Chester, PA
If time of possession was the contest, the Union safely would have held Portland at bay Saturday night. It wasn’t and they didn’t. For that matter, a number of statistics went in favor of the Union (shots, number of passes and passing accuracy). But Portland was effective on the counter and caught the Union’s young defense off guard, resulting in a 2-0 score at half time. Brian Fernandez scored both, one at the thirty-first minute, assisted by Andy Polo, and another in the thirty-sixth minute, assisted by Diego Chara and Diego Valeri. The Union seemed recharged after the half, and the team did manage a score at the forty-seventh minute credited to Kacper Przybylko, assisted by Fafa Picault and Kai Wagner. But the team faltered late in the half, highlighted by Valeri’s goal in the eighty-seventh minute, assisted by Sebastián Blanco.
Credit must be given to Portland’s goalkeeper, Steve Clark, who made four saves. In fact, he came quite close to keeping the lone Union goal out of net. Also credit the goal posts, that seemed to be a magnet for several of the Union’s shots.
The Union’s Andre Blake with a signature save early in the first half
Fernandez defended Blake tightly
So tightly that it drew a whistle, but not before Fernandez tried to dribble around Blake’s head
Fernandez on his second goal in the first half
Union’s wagner defends Andy Polo
It usually takes seven defenders to hold back Ilsinho
Clark is airbound with Przybylko, and Bill Tuiloma providing cover
Clark again in traffic
Tuilomo and Przybylko eying the ball
