⚽️ Weather, Injuries Dampen LAFC Rematch

_{LAST MATCH: Union 0 - LAFC 0}

_{NEXT MATCH: vs. FC Dallas, Wednesday, Sept. 27 | Apple TV - Free}

Good morning. The soggy weekend is over and a forgettable scoreless draw with LAFC is behind us. Union II are in the playoffs and the first team still has a legitimate claim to second place with five games left.

Updated standings:

In the email today:

The rematch of the 2022 MLS Cup final deserved better. But what it got was a rotation/injury depleted soggy scoreless draw.

Injuries to Jose Martinez and Jakob Glesnes (ending his 101-game MLS streak of starts), and LAFC resting players for the Campeones Cup took something away from the start. Julian Carranza’s concussion only added to the misery.

• All those extra games from CCL (worth it) and Leagues Cup (not worth it?) are catching up to the Union and their opponents.

• After four-straight thrilling draws (counting MLS Cup) where they scored a total of 18 goals, the Union and LAFC could only muster a combined 0.35 xG. That’s the lowest of any game this season.

Our take: The Union had a chance to get some revenge on a team that has become their nemesis, but that game just wasn’t it.

2) 🔭 Second Place Within Reach with 5 Games Left

FC Cincinnati’s 3-0 win on Saturday more or less wrapped up the Eastern Conference trophy (+11) and Supporters’ Shield (+9) in one fell swoop. Second place is still very much in play, however.

• The Union are two back of second place Orlando City with a game in hand.

• Three other teams are now even on 49 points with the Union. The Union play all three teams still.

• Three of the five games will be at Subaru Park.

Our take: The final stretch of the season has the potential to feel like a mini playoff of its own with the way the schedule shakes out. All five opponents are in the playoff picture.

3) 🦩Tweet of the Day: Orlando City Trolls Inter Miami Fans

4) 💧 Water Cooler: How Many Points?

Have additional thoughts? Reply directly to this email to comment, and see if we include your response tomorrow.

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Results from our last poll: How Big of a Rival is LAFC?

5) 🔗 Link Roundup:

• 3️⃣ Does three at the back solve the Union’s midfield problems? Head coach Jim Curtin has relied on the three-back set to navigate an unprecedented schedule this season. The results have been mixed.

• 🐍 Union II are playoff bound for the second straight year after an MLS Next Pro Decision Day win in New Jersey on Sunday.

• 📺 Union skipper Alejandro Bedoya was the special guest on the PHLY Union podcast on Friday.

• 🌧️ Recap of Saturday night’s scoreless draw with LAFC.

The newsletter today was written by: Matt Ralph @MattRalph_

Thanks for reading!