With the Supporters' Shield on the line in the Philadelphia Union's home clash against the New England Revolution and Jim Curtin's first-choice goalkeeper still out injured, the experienced manager has turned to none other than ... Matt Freese?
If the name isn't familiar to you, you'll be forgiven. The second-year Homegrown Player signing is making his first start of the 2020 MLS season and just the sixth of his league career, as Andre Blake continues to recover from a hand injury.
Veteran Joe Bendik started Philly's previous match, a 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew SC in Week 22, but Freese gets the nod for the final weekend of the regular season, with the Union having a chance to lock up the first silverware in club history. There's also a spot in next year's Concacaf Champions League at stake.
Signed after two collegiate seasons at Harvard, Freese hasn't seen MLS action since July of 2019, but he's appeared regularly at the USL Championship level. This season, he made seven starts for the Union II,keeping two clean sheets and winning a USL Save of the Week nod back in late September.
Blake is expected to return in time for the Union's postseason run.
