Projecting the Philadelphia Union's U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 Starting XI
Jesus Bueno is a confirmed starter and Jim Curtin's rotation from Saturday gives us an idea of who else will start on Tuesday night.
The Philadelphia Union’s incredibly busy May continues on Tuesday inside Allianz Field against Minnesota United in the U.S. Open Cup round of 32.
The Union last played on Saturday at the New York Red Bulls, when Jim Curtin rotated part of his squad as part of a promise to use more of the squad’s depth after the CCL exit to LAFC last Tuesday.
There are a few things we know that can help project Tuesday’s starting XI.
Curtin confirmed in his post-game press conference on Saturday that Jesus Bueno would start against Minnesota.
We have to assume Jack Elliott, Olivier Mbaizo and Mikael Uhre will be in the XI as well since they all started on the bench on Saturday.
After that, we’re just making assumptions based on Curtin’s comments about rotation and previous Open Cup lineups.
Here’s my best guess at the Union’s starting XI.
Goalkeeper: Andre Blake
I think Curtin will stick with Andre Blake in net to avoid a big drop off to Joe Bendik and provide some stability in the back.
We saw during Blake’s injury absence earlier in the season that the biggest gap was in communication with the back line. Keeping Blake in net allows the Union to avoid any sloppy mistakes on the road.
Defense: Matt Real, Jack Elliott, Damion Lowe, Olivier Mbaizo
I think the only real tough decision Curtin faces in defense is whether to rotate Jakob Glesnes or Damion Lowe out of Saturday’s XI.
My guess is Lowe starts over Glesnes based on game time already earned in 2023. Glesnes needs a rest, and it would be nice to see how the Elliott-Lowe partnership works together. We’ve mostly seen Lowe with Glesnes in the CCL and MLS play so far.
Kai Wagner also needs a break, and this is the perfect spot to give Matt Real some minutes.
The coaching staff has been high on Real’s training level since the start of last season. If Wagner is needed, he could come on in the second half.
Mbaizo was benched for Nathan Harriel at Red Bull Arena. The Cameroonian needs a good performance to erase the horrific ending to his CCL campaign.
As always, the risk you run with Mbaizo is that he can be really good or mistake prone. There’s really no happy medium with his performances.
Midfield: Jesus Bueno, Andres Perea, Jack McGlynn, Joaquin Torres
If Curtin is true to his word, Andres Perea and Joaquin Torres will join Bueno in the four-man midfield.
Alejandro Bedoya and Daniel Gazdag need a rest, and the only way Perea and Torres can prove they can do the required defensive work in the 4-4-2 diamond is to perform well on the field.
It would be great if Bedoya could get a full 90 minutes off, and in an ideal world, Curtin will only use Leon Flach as a closer.
I think Curtin tries to be aggressive with McGlynn starting on the left side. That move would make sense because the Union only have a few games left before they release McGlynn to the U-20 World Cup.
Forwards: Mikael Uhre, Quinn Sullivan
This seems like an obvious selection as well.
Uhre came on for Sullivan in the 62nd minute on Saturday. That switch signaled that Sullivan would be rested a bit ahead of Tuesday and that Julian Carranza was asked to empty the tank to preserve the three points in northern New Jersey.
The Union can employ a similar strategy as Saturday with Sullivan. They can bomb balls forward and have Sullivan beat the Minnesota defense with his speed.
Uhre’s hold-up play and ability to make off-the-shoulder runs can also tire out the Loons defense.
It has to be noted that Minnesota players will have travel and the effects of turf on their legs after a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place on Saturday.
Uhre and Sullivan could wear down the Minnesota defense, and if a goal is not scored in the first 60 minutes, Carranza could come on with a few other subs to get the win in regulation.