The Philadelphia Union will try to maintain their increasingly fragile Supporters' Shield lead when they visit a D.C. United side that is showing improvement under its new manager.

The Union (18-7-6, 60 points) enter the weekend with a two-point lead on East rival Cincinnati and a three-point edge over West leader San Diego. But the biggest threat to their Shield aspirations may be Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, which is five points back in third in the East, and has two matches in hand on that trio.

Under first-year coach Bradley Carnell, Philadelphia has achieved its success via a risk-taking, high-press philosophy that usually results in a high volume of chances at both ends.

But recent matches might suggest a Union side that is playing tight, having scored only three goals in their las

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