Match Report: Colorado Rapids 3-Philadelphia Union 0

Dominique Badji had a hat trick in Saturday night’s 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Union (photo credit: Corbin Elliott)

Colorado Rapids 3-Philadelphia Union 0

By: Nick Fishman of the Philly Soccer Page (original report can be found here).

Philadelphia Union’s first road trip of 2018 looked a lot like 2017.

While the Union controlled the ball in opening 45 minutes, Colorado Rapids smashed the visitors 3-0 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park behind a dominant second half highlighted by forward Dominique Badji’s first career hat trick.

A year after winning just one game away from Talen Energy Stadium, Philadelphia’s pre-match alterations to their travel schedule proved to make no difference for the final result. The 90 minutes spent on the field matter more than all the time spent in a different time zone.

Head coach Jim Curtin made one change to the side that played to a scoreless draw with Columbus Crew two weeks ago. With the injury to Fabinho, Curtin opted for youth at left back. Homegrown Matt Real made his MLS debut ahead of veteran Raymon Gaddis.

In the first half, the Union dominated the ball. Against the Rapids’ high press, Philly chose to maintain possession rather than loaf the ball upfield. The young back line moved the ball around the pitch with assurance, forcing the home side Colorado chase the game.

Despite securing 56.4% of possession on the road, Philadelphia failed to generate a shot on goal. The Union were the better team, but couldn’t produce that crucial movement in the final third.

It was largely due to the risk-averse play of the full backs on both teams. Because of the danger winger David Accam presents, Colorado’s right wingback Marlon Hairston was reluctant to press upfield. Conversely, Real failed to take that space and add another option to the Union attack. Unlike Fabinho, with his endless overlapping runs , the 18-year-old was conservative in his positioning.

Of course, it was the Rapids who generated the only dangerous moment of the half against the run of play. Goalkeeper Andre Blake made a diving stop from a Colorado corner kick, and Real cleared a follow-up attempt from the line in the 44th minute. It ensured the contest would be scoreless after 45 minutes of action.

If halftime is the opportunity for adjustments, only one side took advantage.

Colorado seized control from the Union at the restart and never looked back.

The Rapids broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute. Midfielder Jack Price sent an out-swinging corner from the right flag into the box. English center back Tommy Smith rose over C.J. Sapong and headed the ball to the back post. Badji was there to knock in his second of the season from close range, beating center back Jack Elliott to the spot.

The forward from Senegal wasn’t done.

Badji added a second goal in the 61st minute. After laying off a lovely ball to midfielder Johan Blomberg in the box, the resulting shot deflected off Elliott and back to Badji. With Blake out of position after the initial strike, Badji easily deposited a back-breaker into the empty net.

It wasn’t until the 81st minute that the Union finally got their first shot on goal. It was a routine header from center back Auston Trusty — playing in a back three after Real was removed for striker Cory Burke in the 75th minute — straight at goalkeeper Tim Howard.

The only dangerous moment from Philadelphia came in the 89th minute. Haris Medunjanin fired a free kick from just outside the box, but it wasn’t enough to mar Howard’s clean sheet.

Just to emphasize the Union’s abysmal second half performance, Badji finished off his hat trick in the 87th minute. Blomberg played a long ball over the Philadelphia defense to the pacey attacker running off Elliott’s back shoulder. The forward created space and fire a low shot across frame and inside of the far post.

It sealed the Union’s first loss of 2018.

Three points

• Attacking woes. Despite controlling the opening portion of the match, the Union failed to get any chances on frame. The attack was static in the final third and has yet to score an even-strength goal in 2018.
• Young defense. By no means was it a great performance, but this result falls more on the shoulders of a midfield unable regain control in the second half than on the Union’s youthful back four.
• The collapse. It will be interesting to find out why the Union came out so flat after the halftime whistle. Colorado made every adjustment, and the Union couldn’t provide any answers.

Lineups

Philadelphia Union

Andre Blake; Keegan Rosenberry, Jack Elliott, Auston Trusty, Matt Real (Cory Burke 75′); Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya; Borek Dockal (Anthony Fontana 82′), Fabian Herbers (Ilsinho 64′), David Accam; C.J. Sapong
Unused Subs: John McCarthy, Mark McKenzie, Raymon Gaddis, Warren Creavalle

Colorado Rapids

Tim Howard; Tommy Smith, Danny Wilson (Axel Sjoberg HT), Deklan Wynne; Édgar Castillo, Enzo Martinez, Jack Price, Johan Blomberg, Marlon Hairston (Dillon Serna 60′); Dominique Badji, Joe Mason (Stefan Aigner 79′)
Unused Subs: Zac MacMath, Bismark Boateng, Micheal Azira, Niki Jackson

Scoring summary

COL: 53′ – Dominique Badji (Smith, Price)
COL: 61′ – Dominique Badji
COL: 87′ – Dominique Badji (Blomberg)

Disciplinary summary

COL: 48′ – Jack Price (unsporting behavior)
COL: 63′ – Johan Blomberg (handball)
COL: 69′ – Dillon Serna (time wasting)