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MLS Philadelphia Union

Match Preview: Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire

October 14, 2017 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Philadelphia Union News Release


CHESTER, Pa. (Oct. 14, 2017) - Philadelphia Union will return to MLS action this weekend after a two week hiatus due to the international break. The Union will travel to the Windy City to take on Chicago Fire this Sunday. Kick-off from Toyota Park is set for 5 p.m. ET.

For Media Information Please Visit Philadelphia Union's Public Relations Website

This will be the second and final match between these two clubs this season. Chicago visited Talen Energy Stadium earlier in the 2017 campaign on Sept. 23. Last season's MLS Comeback Player of the Year Chris Pontius had a breakout game scoring two goals for Philadelphia. Union leading goal-scorer CJ Sapong added a cherry on top to give Philadelphia the 3-1 victory.

The Union enter this match with a record of 10-13-9 and 39 points. Philadelphia is tied with three other clubs for a share of seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The Union are coming off an emphatic 2-0 win over the defending MLS Champs on Oct. 1. Rookie Marcus Epps scored earlier for Philadelphia, as Andre Blake recorded his ninth shutout of the season in the win over Seattle.

A player to watch for this weekend against Chicago will be Union midfielder Haris Medunjanin. The Bosnian international has returned from international duty where he started both matches for Bosnia in World Cup Qualifying play. Medunjanin scored a goal for Bosnia against Belgium in his first appearance. On the club side, Medunjanin leads Philadelphia with 10 assists and is the first Union player since the 2015 season to record double digit assists.

Chicago Fire enters this weekend in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 15-10-7 and 52 points.A player to watch for on the Chicago squad is their goal-scorer Nemanja Nikoli=C4=87. The Serbian has been masterful for Chicago this season, scoring 21 goals in his first season in MLS. Nikoli=C4=87 has scored in four of his last five matches, including a brace on the west coast against San Jose. The lone match he failed to score in, during this stretch was against Philadelphia Union on Sept. 23.

Philadelphia will look to contain Nikoli=C4=87 in this Eastern Conference clash on Sunday. Kick-off is set for 5 p.m. ET and will be televised on NBC Sports Philadelphia + with JP Dellacamera and Tommy Smyth on the call.

MATCH INFORMATION

2017 MLS Regular Season

Date: Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017

Kickoff: 5: 00 p.m. ET

Location: Toyota Park

Bridgeview, IL

Philadelphia Union: 10-13-9 (39 points)

Chicago Fire: 15-10-7 (52 points)

Click Here: Media Game Notes

BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia +

Play-by-play : JP Dellacamera

Color: Tommy Smyth

MATCH SOCIAL TAGS

- @PhilaUnion

- #CHIvPHI

- #DOOP

CHICAGO FIRE SOCIAL TAGS

- @ChicagoFire

- #cf97

PHILADELPHIAUNION.COM

1. Jim Curtin's Condensed Press Scrum - 10/12

2. IBX Live Fearless Union vs. Chicago Fire Match Preview: Jack Elliott

3. IBX Live Fearless Union vs. Chicago Fire Match Preview: Marcus Epps

4. Medunjanin scores in Bosnia's World Cup Qualifier vs. Belgium

5. UNION FACT CHECK: Team returns to MLS slate after international break

EXTERNAL MEDIA

1. Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union | 2017 MLS Match Preview (MLSsoccer)

2. Union's Alejandro Bedoya still angry about missing the World Cup - and his inability to help (Philly.com)

3. Union's Alejandro Bedoya coping with 'utter disappointment' of missing World cup (DelcoTimes)

4. Alejandro Bedoya: "We let our country, teammates and fans down" (SBISoccer)

5. Union defender Josh Yaro featured in Right to Dream Academy and its MLS Alumni | MLS Insider (MLSsoccer)

ABOUT PHILADELPHIA UNION

Philadelphia was awarded the 16th Major League Soccer franchise on Feb. 28, 2008 and the Union were officially named on May 11, 2009. Owned and operated by Keystone Sports and Entertainment, LLC, the group launched the Philadelphia Union's inaugural season on March 25, 2010 and opened Talen Energy Stadium on June 27. Throughout the club's history, the Union have reached the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final in 2014 and 2015, and have also reached the MLS playoffs in 2011 and 2016. In 2017, Philadelphia Union is celebrating eight years of top-flight action at Talen Energy Stadium, a soccer-specific stadium that has hosted internationally known clubs Celtic, Chivas de Guadalajara, Everton, Schalke 04, Aston Villa, Pumas UNAM, Stoke City, Crystal Palace, AFC Bournemouth and Swansea City AFC. For more information about Philadelphia Union, visit www.philadelphiaunion.com .

Philadelphia Union Corporate Headquarters2501 Seaport DriveSuite 500Chester, PA 19013

PhiladelphiaUnion.com | News | Schedule

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