Match Preview: Philadelphia Union II vs. Chattanooga FC
Its second versus third on the banks of the Delaware
Game details
Match: Philadelphia Union II v Chattanooga FC
Date: Sunday, July 13th, 2025. 15:00 (Eastern)
Venue: Subaru Park, Chester, PA. Capacity: 18,500
How to watch: Apple TV MLS Season Pass
Tickets: Union II Website
A huge game in the race for the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference takes place this Sunday in Pennsylvania. Second place Philadelphia Union II hosts third place Chattanooga FC. It’s a must-win game for both sides. Philadelphia needs to win, especially at home, to keep up pressure on high-flying New York Red Bulls II in first place. CFC meanwhile needs to regain its spring form and get back to winning ways.
Philadelphia (W:7 L:1 D:6 SOW:4 GF:33 GA:11 GD:+22) are on an impressive six-game unbeaten run. Last weekend they trounced Toronto FC II 5-0 at home thanks to goals from Markus Anderson, CJ Olney, and David Vazquez and a brace from a curiously named Malik Jakupovic (no relation to CFC goalkeeper Eldin). Union II sits three points behind NYRB II but with two games in-hand (they sit one point above Chattanooga, also with two games in-hand) and are surely the Conference’s deadliest side.
Their visitors this weekend are independent club Chattanooga FC (W:8 L:4 D:4 SOW:2 GF:24 GA:21 GD:+3). Something of a wounded animal, CFC enjoyed a strong start to the season, but weak summer form has seen them drop points since early June. That month they failed to win any games in four, and began their July with a frustrating home loss to Chicago Fire II. CFC needs to get its season back on track and looks to do so in one of the toughest places in the league.
The game kicks off at 3pm Eastern and will be broadcast live on Apple TV for MLS Season Pass Holders.
The History
Philadelphia: P:2 W:1 D:1 L:0 SOW:1 GF:3 GA:1
Chattanooga: P:2 W:0 D:1 L:1 SOW:0 GF:1 GA:3
Sunday's match will be the third all-time meeting between the two sides. Philadelphia got the better of CFC in a 3-1 win at Subaru Park exactly a year ago. This season, in early May the two teams played out a 0-0 draw at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga before Philadelphia went on to win a marathon penalty shootout 9-8. Union’s goalkeeper Andrew Rick was my man-of-the-match that day, and saved the final and deciding penalty from CFC’s Tate Robertson, who had also given a stellar performance.
Report cards and lineups
Philadelphia
Union II’s young Head Coach Ryan Richter was recently named MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the Month for June. Currently on a six-game unbeaten run and named MLS NEXT Pro Team of Matchweek 17, this is a team on an absolute roll. Who would want to be playing them at Subaru Field right now? Their unbeaten run was extended via a 5-0 hammering of Toronto FC II last weekend. Senior team (Philadelphia Union’s MLS side) squad members Markus Anderson, David Vazquez and CJ Olney all found the back of the net while Academy products Malik Jakupovic and Willyam Ferreira shined late. Ferreira notched his first professional assist in just his second MLS NEXT Pro match.
Richter favors an offensive 4-4-2 currently. The above are his most frequently used players across the previous three games they’ve played. Pierce Holbrook is currently favored in goal and elsewhere at the back, Isaiah LeFlore, Rafael Uzcátegui, Neil Pierre, and loanee Giovanny Sequera have all started the last three games for Philadelphia, so expect to see them there on Sunday. This is a defense that has only conceded 11 goals in 14 games. Breaking through it will be very hard work.
16-year-old academy product Malik Jakupovic is the player to watch. Since making his professional debut for the club on June 3 he has since scored three goals in two appearances.
Chattanooga
Head Coach Chris Nugent brings his bruised side to the Keystone State desperately in search of a win or even a draw to punch some much needed momentum into their season. While the alarm bells aren’t yet sounding at Finley Stadium, Nugent knows form needs to pick up, and in particular, this team needs to start scoring goals again. CFC’s goal difference (+3) is the joint weakest of the teams with a positive GD in the Conference. This number keeps getting smaller, and this needs to be arrested. At the back they’re solid enough, only three teams have conceded less (including Philadelphia) but up front they’re struggling. Their 24 goals scored is the third lowest of all 7-8 teams in the top half of the table. With Tate Robertson, the league assist leader providing so much ammunition, alongside Daniel Mangrov and Milo Garvanian, you expect goals will surely start flowing again, but from whom?
CFC recently added rookie Xavier Rimpel. The Temple University Owls signed his first professional contract on Tuesday to give Chris Nugent more options in midfield and attack.
Every time Nugent puts out a team, I’m interested to see what formation he favors. He’s recently been going with a 4-3-3, but I’d like to see him try a 3-4-3 again. I know the difference between these can sometimes be overblown, but I think allowing the likes of Robertson and Garvanian to remain in more advanced positions throughout the game, by having an extra center-back might yield more goals. I’d also like to see Keegan Ancelin back in the starting XI. Tireless Nordic duo Peter Plougmand and Markus Naglestad have been more favored lately, but a change might be required to start hitting the net again, and Ancelin could be returned to add to his five goal contributions so far this campaign. So the above is less a predicted lineup, than a lineup I’d like to see.
Eldin Jakupović picks himself, as does stand-in captain Farid Sar-Sar and fellow center-back Nathan Koehler. As stated, I’d like to see a three-man defense to push Robertson and Garvanian further forward. This would mean either Ethan Dudley or Logan Brown coming in.
I wasn’t sure about Steeve Louis Jean when he first arrived, but he’s really grown into himself and currently looks like the most assured central midfield option. We know Alex McGrath is out for a long time and I am unsure about Callum Watson’s availability. While Nick Mendonca has had a solid enough season, I was very impressed with loanee Gavin Turner, as was Nugent, after his substitute appearance against Chicago, so I’d like to see him start. He’s my player to watch. Finally, we’ve seen a lot less of Jesus Ibarra this year but he did come on against Chicago to make his 50th appearance for CFC. I’ve said before that, on his day, he’s possibly the best player in this team.
Analysis and Predictions
It’s really hard to look beyond Philadelphia in terms of predicting an outcome for this match. They score plenty of goals, boast an airtight defense, are on a six-game winning run, just trounced a visitor 5-0, are at home this weekend, and are playing a wounded side in Chattanooga. Everything points toward a win for the hosts.
Chattanooga are desperate to improve their form. They have the personnel that can achieve this and the nous to find ways of drawing or even winning in unwinnable conditions. Having said all that, I think kick-starting momentum at Subaru Field is just going to be too much of an ask.
I’m going for a home win, 1-0.
A fun side-note is the Jakupovic/ć Derby. Yet another promising kid from Union’s academy, if Malik Jakupovic plays on Sunday he’ll line-out against 40-year-old Eldin Jakupović, 24 years his senior. Jakupović was already playing professionally for Grasshopper Zurich in the Swiss Super League and the UEFA Europa League the year Jakupovic was born.