The Philadelphia Union are in need of a spark to revive their season, and it could arrive with the return of star goalkeeper Andre Blake.
Though he hasn’t yet been formally announced as the starter, Blake will return for Wednesday night’s matchup against the New England Revolution at Chester, Pa.
Blake, 33, sustained a right knee injury in a 2-1 loss to host Real Salt Lake on April 27 and later underwent surgery to repair meniscus damage.
Meanwhile, the Union (4-10-9, Eastern Conference-low 21 points) fell into disarray following a 3-0-3 start and are 1-10-6 over their past 17 matches. That includes a current 10-match winless stretch (0-6-4) following a 3-0 road win over the Revolution on May 18.
“You can feel a little more of a buzz, a little more energy in training,” Philadelphia coach Jim Curtin said after Tuesday’s practice. “A familiar voice behind them, and that gives (our team) confidence.
“(Blake’s) one of our best players and we’ve been without him for a very long stretch, so to get him back, I think the confidence that gives not just the backline but the whole group, that you’re never out of the game, is really, really nice.”
Blake, a three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, has played in just four MLS matches this year. He has one shutout to raise his career total to 75.
The Union could get another spark from a new, much-young addition. Midfielder Cavan Sullivan, a homegrown player, will suit up for Wednesday’s game, Curtin confirmed Tuesday.
Sullivan will be 14 years, 293 days old on Wednesday. If he plays Wednesday or Saturday against Nashville, Sullivan would break the MLS record held by Freddy Adu, who was 14 years, 306 days old when he appeared for D.C. United against the San Jose Earthquakes on April 3, 2004, according to the league.
“Cavan’s earned the right to be in the 20 (player match-day squad) if you just go through the numbers,” Curtin said. “He’ll get that opportunity now and the next step is working hard to get your first minutes. Sometimes that might be one minute, that might be 15 minutes, that might be 90 minutes. But you have to earn it and I think Cavan understands that and recognizes it.”
Sullivan, who signed with Philadelphia in May, has been playing for Philadelphia Union II in MLS Next Pro.
The Union lost 2-1 to host Toronto last Saturday.
New England (7-13-1, 22 points) also has struggled most of the season and has been outscored 11-4 while losing three of its past four matches. The Revolution are tied for 13th in the East, just one point ahead of the Union.
New England suffered a 3-1 home loss to Orlando City last Saturday with all three goals allowed coming in the second half.
“I was very pleased with the first half, the performance,” New England coach Caleb Porter said. “Thought we had the better of it, executed extremely well, got a deserved goal. And as proud as I was with the first half, I was equally as disappointed in the second half. I thought the defending was very poor, out of some experienced guys at the back.”
New England’s goal differential dropped to minus-20, second worst in the league.
Porter said star midfielder Carles Gil (leg) is unlikely to play on Wednesday. Gil, who has five goals, has missed the past four matches.
In Philadelphia’s earlier victory over the Revolution, forward Daniel Gazdag (11 goals this season) scored twice. The Revolution are 5-15-3 all-time when visiting the Union.
However, Philadelphia is a league-worst 1-6-4 at home this season.
–Field Level Media
