The MLS weekend features a clash between two teams at very different points in the regular season. At Toyota Stadium, FC Dallas need to recover and climb from 11th place in the Western Conference, while the Philadelphia Union are three points clear at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia Union had a perfect May
Thanks to Kai Wagner's late goal in a 2-1 comeback victory, the Philadelphia Union consolidated their position at the top of the MLS table with their 10th win of the season, enough to stay top of the Eastern Conference. It's also worth noting that Bradley Carnell's side have scored two or more goals in eight of their last 10 games.
The away record is also enough to get Union fans very excited, as the team is on a run of three wins in a row, picking up 15 points out of a possible 21, the best away record in the entire MLS alongside Vancouver Whitecaps.
Philadelphia Union have two players currently sidelined through injury, including Ian Glavinovich (knee) and Neil Pierre (knee), neither of whom is expected to return before mid-June. But the standout player is Israeli Tai Baribo, with 13 goals and one assist in 15 games.
FC Dallas needs to recover urgently in MLS
Meanwhile, FC Dallas are going through one of their worst moments of the season with five consecutive games without a win and in dire need of a reaction. While their opponents had a winning May, FC Dallas will forget this month marked by just one win, against AV Alta FC, a team from a lower division.
At least the damage was more controlled in the penultimate round with a 3-3 draw against FC Cincinnati in midweek, thanks to Sébastien Ibeagha's late goal after Petar Musa and Anderson Julio had scored early in the second half. Eric Quil's side have taken four points at home alone.
Sebastian Lletget hasn't played for Dallas since suffering a thigh injury against Atlanta United on April 6, but everything indicates that he will at least be on the bench after training during the week. As a result, Leo Chu, who is expected to remain sidelined for the foreseeable future due to a knee injury, and long-serving Geovane Jesus are the only confirmed absentees.