Happy Tuesday. Hope you enjoyed the long weekend down the shore or wherever you were. It’s a big week ahead in Chester as the Union welcome two Canadian teams to town and hope to both extend their two-game shutout streak and snap that ugly four-game losing streak at Subaru Park.

In the email today:

1. 🇨🇦 Oh Canada

After two straight shutouts in NFL Stadiums, the Philadelphia Union have reached a two-game set against Canadian teams in their schedule.

They host Toronto FC Wednesday and CF Montreal on Saturday with a chance both to snap the worst home losing streak in team history and earn some pizza and beer courtesy of head coach Jim Curtin for a third straight clean sheet.

Wins over Toronto and Montreal could also see the Union shoot up in the standings and build some momentum heading into what will be a difficult summer-time stretch with key players away on international duty.

The two Eastern Conference teams north of the border have combined for 14 losses this season and Montreal in particular has been less than great with a -14 goal differential. If the Union are going to make Subaru Park a fortress again this is the week to do it.

2. 💪 Leon Flach Is Back

Leon Flach is healthy and back playing at a level he hasn’t quite reached since his breakout first season in Chester.

His coverage in the midfield playing at the base of the diamond was key in keeping Charlotte FC off the board and while he lacks the flare and excitement of Jose Martinez, his versatility is a great sign too.

Jack Elliott also had a great game in Charlotte putting up solid defensive stats but Leon’s Man of the Match recognition was well deserved. No he’s not going to suddenly become a juggernaut going forward and he’ll never be a “homegrown” darling but his presence could be just what this team needs to turn around the defensive woes that have been an achilles heal this season.

3. ⚽️ Tweet of the Day: Vazquez Golazo

You might be able to argue that his first goal is better than his second but either way David Vazquez is up for Goal of Matchweek 11 in MLS Next Pro.

4. 💧 Water Cooler: Point Prediction

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• A scoreless draw doesn’t stop Todd Lewis from doing a breakdown video.

• Jose Nunez has a feature on newest first team goalkeeper Andrew Rick, a local kid who has traveled the Union pipeline from joining the academy from FC Europa as a young prospect to recently signing a homegrown deal.

• Reading United’s WPSL team is flying to start the year after a 5-1 win over LVU Rush in their home opener on Friday. Here’s a photo gallery from a beautiful night of soccer at Alvernia University.

Philadelphia Raccunion T-shirt available now at Teepublic.

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