Foxborough, Mass. will play host to two Philadelphia Union teams this weekend as Union II opens their campaign Sunday afternoon following the first team game Saturday night. The vibes are super positive right now but head coach Bradley Carnell isn’t getting ahead of himself heading into a game on the Gillette Stadium plastic. Accolades - like his coach of the matchday and Tai Baribo’s player of the matchday - are in the past and the forward-pressing forward-thinking focus in on the Revs. Meanwhile, Ryan Richter is ready to kick off the MLS Next Pro with a hungry second team.

In the email today:

1. ⚡️ Union look to continue hot form against Revs

By Hunter Firment

After looking like a team reborn in their first two matches, the Union head north to play the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium (yes, they still play in that dump sadly).

The new-look Revs enter the match with just one point from their first two matches, drawing Nashville 0-0 in Matchweek 1 and losing to Columbus 1-0 in Matchweek 2. Caleb Porter’s New England side are led by Carles Gil, who was one of their lone bright spots a year ago when the Revs finished 14th in the East. They also added forward Leo Campana from Inter Miami and winger Luis Diaz Espinosa from Deportivo Saprissa.The latter has been maybe New England’s most dangerous player early on this season from the right wing. The pacey Costa Rican right winger was by far the Revs biggest threat against Columbus, as he got in behind the Crew’s backline several times in the second half and created a couple goal-scoring opportunities. Had Campana been a bit more clinical in front of goal, the Revs could easily have drawn or even won that match. 

The X-factor for the Union on Saturday will be their ability to open New England up and break them down on the counter. Several times throughout New England’s match against Columbus, their backline proved liable to get out of position and get stretched in transition. And in the end, they conceded the Crew’s match-winning goal on a chance from a swift counter attack. Luckily for the Union, counter attacking and catching teams out in transition falls right into their wheelhouse. If they are able to turn the Revs over either in their own defensive third or in the middle of the field, the Union should be able to find some joy through their prolific front four. I wouldn’t be surprised if Baribo has another big day.

Defensively, it will be a massive task for Kai Wagner on the left hand side of the Union backline, as he will be tasked with holding New England’s danger man, Diaz Espinosa, in check. The German left back can’t get caught too high up the pitch when the Union are attacking, or the Revs may be able to get in behind. 

At the end of the day, I think this matchup is a stylistic advantage for the Union. If they play with the same intensity and precision in the final third that they have exhibited in their first two matches, this should be another W. 

Now, let’s see it on the pitch. 

2. 🎤 Jovan Lukic is a Good Time

When Jose Martinez left the Union last summer, he left a void even larger than the ground he covered on the field. El Brujo was a fan favorite who brought energy on and off the field and a charisma and unpredictability too often missing in the modern game of football.

Losing El Brujo when they did may have been a bigger reason for the swoon that led to missing the playoffs than anything Jim Curtin did or didn’t do but an offseason move for a Serbian midfielder with several of the qualities that made Jose such a fan favorite appears to have helped to address some of those missing ingredients.

No, Lukic didn’t go through bloody jersey changes in his Union debut and to date has not pulled off any bicycle kick clearances but his personality, positive attitude and tenacity on the field has been a noticeable ingredient to the early success of the team.

Even before he kicked a ball with his new team, the talk around Lukic was that he was already an asset in the locker room. Stories of his comfortability with the team - and singing ability - gave away a few hints that Lukic might be more than just a talented player from Europe.

“I feel so free, so open with the guys, with the people in the staff,” Lukic said in an interview in preseason when asked about his singing. “Previous clubs I didn’t feel that kind of…openness but here I will sing for them every week if they want.”

His quick transition to a new team, new country and new league has been notable and his partnership with Danley Jean Jacques playing as the two sixes in front of the back line in a 4-2-2-2 has been key to what has been a stingier side to break down.

His approach, which mirrors the glass half full approach preached by head coach Bradley Carnell, has also been a glove fit and a lift to a team that is exorcising some of the demons of last season ahead of schedule.

3. 🩳 Social Post of the Day: Top of the Table

4. 💧 Water Cooler: Player Ratings

No surprises on the man of the match, but it’s pretty rare in the years we’ve been doing fan player ratings to have a player get a 5. Take a bow, Tai Baribo!

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• Matthew DeGeorge recounts Tai Baribo’s incredible rise for the Delco Times.

• Todd Lewis of The Free Kick had another fun game to break down with four more goals in his latest video.

• If you’re heading to the game/s this weekend, Kyle Almoney has a travel guide.

• The USL Championship kicks off this weekend. Here’s a look at some players with ties to the Philadelphia area to watch this season.

• Penn men’s soccer assistant Steve DeMatteo has been named the new head coach at TCNJ.

• Ridge Robinson hit the century mark in goals for West Chester United in their 7-1 win over Kensington SC last Friday.

• The Union aren’t in town this weekend but Orlando City’s U19 and U16 teams will be here to play down in Chester on Saturday. Other weekend soccer includes the start of the spring season for Casa Soccer League and the EPSA Frank Giancroce Open Cup semifinals at noon and 2 p.m. on Sunday at Bryn Athyn.

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