McCarthy In Spotlight As Union Visit Fire Saturday Night
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Union will be looking for a third straight win Saturday night when they visit the Chicago Fire in MLS action.
The Union will be without a couple of key players in this one. Both midfielder Alejandro Bedoya (U.S.) and starting goalie Andre Blake (Jamaica) are away on national team duty.
To replace Blake in net against the Fire, the Union will turn to La Salle University product John McCarthy.
"It's a really good time right now for me," McCarthy tells KYW Newsradio. "I'm really happy to be given the opportunity to play in Chicago tomorrow night. I'm really looking forward to it."
Listen to the entire interview with the Union's John McCarthy
This will be McCarthy's first start in MLS action this season for the Union, but he is no stranger to Union fans. He made one appearance this year in Open Cup play and last year he made 11 MLS starts for the Union, going 3-5-3 with a couple of shutouts. He talks about staying sharp this season while waiting for his name to be called.
"Just training every day, non-stop," McCarthy says. "Don't ever change your mindset, just try to be as consistent as possible on a daily basis and when my chance does come then just try to take my training to a game-like situation."
The Union will face a Chicago team on Saturday night that is last in the Eastern Conference with just 23 points. The Fire lost their last match, 6-2, to D.C. United, but prior to that they had gone undefeated in three straight matches.
"They are a very dangerous team going forward," McCarthy says. "They've been on a bit of a goal scoring streak (nine goals in last four matches) and they've been kind of finding a little bit of a groove right now, I think, with an opportunity to maybe get themselves into playoff contention."
The Union and Fire have met twice the season already. On April 2nd the Union fell 1-0 in Chicago. Then on June 22nd, Philadelphia beat the Fire in Chester, 4-3.
Saturday's game starts at 8:30 p.m. Eastern.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
