PHILADELPHIA UNION v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Sounders travel to Seaport Drive with a chip on their collective shoulders and a point to prove. Should be a cracker.

What: MLS league match, Philadelphia Union v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: Seaport Drive, Chester, Pennsylvania.

When: 4:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 25 July 2026 CE.

At Stake: Points in the league. Restoring our self-respect as a club. Last time out, had we won, we would have moved up to 6th place in the MLS table. Literally every result that needed to go our way, went our way…except ours when the Austin pumped us for three goals. This time ‘round, Sounders have yet another shot at getting to 6th place in the league, which is a fucking miracle given our recent form. Here’s what it would take: Chicago (@NYC), Salt Lake (@POR), New England (v.ATL), and Dallas (@SD) must all be defeated. Should Philadelphia defeat us, we could fall as low as 17th place should all these teams win (I recognise that in the NYRB v. CLT match that it is impossible for both of them to win): Houston (v.ATX), Cincinnati (@CLB), NYC (v.CHI), Charlotte (@NYRB), St. Louis (v.COL), Minnesota (v.VAN), and the Red Donkeys (v.CLT).

Where to Watch: Apple TV.

Where to Listen: KJR 93.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM.

I had a mate look this up the other day: Sounders haven’t lost four matches on the trot since 2015. With that bit of history disclosed, we can move on to Philadelphia and the Saturday league fixture.

Gonna keep it short this time, because I ran a bit long on Tuesday night. All the stuff that we’ve been doing wrong, we need to correct that. All the stuff we’re doing right, we need to do that stuff better. Ultimately, we need to put the football in the big white box, and keep it out of ours. NO, I’M NOT TRYNA TAKE YOUR JOB, CAPTAIN OBVIOUS!

Seriously though, with training and accountability, we can overcome this wretched patch of form and return to our usual standard of very good, but not dominant. I think it’s reasonable for us to get there sooner rather than later. Why not start the healing on Sat.

If you’re making the trip out to Chester, look after each other. Sunscreen mandatory or you’ll get nasty burns that will turn into a nasty farmer tan, which in turn will make you look like someone who says things like ‘Git’r done!’ un-ironically. Make sure you’ve got your scarves tied proper. Make a racket that threatens to raise the dead.

For those of us who remain in The Evergreen, the duty is clear. Gather your mates and put the match on the telly at pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings. Houses and Flats for pints and cats. Boats and ships for pie and chips.

It’s MLS football, under the Saturday night lights at Seaport Drive in the god-forsaken heat and humidity of the north Atlantic summer. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”

“…I feel like we’ve been ‘round this bend before………are we lost?”

The Good News

We’re somehow still in 10th place in the league table even though we haven’t earned a point in the league since 13 May.

Word on the street is that Pedro de la Vega is closing in on full fitness. Gomez Andrade made the trip to Austin, so that’s gotta mean he’s close to being back. This is good news.

A lot of people piss and moan about our squad players when they fill in for injured or tired players. The flip side of the coin is, that with each time they are selected in the team, our squad players gain confidence and experience with each run-out. This will pay dividends down the road, mark my words.

I’ve gotta give some credit to the Gaffer. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Kingston and Hawkins were in the team. Well overdue on Hawkins, but Schmetzer done the right thing showing confidence in our squad players. Gomez also made his second appearance for the Sounders, coming into the match on 88 minutes. Maybe we need to see a bit more than a cameo appearance to see what we truly have in Gomez, as the club thinks highly enough of him that they signed him to a five-years contract in the offseason. We are only as strong as our weakest link.

Philadelphia are on some very hard times. They currently sit 30th and bottom of the league and concede an average of nearly two goals (1.65) per match. Pair this with the Sounders defence that is still, somehow, tied for 4th best in the league (1.21 goals conceded/match) and the match begins to look like a winnable one, at least on paper.

We’re in a bad patch for sure, but the good news is that there are some easy fixes to get us right back on track:

1. Proper spacing and disciplined wing play when in possession.

2. Improve combination play. We must run immediately after we pass the football…not just watch the pass go to the receiver and then say to ourselves ‘nice one, job done’ as we stand there.

3. Actively support the football in such a way that a player in possession always has two legitimate passing options. We must run to open space to create open passing lanes.

4. Switch the play more quickly rather than attempt to force it in an area of the pitch that is dense with defenders

5. Faster ball movement and player movement in general.

6. Improve play on set pieces. This requires extra work on the training pitch. A lot of extra work.

7. In weeks of fixture clutter (three or more matches in 10 days or less), make sure to rest veteran players. Let the youngers have a chance. They may astound us.

8. If we get to the final third, and the entire opposition defence is marking all the space, back the play out to our side of the halfway line and attempt to open vertical and horizontal spaces to better attack the opposition’s goal. We’re objectively not good enough to play in close spaces. We’re not Brazil. Patience is a virtue.

The Bad News

Although the Sounders’ season numbers suggest positive results (1.42 goals/match and 1.21 goals conceded/match). The numbers from the last five matches are significantly less sparkly (1.00 goals/match and 2.60 goals conceded/match). Sounders are in a bind, because our success depends on an air-tight defence, which is difficult to do when you’re tryna hit goals and are chasing the game.

Danger men for Philadelphia are: Iloski (8 goals, 1 assist), Jean Jacques (2 goals), Vassilev (2 goals), Cavan Sullivan (1 goal, 4 assists), and Westfield (4 assists). Stopping them will require maximum effort from our defence.

Although Philadelphia are currently bottom of the league table, they won their last match against the Red Donkeys midweek, breaking their own miserable winless spell of 8 matches (0-4-4) that began on 18th April. Philadelphia are an auld football city, with long-running traditions including 5x US Open Cup champions Bethlehem Steel (the original club, not the newer iteration that’s in USL). Just last season, Philadelphia won the league for the second time in their short history (first MLS season was 2010). They also have a precocious teenager in Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia and United States U18s) who is one of the more highly-rated domestic prospects at the tender age of 16. All of this, though, is just a longhand way of saying that these aren’t going to just lie down and let us take the points.

If you’re minding the all-time results between us, we really don’t do much better than break even with Philadelphia. Our all-time record in the league against Philly is 5-3-5, which is a break-even set of numbers. It gets worse still when we play them at Seaport Drive, where our all-time record is 1-3-3.

Philadelphia score an average of 1.70 goals/match. As we’re having difficulty keeping the football out of our own nets, we’re going to have to sort some issues out if we’re to beat these.

Philadelphia spent €13.43M on transfers so far this season. Sounders in sharp contrast have spent €0. Although Sounders do have a stockpile of local talent developed through our own academy system (who might actually flourish if allowed to play regularly), it’s kind of difficult to line up against clubs that have purchased the services of hardened football mercenaries and make a match of it. I have heard from a reliable source that our front office is on the verge of making some changes.

We do grow attached to players over the years, and I get it, and I also feel some of those same feelings. With that said, if we continue to under-perform, some changes are going to have to be made. Our current Designated Players are Pedro de la Vega, Jordan Morris, and Albert Rusnak. De la Vega has bags of skill, but has been limited to 42 matches and five goals since he was signed from Lanus in 2024. Morris, 31, has been a long-time stalwart for the club in addition to being a beloved local player and the Sounders all-time leading goal scorer in all competitions with 92 goals. That having been said, it has become clear that Morris is a player on the decline. His last full season was 2024 where he played 34 league matches, scoring 13 goals with five assists. From 2025 to present, Morris has been limited to 28 matches, scoring six goals with four assists. It’s not good enough to carry a Designated Player’s salary. Rusnak, 31, has been relatively durable and is the sort of player that will get you roughly 10 goals with 10-15 assists per season. This is good, but it’s not Designated Player good. All of these players need to either accept re-structured contracts or be sold. It’s difficult to say this, but it must be done.

The Side I Would Select

So, Ragen’s two-match ban really extra smarts. So prepare for the Stuey and ‘Tino show. I’ll take the youngers over the rest of the squad where possible, as Nouhou has no understudy and Anchor will likely be between the sticks for the Reserves on Sunday.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Hawkins

RCH    Lopez

RB     Kossa-Rienzi

LDM   Kingston

RDM   Brunell

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Tsukanome

RF     Ferreira

CF     De Rosario

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

Although I humbly give credit to our Manager for playing Hawkins and Kingston in Texas, Ragen’s suspension does complicate matters. I’m pretty certain Lopez and Hawkins are the only healthy centre-halves in the squad (although the Academy scholar Sandnes was on the bench as a loan player from the Reserves midweek so he could be available for selection). I predict we can expect these for Saturday afternoon.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Hawkins

RCH    Lopez

RB     Kossa-Rienzi

LDM   Dotson

RDM   Brunell

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Ferreira

CF     Musovski

Intangibles

The Referee for Saturday night’s match will be Timothy Ford.

Philadelphia record with Ford as Ref: 5-2-1

Sounders FC record with Ford as Ref: 4-2-2

PHI 2026 season transfer spend: €13.43M

Sounders FC 2026 season transfer spend: €0

Ryan Richter, 37, who had been the coach of Philadelphia Union II, replaced former Philadelphia Manager Bradley Carnell on 27 May. Looks like Philly are riding the ‘new manager bump’.

General notes on personnel

Philadelphia transfers IN:

Alladoh (Brommapojkarna) €3.9M

Sundstrom (North Carolina FC) free

Sery Larsen (Brann) €1.5M

Korzeniowski - reserves

Martinez (Juventud) €425,000

Anello (Boston River) €2.2M

Ndinga (Degerfors) €1.9M

Jakupovic - reserves

Wagner (Birmingham City) €3.5M

Philadelphia transfers OUT:

Donovan (Louisville City) free

LeFlore (Detroit City) loan

Pariano (Huntsville City) free

Semmle (North Carolina FC) loan

Uhre (Midtjylland) free

Vazquez (San Diego FC) €215,000

Glesnes (Los Angeles Galaxy) €935,000

Baribo (DC United) €3.4M

Pierre (Lyngby) loan

Olney (Brooklyn FC) loan

Mbaizo (MLS Pool) free

Comparison against common opponents

PHI 0:1 SJ

SJ 0:1 SEA

SEA 3:2 SJ

(against SJ: PHI 0-0-1 -1, SEA 2-0-0 +2) decisive edge SEA

Know Thine Enemy

Philadelphia as they lined up against the Red Donkeys in their 3:1 victory at Seaport Drive on 22 July.

GOALKEEPER

Andre Blake, 35

Jamaica (94/0)

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (281/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €300,000

Notes: Developed by Sporting Central Academy and Harbour View. Played his university football for Connecticut (68/0). Won 2x MLS league championship with Philadelphia. Won a Caribbean Cup with Jamaica. 3x named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. 3x named to MLS Best XI. Won 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Glove. Named to CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI 2017.

DEFENCE

Kai Wagner, 29

Germany

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (205/8)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.2M

Notes: Developed by SV Lonsee, SSV Ulm 1846, and FC Augsburg. Won 2x MLS league championship with Philadelphia. 2x named to MLS Best XI 2022.

Japhet Sery Larsen, 26

Denmark

Notable Clubs: Midtjylland (4/0), Brann (77/2), Bodo/Glimt (10/0), Philadelphia Union (11/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by Christianshavns Idraets Klub, Kobenhavens Boldklub, Boldklubben af 1893, Lyngby, Midtjylland, and Brentford. Won a Norwegian Cup with Brann.

Nathan Harriel, 25

United States (3/0)

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (125/7)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by Chargers SC and Philadelphia Union. Won an MLS league championship with Philadelphia Union.

Frankie Westfield, 20

United States

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (37/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by Philadelphia SC and Philadelphia Union. Won an MLS league championship with Philadelphia Union. Played for United States (10/1) at youth levels.

MIDFIELD

Indiana Vassilev, 25

United States (2/0)

Notable Clubs: Aston VIlla (4/0), Inter Miami CF (45/5), St. Louis City SC (63/5), Philadelphia Union (46/7)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by Tormenta FC, IMG Academy, and Aston Villa. Won an EFL League Two title with Cheltenham. Won an MLS league championship with Philadelphia Union.

Danley Jean Jacques, 26

Haiti (34/6)

Notable Clubs: Don Bosco (52/7), Metz (64/0), Philadelphia Union (54/5)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Perolas Negras. Won an MLS league championship with Philadelphia Union.

Jovan Lukic, 24

Serbia

Notable Clubs: Cukaricki (64/2), Torreense (15/0), Spartak Subotica (37/2), Philadelphia Union (47/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Partizan Belgrade and Cukaricki. Won an MLS league championship with Philadelphia Union.

Cavan Sullivan, 16

United States

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (28/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4.5M

Notes: Developed by FC Delco and Philadelphia Union. Won an MLS league championship with Philadelphia Union. Has played for United States (24/9) at youth levels. Won a CONCACAF U-15 Championship with United States.

FORWARD

Bruno Damiani, 24

Uruguay

Notable Clubs: Nacional (22/2), Boston River (38/12), Philadelphia Union (49/8)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Nacional. Won a Uruguayan Supercup with Nacional. Won an MLS league championship with Philadelphia Union.

Milan Iloski, 26

United States

Notable Clubs: Real Salt Lake (2/0), Orange County SC (66/39), Nordsjaelland (17/2), San Diego FC (14/10), Philadelphia Union (25/10)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Real Salt Lake AZ. Played his university football for UCLA (46/23). Won a USL Golden Boot (22 goals) with Orange County SC. Won an MLS league championship with Philadelphia Union.

Familiar Faces

None.

Squads

Philadelphia from:

Blake, Marks, Rick, Harriel, Sery Larsen, Makhanya, Martinez, Sundstrom, Wagner, Westfield, Pierre, Bedoya, Bender, Bueno, Jean Jacques, Lukic, Olney, Rafanello, Cavan Sullivan, Quinn Sullivan, Vassilev, Alladoh, Anderson, Anello, Damiani, Davis, Iloski, Jakupovic, Korzeniowski, Olivas.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Kossa-Rienzi, Lopez, Nouhou, Sailor, Brunell, Dotson, Gomez, Kingston, Rusnak, Arriola, De Rosario, Ferreira, Musovski, Rothrock, Tsukanome.

Note: Sounders FC Reserves centre-half Gallatin Sandnes was on the bench for the Sounders midweek at Austin as an emergency call-up. The Sounders FC Academy scholar may still be in the squad for Sat.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Philadelphia -

OUT: Ndinga (hamstring).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Sounders FC -

OUT: de la Vega (knee), Kim (hamstring), Alex (hip), Cristian (quadriceps), Morris (quadriceps), Petkovic (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Sailor (hamstring), Gomez Andrade (hamstring).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Philadelphia:

No players suspended. Jean Jacques, Sery Larsen, and Lukic out next match if booked.

Sounders FC: Ragen must serve a two-match ban for a combination of accumulated bookings and a sending-off for being booked twice in the same match. He will miss Saturday’s match, and then will miss Portland away on 1 August to top it off.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC Reserves are on a two-match winning streak. Over the last five matches, our lads have a record of 3-1-1. The Reserves will host Colorado Rapids 2 at Starfire on 26 July with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PDT. Mark Bronnik (7 goals, 3 assists) leads the squad in goals, whilst Charlie Gaffney (2 goals, 5 assists) leads the squad in assists. Sounders FC Reserves are currently in 18th place in the MLS Next Pro table on 27 points, 16 points adrift of leaders Austin FC II. With the lads really turning the corner now, do try to get to Tukwila and cheer them on.