2018 schedule brings early opportunity, late challenges
The schedule makers at MLS have given the Philadelphia Union a chance to start the season with momentum. They’ve also provided an imperative to capitalize on that start with several treacherous stretches that follow.
The Union play just three games in March, four of their first five at home and three of the first five against fellow non-playoff qualifiers from last year, per the league’s schedule, which was released Thursday. But four sets of weekend-Wednesdayweekend games during the season provide a daunting run that will test the Union’s twin weaknesses from last year: Road form and manager Jim Curtin’s reticence to rotate the squad.
The Union open the season at Talen Energy Stadium March 3 against New England. Following a bye week, they host Columbus March 17, then get another bye and travel to Colorado March 31, a stop-start beginning to the schedule but an opportunity to glean results. That follows with home games against San Jose and Orlando April 7 and 14, a huge opportunity to collect points out of the gate.
They’ll need to bank those points for later. The first gauntlet runs May 4-12, with trips to Eastern rivals Toronto, Columbus and Montreal in quick succession. Another such stretch daws May 30, with home games against conference playoff qualifiers Chicago and Toronto bookending a midweek trip to Atlanta.
Late August brings a visit from New England, then trips to D.C. United and Orlando within four days (that should also mark the Union’s first trip to D.C.’s new Audi Field, scheduled to open in June). And in September, the Union host Montreal on a Saturday, head to Settle Wednesday, then return home the following Sunday to welcome Sporting Kansas City.
The Union finish with two conference tilts they hope will be consequential in hosting the New York Red Bulls Oct. 21 and visiting Yankee Stadium for the finale Oct. 28 against New York City FC (the titular occupants’ World Series hopes notwithstanding).
The Union face New England and Columbus three times each. They have home-and-homes with the Eastern Conference’s other eight teams and take on each of the West’s 12 teams, evenly split home and away. Western road trips include Colorado, Dallas, Houston, Portland, Seattle and a first meeting with expansion side Los Angeles FC June 30.
Kickoff times will be announced in the coming weeks with the Union’s local broadcast schedule.