DC United vs. Philadelphia Union Prediction, Preview and Odds - 8/28/21
DC United vs. Philadelphia Union
The MLS betting action goes on Saturday, August 28, 2021, with seven games on the schedule, including the Eastern Conference showdown from Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The Black-and-Red meet the Union for the third time this season, and Philadelphia will look for its third victory as a +230 road underdog. The hosts sit at +120, while draw pays +240, as the bookmakers expect to see a hard-fought battle.
DC United lost three straight games
The Black-and-Red are slumping at the moment, riding a three-game losing streak following a 2-1 home defeat to Atlanta United last weekend. They also put an end to a four-game winning streak at Audi Field with that disappointing performance. In nine home games this term, the Black-and-Red have recorded six wins and three losses along with a 15:7 goal difference.
DC United is sitting at the seventh spot of the Eastern Conference standings with 27 points (W8, D3, L10) and a 32:31 goal difference. The Black-and-Red own the third-highest scoring offense in the East, but their leaky defense could cost them a playoff spot. DC United has conceded a whopping 13 goals over its last five outings.
The Black-and-Red have some serious injury worries. Their first-choice goalie Bill Hamid is sidelined with a muscle injury, while centre-back Brendan Hines-Ike won’t play Saturday due to a hip injury. At least, their top goalscorer, Ola Kamara, is ready to go, and the 31-year-old Norwegian has scored 11 goals in 15 appearances this season.
Philadelphia is struggling on the road
The Union have won two of their last four games along with a 2-1 loss at New England and a 1-1 home draw against Club de Foot Montreal. They are sitting at the third spot of the Eastern Conference table with 32 points (W8, D8, L5) and a 27:20 goal difference, trailing the top-seeded New England by 17 points.
Philadelphia has been awful on the road over the last couple of months. The Union are winless in eight straight outings away from home, earning four draws in the process to go with a 9:14 goal difference. Six of those eight contests saw both teams scoring.
Striker Kacper Przybylko leads the way for the Union in 2021. He’s accounted for 11 goals and three assists in 26 appearances in all competitions. The 27-year-old midfielder Jamiro Monteiro is the team’s best assist-maker with six dishes in 21 apps, while left-back Kai Wagner has three assists on his tally.
The Pick:Double Chance X2
The Union’s last road win came at Audi Field in June. Phila outlasted DC United 1-0, and the Union recorded another victory at home in July, 2-1. Despite their recent run on the road, the Union should have enough firepower to stay undefeated in this one.
The hosts are with a couple of key players at the back. They are on a three-game losing streak for a reason, though the Black-and-Red’s offense is doing well, scoring 11 games over the last five games overall. We should see a great game, as both teams have a lot to prove, so the totals might be a better option than the side bet.
Total: Both Teams to Score YES
The hosts are vulnerable at the back. As I’ve mentioned, they’ve recorded an 11:13 goal difference in the last five games. On the other side, the visitors have one of the best defenses in the MLS, at least on paper, but they’ve conceded in eight consecutive showings on the road.
Hereof, betting on both teams to find the net at -133 seems like the best move in the DC United vs. Philadelphia Union matchup. Five of their last six head-to-head duels in the MLS saw both teams scoring.
