HOUSTON — The Philadelphia Union did not make history on Wednesday. But as they reminded themselves after a shattering loss, they can still make progress this week.
Their 3-0 U.S. Open Cup final defeat by the Houston Dynamo was the biggest margin of defeat in the domestic cup competition since 1996. It was an eyebrow-raising outcome because while Houston are struggling in MLS play, the Union are well on track to clinch a berth in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Jim Curtin’s side have an eleven-point cushion in the Eastern Conference with four games remaining, so a depressing midweek could give way to a positive weekend when they travel to MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday to meet fourth-place Columbus Crew SC, who are one point and one place above them in the standings (7:30 pm ET | Full TV & streaming Info).