Photo Credit: Toronto FC
It’s been nothing new for the Philadelphia Union in the last stretch of the season. The continuous poor play has boiled down to mistakes in the back. All three goals Wednesday night were the result of self-sabotage as the Union fall 3-1.
The first goal was a prime example of things falling apart. Ken Tribbet’s attempted clear sliced backwards, directly into the path of Jozy Altidore. Andre Blake rushed from the safety of his line, attempting to swat the ball from Altidore’s extended foot. Altidore reached the ball first and popped the ball into Sebastian Giovinco’s path. The tiny Italian made no mistake, putting the ball just under the crossbar for the first goal of the night.
The second goal occurred shortly after the second half went underway. Following a corner kick, Toronto’s Jonathan Osorio pounced onto a loose ball, smashing the ball into the net from 4 yards out. The initial cross was flicked to the back post. 3 Union defenders took the bait, trying to get to the first ball. The space vacated at the back post ended up being the downfall for the Union, as Osorio notched the second goal with acres of space in the Union six yard box.
The Union pulled one back in the 75th minute from a corner kick of their own. It wasn’t the first header, nor was it the second or third header that put the ball away. Four Union players touched the ball in the Toronto box before Alejandro Bedoya put the ball into the net. A great header from Richie Marquez put the ball on a platter for Bedoya who couldn’t miss, inside the Toronto six yard box.
After a period of extended pressure from the Union, Toronto finished the game off with a 3rd goal. Jozy Altidore took the ball from Warren Creavalle in the midfield to begin the counter. The referee maybe missed a stiff-arm from Altidore, which pushed Creavalle to the ground as Altidore hit on the break. Altidore played Giovinco in a forward position, who, after a bit of hold up play, found his fellow forward at the back post for a header. Altidore didn’t get enough on the header, as it fell nicely for Ken Tribbet. Tribbet then, inexplicably, whacked the ball off of himself, ricocheting the ball back to Altidore who made no mistake shooting the ball past Blake.
It must be said that Toronto was the better team for much of the game. The looked superior tactically, as Giovinco and Altidore consistently were isolated against Tribbet and Richie Marquez. Space was at a premium for Toronto on offense, and on defense TFC closed down space and didn’t give Philly any space to operate. It wasn’t until Ilsinho and Roland Alberg came on that space opened up for the Union, who finally mounted pressure on the Toronto net.
The Union knew that mistakes would be their downfall. It was evident early on that Philly didn’t want to turn the ball over in the back. In times where the team usually played simple passes out of pressure, defenders suddenly launched the ball forward, when even the slightest amount of pressure was applied. The second half improved things, as the Union settled and returned to their normal style of play. it may have been too late at that point, as it was already 2-0.
All in all it was a successful season for the Union, who finished in a playoff spot, despite last season’s performance. But after showing what they are capable of in the beginning of the season, many fans might be disappointed with how the team ended the year. No wins in 8 games is a streak that the Union will want to forget, as they rebuild once again in 2017.
