The Philadelphia Union are a team carried by their midfield. At centre-back, 24-year-olds Ken Tribbett and Richie Marquez were college players not too long ago. Up front, CJ Sapong’s record of seven goals in 31 regular-season games does not mark him out as one of MLS’ top strikers.
In the middle of the park, though, are two of the Union’s top-three earners in Alejandro Bedoya and Tranquillo Barnetta (the other, Maurice Edu, has not played this season). While they make the side tick, ex-Toronto FC man Warren Creavalle is the worker bee in front of the back four.