The Philadelphia Union are eyeing their seventh playoff run and fifth in a row. They started the season off well, sitting on 25 points from 14 matches. Of course, it is still early, as many things can change over the course of a season. Still, this Philadelphia team looks like that 2020 team that finished first in the East and in the entire MLS. Battle lines are drawn after about a third of a season under the belt and Philadelphia has emerged as one of the favorites for the cup. Here are three reasons why the Philadelphia Union will win the 2022 MLS Cup.
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3 Reasons the Philadelphia Union will win the 2022 MLS Cup
3. Philadelphia has only lost one game
A third of the season is not the be-all, end-all, but it is a good indicator of where a team sits going forward. Unfortunately for the Union, a lot of their games, half to be exact, ended in draws. However, they also have six wins and a ton of their draws easily could have been won. Generally speaking, Philadelphia were the better outfit in most of their games. Their one loss came against Toronto FC, a non-playoff team, where the Union simply failed to put their best foot forward. Philly played well against the likes of New York City FC, Charlotte FC, CF Montreal, and Los Angeles FC, all of whom are quality teams. Their ability to hang around with the toughest of MLS opponents shows that Philly is a true contender for the Cup this season.
Now, a problem for the Philadelphia Union could be that they cannot convert a lot of these games into wins. However, it is important to mention that they had a six-game winning streak just a few weeks ago, during which they had some impressive outings. Additionally, they were denied a win against LAFC in the 82nd minute and against Nashville in the 85th, while also blowing leads in their draws versus the New York Red Bulls and CF Montreal. Thus, if the Union can improve on their finishing and ensure they can close out games and protect their lead, it will go a long way towards a possible title run.
2. They have a fantastic defense
The Philadelphia Union have conceded the fewest goals in the MLS this season, tied with NYCFC having surrendered just 10 goals in 14 games. Philadelphia is showing a ton of defensive stability, which is something crucial in the modern game. Considering the fact that even bottom-feeding teams like the San Jose Earthquakes have over 20 goals scored on the year, having a stable defense is very important. Only two times during this season have the Union conceded more than one goal, which is an extremely impressive accomplishment through 14 games.
Their offense is somewhat stagnant and that could be an issue going forward. Only 19 goals scored would rank Philadelphia among the worst clubs in the league. Their best offensive player, Daniel Gazdag, is only now settling in fully. He scored five in all competitions last season and has seven in the MLS right now. It is not only him, however, as Julian Carranza contributed four, while Alejandro Bedoya, Cory Burke, and Mikael Uhre all have two. There is still time for the Union's strikers to contribute even more and for Gazdag to continue his masterful season. Playing in front of such a stalwart defense makes the job of the attackers easier, so hopefully the offense can swing into form as the season progresses.
1. They are a true team
While many MLS contenders are built around a few star players, the Philadelphia Union decided to go in the direction of a true build-from-within mentality, creating a squad full of solid players that look great together. While other teams lean heavily upon individuals to give them the edge, the Union play more as a team, relying on their defense to hold down the fort while the attackers look to get on the board. It can definitely be said that the Union as a team is greater than the sum of its parts. Without disrespect to the players individually, most of them would not be considered a true star, even for the MLS standards.
Yet, the squad works out. It is not perfect, granted, but it is doing well enough to really look like a potential contender. We cannot know what will happen in the next few months, but these first games have shown that the Philadelphia Union could be a true championship team. They have a great defense, led by the incredibly experienced Andre Blake, and an offense that is very diverse. If their attackers can really find their scoring boots, it could be game over for all other MLS teams. If they do not, there is still a chance this team absolutely dominates with their solid back-to-front approach.
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