D.C. United remains atop the Eastern Conference with a bit of breathing room to spare. The Red and Blacks will be heavy favorites to remain that way against the Philadelphia Union, who are still on the wrong side of the playoffs at the moment.
ODDS ANALYSIS
You would figure that United would be favored by a bigger margin in this match, especially after Philadelphia had to play a grueling 120 minutes to beat the New York Red Bulls on the road on Tuesday. Yes, the turnaround of five days isn't the end of the world, but that extra match on a team which isn't all that deep to start with can be hazardous for sure.
That said, D.C. United is favored by a +105 margin, just short of being odds-on. The Union are +0.5 at -125 vig on the Asian Handicap.
The total is set at a flat 2.5.
KEY INJURIES
We're not all that sure if Michael Lahour is going to end up coming back to the lineup in this game after sitting out both last weekend's match and the midweek US Open Cup tie with a strained quad. Eric Bird and Fernando Aristeguieta are both question marks as well for the Union.
D.C. United remains without arguably its best attacking option in Chris Pontius as well as its top goalie in Bill Hamid.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I would say, first and foremost, it's the Union's biggest win in their history. I thought the fan support was incredibly. I thought that our players showed a ton of heart – the heart of a lion. I couldn't be more proud." – Philadelphia manager Jim Curtin following the Union's win over the New York Red Bulls on Tuesday in the US Open Cup
RECENT FORM
Philadelphia has the look of a tired side right now due to all of the extra fixtures it has had to play. The Union did grit through that match with the Red Bulls on Tuesday, winning in a shootout after a 1-1 result through 90 and 120 minutes, but it wasn't a stellar outing. The team now has two straight lackluster results after losing at Toronto FC 2-1 last Saturday.
All of a sudden, D.C. United has lost its form without Pontius in the fold. The team only has one goal scored in its last three matches, and it only has one point to show for that work as well.
TALKING TOTALS
At least in MLS play, the Union are pushing games past the total left and right. They have three straight games with at least three combined goals, and it should be noted that they have scored at least once in 13 consecutive matches across all competitions.
Thanks to Pontius not being in the lineup, unders have been relatively easy to come by in D.C. United matches. The team did push a 2-1 loss against FC Dallas past the total, but that only just snapped a three-match under streak.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Remember that we are only a few weeks removed from the classic US Open Cup match between these two sides. That day, the Union fought back from down a goal to beat United with just 10 men on the roster, and they pulled off a similar feat by holding off the Red Bulls in the quarterfinals of the tournament on Tuesday.
This really feels like a spot for some revenge, though. Yes, D.C. United isn't nearly the same offensive team without Pontius in the fold, but there is still enough here to work with. The Union have to be a dog tired team after the fight that they put in on Tuesday.
If Union goalie John McCarthy is going to be kept as busy in this match as he was against New York on Tuesday, this could be a long night for him and the Union.
D.C. United 2, Philadelphia 1
BookMaker has live MLS odds for every clash of the season. You can find a moneyline price on D.C. United of +105 and a total of 2.5 right now! BookMaker is also going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-televised match. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, total and spread. Log in and start gambling during the soccer game now!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The fixture between D.C. United and the Philadelphia Union will take place at 5:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 26, 2015 at RFK Stadium in Washington DC. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
