A slumping Real Salt Lake comes to Philadelphia to take on the Union at PPL Park in Chester, PA at 4 pm today.
The Union have had success rebounding from a poor 2-0 defeat at the hands of FC Dallas only a month ago. The team couldn't have looked any worse after the first 20 minutes of the game, as the offense sputtered yet again and the defense disappointed for the first time in 2011. Since May 14, the Union are 2-0-1 in MLS play, (7 points out of a possible 9) with wins over the Chicago Fire, Toronto FC and a draw against defending MLS champions the Colorado Rapids. The defense has let up four goals in those three games, over its seasonal average, but the Union's offense has emerged - finally - with 9 goals in those three games. With a win the Union move back into first place in the Eastern Conference after their rivals the New York Red Bulls won last night against the New England Revolution to go two points ahead. The Union have two games in hand, including this game against Salt Lake, to regain that position.
Salt Lake started off the season 4-0-0 and had a ton of games in hand against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the race for first place in the Western Conference, but recently troubles are brewing for the CONCACAF Champions League finalists. After losing in the finals to Monterrey, Salt Lake went back to MLS play only to lose playmaker Javier Morales for the season. Real is only 2-2-2 in their six MLS games since exiting the CCL.