Union chasing redemption vs NYCFC in East final
The Philadelphia Union have a chance to avenge last year's プレーオフ misfortune when they host New York City FC in Sunday evening's Eastern 会議／協議会 final.
NYCFC 敗北・負かすd Philadelphia in the 会議／協議会 final last year 2-1 on the way to winning their first MLS Cup 肩書を与える. But the Union were without 11 players -- 含むing six starters -- 予定 to a cluster of COVID-19 事例／患者s within their squad.
The 最高の，を越す-seeded Union have yet to lose at home since that game, 地位，任命するing a 12-0-5 正規の／正選手-season 記録，記録的な／記録する and 敗北・負かすing NYCFC 2-1 in the 正規の／正選手 season on June 26. The victory began a still-active 10-game home winning streak, 含むing a 1-0 会議／協議会 semifinal victory over FC Cincinnati on Oct. 21.
"There's a lot of different narratives that people like to talk about, but we know they're a good 対抗者, last year is last year, and this is a new 適切な時期 for us," said Philadelphia 経営者／支配人 Jim Curtin. "I'll never move on from it, because it still happened and it's still a part of our history, and it's part of the Philadelphia lore, but I'm a big 信奉者 that if you work hard, good things will happen to you, and we're 支援する in the same 位置／汚点／見つけ出す now."
The Union now have two 批判的な 攻撃者s that weren't in the 倍の in 2021: Julian Carranza and Mikael Uhre. The 二人組 has 連合させるd for 27 goals behind team-leader Daniel Gazdag's 22.
Third-seeded NYCFC have moved on from their most 生産力のある player from their 肩書を与える run, striker Valentin Castellanos. The Argentine won the 2021 MLS Golden Boot, 追加するd three more goals in last season's プレーオフs. He finished 2022 as NYCFC's 主要な scorer with 13 goals にもかかわらず making a move for Girona in Spain's 最高の，を越す flight in the summer.
NYCFC have 補償するd by 委員会. Gabriel Pereira and Heber have eight 正規の／正選手-season go als each, and Talles Magno has seven. Heber and Maxi Moralez have also 得点する／非難する／２０d twice in the postseason.
But on Thursday, 暫定的な coach Nick Cushing said Magno, Moralez and fullback Tayvon Gray have 行方不明になるd practices this week with 傷害s, though 非，不，無 were 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）d on City's 公式の／役人 傷害 報告（する）／憶測. Defender Maxime Chanot 出発／死d 早期に from last 週末's 3-1 勝利，勝つ over second-seeded Montreal.
"It's unfortunate for us in this game," Cushing said of the 傷害s. "But one more day and we have a terrific 医療の team here and until they tell me they're out I'm still considering them. We've had a chance to practice with all of the guys we have this week."
--Field Level マスコミ
