Maxi Moralez has 12 assists, good for second in the league. (Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports)

Here are some things you might not have known about New York City FC’s Saturday 7 p.m. match at the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa.

Among them:

* City has won four of its last five league meetings with the Union with a 4-0-1 mark, scoring multiple goals in all four victories.

* This will be the Union’s first home game in nearly a month. Philadelphia has lost three of its last four home matches (1-3-0), conceding multiple goals in all three defeats.

* The Union is coming off a high, defeating the Chicago Fire, 3-0, in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals Aug. 8 and then defeating the New England Revolution on the road Saturday, Aug. 11, 3-2.

* NYCFC hasn’t done too poorly, either, having won five of its last seven MLS matches (5-1-1).

* The team, however, has allowed multiple goals in three consecutive matches after keeping four consecutive clean sheets.

* Philly has conceded seven penalty kick goals. Since 2010, only six teams have allowed more in a single season.

* NYCFC has scored 26 left footed goals this season, a league best, while Philadelphia has tallied six left footed goals, tied for the fourth fewest.

* Union defender Jack Elliot’s brace against the Revs last weekend was the third time this year and the 35th time in club history that a player has scored multiple goals in the same game. He is the first Union defender to do so.

* NYCFC midfielder Maxi Moralez has set the club record for most assists in a season with 12. Only one MLS player has more than him this year — Red Bulls midfielder Kaku, with 14.

* Philly’s C.J. Sapong won 14 aerial duels against New England last weekend. Since the start of 2010, only three players have won more in a single MLS match and that includes the playoffs.

* NYCFC captain David Villa’s goal against Toronto FC gave him goals in each of his last three MLS road games. He had scored once in his first four league road matches.

* City center back Alexander Callens has completed 1,392 passes this season, the third most of any player in the league.

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.