Philly Leader

Philadelphia Union will return to Subaru Park for an important Sunday evening showdown against D.C. United. The match will be broadcast on FS1 and available for free on MLS Season Pass starting at 6 PM ET.

Head Coach Jim Curtin’s squad has gained momentum after three strong performances in Major League Soccer play. Although they secured only one win from those matches, their most recent outing against New York City FC ended in a decisive 5-1 victory, injecting new excitement into the team as they fight for a playoff spot.

The Wednesday night win elevated Philadelphia Union to ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings, just above the playoff line with 33 points. With five games remaining on the schedule, every point is crucial. D.C. United will travel to Chester with the same point total. Troy Lesesne’s team sits just below Philadelphia in tenth place, having gone unbeaten in their past three matchups. They recorded two wins against Toronto and Chicago before securing a draw against NYCFC last weekend, setting up Sunday’s game as a critical points battle between two teams in similar form.

Christian Benteke remains a key player for D.C. United. The 33-year-old Congolese Designated Player has been their standout performer this season with 19 goals and six assists, including scoring in back-to-back matches recently. While no other player has matched Benteke's goal tally, Mateusz Klich and Jared Stroud have been significant contributors with 10 assists each.

Sunday’s match promises to be competitive, but Philadelphia Union could see the return of key players Andre Blake and Danley Jean Jacques. Blake, a three-time Goalkeeper of the Year, has been sidelined due to injury since returning from international duty but may reclaim his starting role from 18-year-old Homegrown keeper Andrew Rick who served as backup during his absence.

Danley Jean Jacques sustained an ankle injury while away with Haiti during the international window and missed the NYCFC win despite playing against Inter Miami earlier. After focusing on recovery this week, he is expected to return to full strength and join the matchday roster on Sunday.

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