Orlando City vs. Philadelphia Union: How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

Welcome to your match thread for today's match-up between Orlando City SC (10-14-9, 39 points) and the Philadelphia Union (10-14-9, 39 points). This is the second of two meetings between the Eastern Conference rivals in 2017, as well as the final game of the year for both clubs as neither is in the postseason. It’s the second time in three years the Lions will finish at Philadelphia.

Overview

Nothing is on the line today but MLS SuperDraft positioning. Orlando City is just 3-9-4 on the road in 2017 and 0-1-1 in its last two away contests. Philadelphia is 2-0-1 in its last three at Talen Energy Stadium and 9-4-3 at home overall.

Joe Bendik (concussion protocol), Cyle Larin (hip flexor), Will Johnson (yellow card suspension), Cristian Higuita (calf), Josh Saunders (neck surgery), and Kaká (doesn’t want to play? I dunno. Reasons.), will miss the match for Orlando City. For Philadelphia, Ken Tribbett (Achilles), Fabian Herbers (sports hernia surgery), Josh Yaro (knee), Maurice Edu (leg), and Keegan Rosenberry (team suspension) are out, while Chris Pontius (lower abdominal strain) is questionable.

History

Orlando City won the first meeting of the season against the Union back in March, 2-1 at Orlando City Stadium. Larin, who won’t play today due to a hip flexor issue, scored a brace to lead the Lions. C.J. Sapong scored for Philadelphia.

The Lions were 1-1-1 against Philadelphia in 2016 and are 2-2-2 in six meetings across their first three seasons in Major League Soccer (so far), including 1-2-0 on the road. That lone road victory came in the last match-up at Talen Energy Stadium on Oct. 16, 2016, as the Lions roared, 2-0. Carlos Rivas and Julio Baptista provided the offense.

Last year, the teams played to a 2-2 draw in Orlando, as Ken Tribbett made the Lions pay for Kaká’s missed penalty in the first half by scoring an equalizing goal off a corner kick. Kevin Molino and Larin scored for Orlando City, but the Lions were poor on set pieces, allowing Tribbett’s tally and another score off a free kick by Tranquillo Barnetta. Speaking of Barnetta, his free kick in the 89^th minute gave Philly a 2-1 win in the first meeting of 2016, although PRO said later it should not have counted. Sapong also scored in that meeting last April, with Adrian Winter scoring for the Lions on the road.

Orlando drew 0-0 at home and lost on the road, 1-0 (on a penalty kick), against Philadelphia in 2015.

Here's your mandatory match content for tonight:

• Gavin Ewbank has your match preview and prediction.
• Our Intelligence Report gives us more about Philadelphia with the help from Eugene Rupinski of SB Nation’s Union blog, Brotherly Game.
• This week's PawedCast includes our key match-ups and more predictions, plus some incoherent rambling about Anthony Precourt and the Columbus Crew. (#SaveTheCrew)

Official Lineups:

Orlando City (4-3-3),

Goalkeeper: Earl Edwards Jr.

Defenders: PC, Leo Pereira, Seb Hines, Scott Sutter.

Midfielders: Yoshimar Yotun, Dillon Powers, Richie Laryea.

Forwards: Giles Barnes,Dom Dwyer, Carlos Rivas.

Bench: Jake Fenlason, Donny Toia, Rafael Ramos, Tommy Redding, Hadji Barry, Servando Carrasco, Antonio Nocerino.

Philadelphia Union (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Andre Blake.

Defenders: Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Jack Elliott, Raymon Gaddis.

Defensive Midfielders: Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya.

Attacking Midfielders: Fabrice-Jean Picault, Ilsinho, Marcus Epps.

Forward: C.J. Sapong.

Bench: John McCarthy, Oguchi Onyewu, Giliano Wijnaldum, Jay Simpson, Brian Carroll, Roland Alberg, Chris Pontius.

Referees

Ref: Joseph Dickerson.

AR1: Kermit Quisenberry.

AR2: Claudiu Badea.

4th: Jorge Gonzalez.

VAR: Mark Geiger.

How to Watch

Match Time: 4 p.m. (ET).

Venue: Talen Energy Stadium — Chester, PA.

TV: WRDQ TV27 (local only).

Radio: 104.1 FM Real Radio (English), La Nueva 990 (Spanish).

Streaming:  MLS Live.

Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow along at @TheManeLand, as well as Orlando City's official Twitter feed (@OrlandoCitySC).

Match Thread Rules

This is your live thread for posting comments on the match. So use our comments section below to talk about the game in real time with other supporters. If you're new, welcome to our happy home! While you're here, please observe a few basic rules:

• Absolutely no links to illegal streams. They can get us in trouble, and no one wants that.
• Try not to be "that guy" who spews nothing but venom and hate for the team. It's ok to be critical, and, let's face it, sometimes even the best teams can be frustrating to watch, but being overly negative relentlessly can sap the enjoyment for others.
• Keep it somewhat clean and fair when criticizing players / officials. You never know who might be reading.
• Do unto others in the match thread, the way you would have others do unto you. We are a fun community and want to keep it this way. We have a moderator, but we'd rather let him enjoy the game instead of having to play babysitter.

Enjoy the match!