Casey, Union Look Ahead to D.C. United
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) –The Philadelphia Union will look to take care of business on Saturday night as they welcome the team with the worst record in MLS, D.C. United, to Chester.
Philadelphia currently sits fourth in MLS Eastern Conference with 34 points (9-7-7 record), but they are coming off a 2-1 loss last time out, at home, to Chicago.
"We came out flat, that was the big problem," Union forward Conor Casey tells KYW Newsradio. "We came out the first 20, 30 minutes and didn't assert ourselves defensively as a team. So we have to make sure that we come out firing and just take that momentum throughout."
Conor Casey Interview
It has been a wonderful first season with the Union for the 32-year-old Casey. He is second on the team in goals with seven and third in assists with four.
"It's been really fun," Casey says. "It's been really, really enjoyable. The energy within the team, within the city, the stadium, has been amazing, the fans there. It's been better than I really expected, to be honest. Where we are right now, we're probably about where we deserve to be. We have a third of the season left and everything to play for. So we couldn't really ask for much more headed into the last part of the season."
It has been a struggle for D.C. United this season as they have been able to muster just 13 points with a 3-15-4 ledger and they have scored just 13 goals in their 22 MLS matches. Now they did get three points last time out, beating Montreal 3-1, but Casey says this is a game they just have to have.
"For sure," Casey says. "It goes without saying. They're in conference, we're playing at home. That's three points that we expect to get and we're going to lay everything on the line for."
Philadelphia defeated D.C. United, 3-2, back on April 21st at RFK Stadium in their only meeting this season in MLS action. D.C. United eliminated the Union from U.S. Open Cup play with a 3-1 win back on June 12th at the Maryland Soccerplex.
Philadelphia and D.C. United will get underway on Saturday night at 8:00pm.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
