Atlanta United will host Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the MLS playoffs Thursday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The ESPN2 broadcast will start at 8 p.m. The radio broadcast will be on 92.9 the Game. You can follow my live coverage on Twitter @DougRobersonAJC.
Atlanta United advanced by defeating New England 1-0 on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Philadelphia advanced Sunday by defeating the New York Red Bulls 4-3 in extra time in Chester, Pa.
The two teams met twice during the regular season. Atlanta United went 0-1-1 with a 1-1 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 17. Philadelphia won 3-1 at Talen Energy Stadium on Aug. 31.
Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper), one of the finest soccer journalists in the country, answered five questions about the game:
Q: What is Alejandro Bedoya's status? If he can't play, who will fill in and what are their strengths and weaknesses?
A: Bedoya should be fine. He was cramping up on Sunday and was out of gas, but he's expected to play Thursday.
Q: What is Kacper Przybylko's status? If he can't play, who will fill in and what are their strengths and weaknesses?
A: As of Tuesday afternoon, Przybylko was still questionable. My sense is he'll be in Atlanta - we should find out officially Wednesday when the Union train there - but I don't know if he'll make the game-day roster.
If Przybylko can't play, I assume Sergio Santos will start as he did against New York. Santos has a big gas tank, speed and some power, but he's not a great finisher. The question from there is whether the Union play a 4-4-2 with Santos alongside Andrew Wooten (who has yet to score in his time in Philadelphia), or a 4-2-3-1 with Santos up top (presumably with Brenden Aaronson on the left and Fafa Picault on the right).
Q: Who is the wild card for Philadelphia in this game? Why?
A: I think the wild card has to be Marco Fabián. I won't be surprised if he starts, and I won't be surprised if he comes off the bench. He could be a heck of a late sub, as he was against the Red Bulls, scoring the goal that delivered the Union's first-ever playoff win.
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