CHESTER — The Philadelphia Union will be without two contributors this weekend for a trip down to D.C. United.
Frankie Westfield is off with the United States Under-20 team as it prepares for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. Tai Baribo is suspended for yellow-card accumulation for the visit to Audi Field Saturday night (7:30, Apple TV+).
The U-20 World Cup starts in Chile on Saturday, the U.S. playing its first game against New Caledonia on Monday. It deprives the Union of a player who has made 24 appearances (18 starts) and played 1,712 minutes this year, with a goal and five assists, for their drive toward a trophy.
“We have to learn how to adapt,” Nate Harriel said Thursday. “The backline depth got a little bit more slim. Frankie has been great at right back this year. Everyone in the backline, filling in wherever they play, has been great. We’ve had situations before where someone in the backline was suspended or someone’s been hurt, and others have stepped up. At this time of the year, everyone’s hurt and everyone’s tired, everyone’s exhausted mentally and physically. But we just find ways to grind things out.”
The Union are already thin defensively, with only three center backs on the roster. Harriel, needed at right back more, is essentially the third center back, with 18-year-old Neil Pierre officially third on the depth chart but only having gotten his debut against Vancouver two weeks ago.
The Union (18-7-6, 60 points) have three games remaining and should be able to start Jakob Glesnes and Olwethu Makhanya, the latter well-rested after a two-match MLS suspension, in central defense in each, with Harriel at right back. Harriel could end up getting another call from the U.S. senior team in the October international window, which introduces a little uncertainty.
Behind Harriel at right back is only Olivier Mbaizo. Mbaizo was fighting a stomach bug last week, which was partly the reason why coach Bradley Carnell opted to play Alejandro Bedoya at right back against Vancouver. That didn’t work, Bedoya committing a foul that led to one of two first-half penalties and withdrawn before halftime in a 7-0 thrashing.
That Bedoya was preferred to Mbaizo seems telling, whatever gastrointestinal factors might’ve mitigated.
“When Olivier is at his best, he’s awesome,” Carnell said. “He crosses in a really good ball. He’s a dedicated defender. We just have to keep him ready, because it’s not easy doing that secondary position and waiting till you’re called upon and then all of a sudden you need to perform under that pressure. We try and push the guys in training to keep that ready.”
Baribo, who has 16 goals in 20 starts, will be missed. The starting adjustment seems easy, with Bruno Damiani likely to start after scoring the only goal in last week’s 1-0 win over New England.
Either Milan Iloski or Michael Uhre could pair him up top. Iloski has started three times in midfield and twice at forward. Uhre and Damiani have started together on only four occasions this season. Uhre has five goals and two assists in seven career games against D.C.
The more pressing question is what happens if the Union need attacking help off the bench, the role Iloski has ably filled this year. Chris Donovan is without a goal in 540 minutes. His breakaway in stoppage time against New England last week that didn’t even result in a shot attempt seems like the last chance for the Conestoga grad to make an impact. His last goal was July 3, 2024.
Both Markus Anderson and Sal Olivas have taken their limited chances with the first team. Anderson scored the game-winner against Charlotte in one of only three appearances. Olivas has played 45 minutes but contributed to the buildup in a goal against Montreal.
Olivas has five goals and two assists in 1,256 minutes with Union II, though he’s been with the first team more often of late. Anderson played for Union II last week, where he has five goals and three assists in 1,220 minutes.
“I’ve seen performance and results,” Carnell said. “The second team is in a really good standing. And we have a close working relationship with these guys. … There’s a constant exchange between, who’s up, who’s down, who’s traveling, who’s not, and that’s what it will remain to be throughout the season here.”
One player who isn’t an option is Eddy Davis, who is with the U-20s as a training player. He has five goals and five assists in 1,525 minutes with Union II and just two first-team minutes.
Source: Berkshire mont
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