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Pro Soccer: Mapp Set to Renew Acquaintances As Union Meet Fire

CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) - The Philadelphia Union will be back home on Saturday as they welcome the Chicago Fire to PPL Park in Chester.

The Union is coming off a 2-0 loss on the road at Dallas on Saturday, but despite that defeat Philadelphia continues to run second in the Eastern Conference of MLS, one point behind New York.

Justin Mapp spent the better part of eight seasons with the Fire before coming over to the Union last summer.

What's it like going up against his old team?

"They came to Philly at the end of last year, when I first got here, so that was a little strange, and I imagine this will be a little bit as well," he told KYW's Matt Leon.  "It's a little different having been there for so long, but once the ball is kicked off, we're going against each other."

Hear Matt Leon's full interview with Justin Mapp in this CBS Philly SportsPod…

Podcast

Offense continues to be the issue for the Union -- they have yet to score multiple goals in a game.  But Mapp is confident that they will soon start to find the back of the net more frequently.

"I think we are all confident players, and you can't lose your confidence or you shouldn't be out here," he says.  "We're confident we're going to score goals and be entertaining.  Hasn't gone that way so far, for whatever reason, but we're still confident, just work hard every day, everybody doing their job and hopefully... and I think it will get going."

Mapp has played in six games for the Union this season, starting in five.  He has 15 career goals in MLS play.

The Union is 4-3-2 heading into Saturday, while it's been a struggle for the Fire this season.  Chicago is just  1-3-5 at this point in 2011.

Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060

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