As Fafa Picault’s chip bounced and settled into the back of the net, extending the Philadelphia Union’s lead to 2-0 against FC Cincinnati at Talen Energy Stadium on Wednesday night, the idea that the Union were going top of the eastern conference standings became a reality.
That goal secured three points, and put the Union at 17 points, level with D.C. United and the Montreal Impact, though the Union lead on goal difference.
“No one remembers who was in first place in May,” Union coach Jim Curtin said. “We’re most focused on taking care of our games at home, we certainly don’t celebrate being top of the table in May.”
Though he was coy about his teams position in the table, Curtin did acknowledge that the Union’s current form and position as a good benchmark for where he wants them to be at the end of the season.
“The most important is that we position ourselves now to host our first playoff game and win our first playoff game,” Curtin said. “I think we have the squad and the talent in this group to do so.”
Curtin has had to deal with a plethora of injuries, suspensions, and other absences, and though it hasn’t been easy, the next player has stepped up to the challenge each time.
“We’re injured a bit right now and we’re picking up some crazy – unique situations, we’ll call them,” Curtin said. “But everyone to a man has stepped up in a big way and it’s a credit to the depth of the squad that Chris [Albright] and Ernst [Tanner] have put together for us.”
The depth has certainly not been an issue so far, as nine different players had scored for Philadelphia in its 10 games this season (Picault, Przybylko, Cory Burke, Marco Fabian, David Accam, Jamiro Monteiro, Brenden Aaronson, Alejandro Bedoya, Ilsinho.)
“I think we’ve used 25, 26 players at least in the squad, and they weren’t just in the squad they have contributed with minutes,” Curtin said. ”
The first goal on the night for the Union was scored by Kacper Przybylko and assisted by Olivier Mbaizo. Both players received their first start in 2019 at the weekend in Vancouver, and Przybylko has scored now in consecutive matches after equalizing against the Whitecaps.
The second goal on the night was the first of the season for Fafa Picault. The striker has been active in opponent’s penalty area’s, with 16 shots on the season – second most for the Union.
“I feel like I’ve been playing well, I’ve been doing a lot off the ball, I’ve been doing what I can for the team,” Picault said. “But I you know I always have to read people’s crap on Twitter – I suck again – but I know what I’m doing and that’s one goal but hopefully a lot more coming.”
Picault was eager to get off the mark in 2019, and had a couple goals pulled back when he was in an offside position – he accounted for all five of the Union’s offside calls.
“Being offside isn’t a crime,” Picault said. “I was just trying to flirt with the back line and in some cases I couldn’t help it, on a few others maybe I could have, the important thing is to be in a position to get goals for the team.”
The squad depth was called into action again on Wednesday, when homegrown goalkeeper, Matt Freese exited early due to an abdominal injury, and was replaced by Juan Carlos Coronel.
All three of the Union goalkeepers have featured in at least two MLS matches.
The Union finish off the three-games-in-eight-days stretch on Saturday against the New England Revolution.
Once again the squad depth will be called upon, though the team was bolstered by Marco Fabian and Sergio Santos returning to fitness this week.
