Union and Orlando City face off in a crucial match for both clubs

The Philadelphia Union are yet to clinch a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs with three games remaining, but they hope to take one step closer when they visit Orlando City on Wednesday evening.

The Union (9-12-10, 37 points) may feel they deserved more than a 1-1 draw against Atlanta United on Saturday — they outscored the visitors 22-9, including a 7-1 advantage on goal — but they saw Nathan Harriel’s go-ahead goal in the 61st minute canceled out by Saba Lobjanidze’s header in the 72nd minute.

The Union are in ninth and last place in the Eastern Conference play-offs, but tied on points with eighth-place Toronto FC and 10th-place CF Montreal, with Saturday’s draw representing a missed opportunity to progress.

“We’ve put ourselves in a situation where we’re still in control of our own destiny, but at the same time our margin for error is very, very small,” Union head coach Jim Curtin said after Saturday’s game. “Not getting those extra two points (against Atlanta) makes it a little more challenging. There’s no doubt about that.”

Orlando City (13-11-7, 46 points) qualified for the play-offs on Saturday thanks to a 3-1 victory over FC Dallas. Orlando can’t finish higher than fourth in the East, which would give it home field advantage through at least the first round of the playoffs. NYCFC and the New York Red Bulls are two points behind Orlando with two games remaining.

Although the postseason spot has been secured, there is a clear understanding within Orlando’s ranks that the Union team coming to town will be desperate to get the critical three points with little time remaining is in the regular competition.

“They will definitely come here to qualify (for the playoffs), so it will undoubtedly be intense, and for us we will be ready (to) try to take advantage of this opportunity,” Orlando head coach Oscar Pareja said . Monday.

Orlando got goals from Ramiro Enrique, Rodrigo Schlegel and Facundo Torres on Saturday. Torres’ goal was the 44th of his career, equaling the club record in all competitions.

Harriel’s goal for Philadelphia was his first of the season and only the third of his MLS career.

–Field-level media