CHESTER, Pa. – Only two weeks ago, the Philadelphia Union faced D.C. United while mired in a four-game losing skid that included a pair of ugly three-goal defeats.
A lot has changed since then, with the Union now readying for Saturday’s match at D.C. (7 pm ET, MLS LIVE) on the back of a two-game winning streak they hope can change the trajectory of their season.
“It can certainly get us going and we hope that it can turn the season around,” Union midfielder Brian Carroll said of the two straight victories. “It just got back to putting in the work all throughout the week and then having it pay dividends on the weekend during the game. It’s worked the past two weeks – now we have to continue to do it and continue to improve.”
Carroll was a big reason why the Union earned back-to-back shutout wins over rivals D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, with the veteran midfielder putting in two strong – and much-needed – 90-minute shifts for a team depleted by injuries, international absences and suspensions.
But heading into RFK, head coach Jim Curtin will have more of his top players at his disposal as captain Maurice Edu returns from a one-game suspension (yellow card accumulation) and leading scorer Fernando Aristeguieta is back after missing two games while with the Venezuelan national team.
Aristeguieta failed to make Venezuela’s final roster for this summer’s Copa América but, according to Curtin, that’s only made the striker hungrier to put together a strong run of games for his club.
“He’s as fit as I’ve ever seen him, coming off a tough camp with Venezuela,” Curtin said. “And he’s pretty seamlessly back into the group. The guys like him a lot. Anybody that worked as hard as he does gets the guys’ respect and appreciation, so I’m excited to get him back.”
With Edu and Aristeguieta among the players set to return to the lineup, the Union look like they could be in good position to build on their momentum. But they also know how fast things can change in this league, judging by how their dismal 1-7-3 start was followed by two upset wins over rivals.
“You can’t just wait until your back’s against the wall to put good performances together,” Curtin said. “It has to become a thing where we get on a run and put four or five good games together. I’m honest with my team with where we stand and I’ll tell you guys when I don’t think we’ve played well and I’ll give our guys credit when we do. I think we’ve played well in two games but we have a lot to work on still.
“We have to dig ourselves out of the hole that we’re in.”
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.
