Philadelphia Union Have Chance to Make Massive Statement Against Inter Miami
The Union host Messi and Co. on Saturday night at Subaru Park.
The Philadelphia Union have a massive opportunity to make a statement on Saturday night at home against Inter Miami.
Sure, the winning run throughout May has been fun, but let’s be real here, no one is measuring the team’s championship ambitions off Open Cup wins over USL Championship sides and victories over struggling teams in league play.
The Union need to produce a win over Lionel Messi and Co. to resonate on the national, and you could argue even the local, stages.
Bradley Carnell’s side came close to making a statement within the league a few weeks ago, but the Columbus Crew’s late second-half goal forced that result into a tie.
The Union played well and the sentiment within the locker room was that more positives could come away from that game.
The draw against Columbus is the only blemish on a remarkable May run in which the Union beat CF Montreal, LA Galaxy and Atlanta United in league play.
While Columbus may be the measuring stick within the league, Miami is the team the Union get compared to, fair or unfair, from the casual viewing audience.
It’s a shame to say this about a first-place team, but no one really cares what the Union have put together outside of the soccer bubble.
After all, it’s May, the Phillies are cruising and we just finished our months-long nauseating conversation about the Tush Push.
A win over Inter Miami, no matter what type of form the Herons are in, resonates far outside our little bubble in the Philadelphia sports world.
Which is why Saturday’s game is not just important from a soccer perspective. The Union could really gain back the momentum that was lost in 2024 and with the subsequent firing of Jim Curtin inside the local market.
Messi and Luis Suarez will be on the field. That’s all that matters. Beat Messi and no one will slap an asterisk on the result because of Miami’s form.
That form, though, is what makes Miami vulnerable at the moment.
Javier Mascherano’s side has one win in its last five league games and it conceded at least three goals in the four non-win results of that stretch.
Of course, Miami’s turned that poor form into midweek motivation with the training sessions reportedly being harder in south Florida this week.
Miami could easily come into Chester, kick the Union’s ass and re-establish itself as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
After all, this is a showcase game for them as well.
In their current form, the Union can go toe-to-toe with Miami, and if that results in a win, then you can take the training wheels off the hype train.
Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union.