against the Montreal Impact in the 19th minute, is reunited with former University of Maryland teammate Taylor Kemp, who assisted on the goal. "[Patrick] was really valuable for us in his hold-up play, and his movement was good," Kemp said. "I was happy to see him out there and assist him, and hopefully there’s a lot more of that in the future.”
Between Mullins and Álvaro Saborío, United excel at holding up the ball and bringing others into attack. The problem, however, lies with finishing throughout the side. Despite being in the top half of the league in total shots, only 82 have been on target, third-lowest in MLS. In order for United to continue their winning streak at home against the Union, the Black-and-Red need to finish their chances. "We’ve all watched enough soccer to know if you don’t finish your chances and put teams away, the game finds a way to punish you later on," Mullins said following the Montreal match. The addition of Igboananike, who comes into the team as the new leader in shots, provides an added option of offense, either from the wing, up top or playing off the forward. The Nigerian can use his movement and pace to stretch a Union defense that have allowed seven goals in their last two matches.
For Jim Curtin's side, sporting director Earnie Stewart added several attacking pieces right at the death of the transfer deadline. The club announced they had acquired U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Alejandro Bedoya from France's FC Nantes as well as forward Charlie Davies from the New England Revolution while shipping Sebastien Le Toux to Colorado. United fans, of course, know Davies well; he scored 11 goals for the Black-and-Red in 2011. Bedoya, who has 53 caps with the USMNT, is an attacking midfielder who will look to exploit space in the United midfield.
With Marcelo suspended after yellow card accumulation last weekend, head coach Ben Olsen will have to reformulate his midfield to combat against the overloaded middle of Philadelphia, but should have extra reinforcements after Lamar Neagle and Lloyd Sam returned to training this week. The five-man United midfield will have to track the late runs of Roland Alberg and Chris Pontius, who have both scored plenty of goals from deeper positions while C.J. Sapong uses his physicality to wear down defenses. A week after facing Didier Drogba and not allowing the Ivorian much of anything, Steve Birnbaum and Bobby Boswell will have to be at their best again against Sapong.
While the previous two matches have been in the Union's favor, head coach Ben Olsen is confident in his team, following a positive performance last weekend and their strong record at home against their I-95 rivals. "I’m more excited about this group than I've ever been," he said. "I do believe it’s a playoff team, but we have to start getting some wins. If we don’t do that, that won’t be the reality."
