Philadelphia Union vs Los Angeles FC Odds: Strong Return for Philadelphia Union

• Philadelphia Union found an equalizer deep into stoppage time to secure a 2-2 draw against Charlotte FC in their last game on Wednesday
• Los Angeles nullified St. Louis City SC’s attacks but could not convert their own as they settled for a point after a goalless draw in their last match
• The two MLS Cup 2022 finalists have already clashed earlier this season in May. They had to settle for a point each after a tightly contested 2-2 draw at the BMO Stadium 

Philadelphia Union vs Los Angeles FC

 Odds taken from Betway. 

Philadelphia Union vs Los Angeles FC

• Our Pick: Philadelphia Union to win. They have form on their side as well as an offense capable of destroying LAFC in the final third.

Philadelphia Union vs Los Angeles FC Prediction 

Philadelphia Union will head into this contest as the favorites. However, it is expected to be a cagey and closely fought contest between the two top MLS sides. 

Philadelphia Union will look to add to their five-match unbeaten run at home and maintain their fortress. The Jim Curtin-managed side eked out a 2-2 draw against Cincinnati in their last home game, earlier in the weekend. The hosts were held back in possession but created ample opportunities in front of the goals. Both clubs had six shots on target and converted two each as the fixture ended in a stalemate.  

Jose Martinez (23’) broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 23rd minute while Daniel Gazdag (37’) converted from the spot to double their lead. Cincinnati restored parity in the second half through Aaron Boupendza (49’) and Brandon Vazquez (76’). However, in the dying minutes of the match, both clubs were reduced to 10-man each after one of their players was sent off.  

LAFC will look to bounce back from their 0-2 loss to Portland in their last away fixture. The Steve Cherundolo-managed side dominated the majority of possession but struggled to find the back of the net. They conceded one goal each on either side of the half as Larrys Mabiala (28’) broke the deadlock for Portland while Claudio Bravo (53’) doubled their lead.  

The visitors have plenty of firepower in their side to return to winning ways but they will have their task cut out against a formidable opponent. 

Philadelphia Union Made Strong Return After Leagues Cup

Philadelphia Union made a strong return to the domestic league after their exit in the 2023 Leagues Cup semi-finals. The Union resumed their MLS campaign with a 3-1 win over D.C. United before registering a 1-3 loss to Toronto. 

The Curtin-managed side, then, bounced back to clinch a thumping 4-1 win over the New York Red Bulls before dishing out draws against Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati and Charlotte FC in their recent two fixtures. 

The club will look to maintain their strong run in the 2023 MLS in the upcoming clash and will look to avenge their CONCACAF Champions League semi-final defeat against LAFC, earlier this year in May.

Gazdag-Carranza Look to Add To Scoresheet

Talismanic Hungarian midfielder Gazdag and Argentine forward Julian Carranza will be looking to add more to the score tally after a prolific year for the club. The duo has scored the most goals for the club so far with a combined tally of 25 goals. 

Gazdag has also been the most valuable player for the club as he has also been involved in five assists. He scored his 13th goal of the campaign via a 97th-minute penalty against Charlotte FC in the last game. Apart from Gazdag and Carranza, eyes will also be on Mikkel Uhre and Alejandro Bedoya.

The Hosts Are Expected to Focus on a Direct Passing Style 

Curtin has imposed a high-tempo, high-pressing game in the Philadelphia Union and the club has highly relied on it to produce the best results. This style of play is coupled with direct passing, to avoid midfield congestion and ruthless transition.  

The Union has looked good on the counter-attack and their opponents will be wary of their prowess. Moreover, the club hardly cares about keeping the ball or retaining possession when off it, as they inevitably win it back and launch a direct ball to find their more physical strikers Carranza and Uhre.  

Los Angeles FC Look to Overcome Tumultuous Run

Defending MLS Cup champions Los Angeles FC will be eager to turn their post-Leagues Cup form around in order to prepare for the playoffs.   

The Los Angeles outfit returned to the league with a strong start as they registered a thumping 4-0 win over Colorado. However, later, they lost 1-2 to Charlotte and 1-3 against Inter Miami. They registered their third consecutive loss after the return against Portland (0-2).  

However, the club will look to add to their winning momentum and return to their best after securing a 4-2 win over LA Galaxy and eking out a goalless draw against Western Conference leaders St. Louis in their last fixture. 

Linchpin in Race for the Golden Boot This Season

LAFC talisman Denis Bouanga has been a handful in the ongoing season capping off his best run in the MLS after joining the club in 2022. The Gabonese winger has netted 14 goals in 26 appearances which makes him the joint-leading goal scorer in the 2023 MLS season alongside Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar. 

Incidentally, Bouanga has a better goal-scoring ratio than Mukhtar as he has featured in two games less, this season. He has also assisted six times. LAFC will also expect Carlos Vela to bring his best game against the Union. The Mexican forward has netted nine times and assisted seven goals in 29 appearances. 

LAFC Will Look to Dominate Possession 

LAFC coach Cherundolo believes in possession dominance and has brought that to the side. He favors the 4-3-3 formation with a fast and hard press as soon as the opposition loses the ball. It is quite similar to the club philosophy and the technique followed by the former coach Bob Bradley.  

However, Cherundolo has brought in the defensive solidity to the side as the club has looked more resilient and aggressive in the backline. LAFC has shown the ability to soak up pressure, sit deeper, become incisive on the counter, and attack quickly when required. 

How to Watch Philadelphia Union vs Los Angeles FC 

• Teams: Philadelphia Union vs Los Angeles FC
• Location: Subaru Park
• Time: Saturday, September 23 at 07:30 pm ET
• How to Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, FS1, and Fox Deportes