The Philadelphia Union returned home to Talen Energy Stadium Sunday night to face Real Salt Lake. The Union have been solid at home this season with only one loss to Vancouver Whitecaps. It was a hot and humid day but not enough for a mandatory water break. Prior to the game, it was evident that the needed points in this game. The Union were sitting in 3rd place by only one point. With Toronto FC and Montreal Impact at their heels, the Union needed some cushion between the teams
Last week, they traveled to Stade Saputo to face the Montreal Impact. The Union were dismissed handedly as they suffered a tragic 5-1 loss. African legend Didier Drogba netted a hat trick with Ignacio Piatti scoring to close the gap for the golden boot race. Chris Pontius maintained his position as the team’s leading scorer after scoring the Union’s lone goal. The defense looked flat, dazed and confused as Montreal ran riot in the game.
The starting XI for the game looked like:
Philadelphia Union: GK-Blake/DF- Rosenberry-Tribbett-Marquez-Fabinho/MF-Creavalle-Carroll-Alberg-Illsinho-Pontius/FW-Sapong
Real Salt Lake: GK-Rimando/DF-Olave-Phillips-Beltran-Maund/MF-Morales-Mulholland-Beckerman/FW-Plata-Garcia-Martinez
Early in the game, the game possessed many fouls for both teams. Not many yellows were shown. The Union’s lone yellow card went to Fabinho, who will be suspended next game against D.C United. Real Salt Lake had players go down early with Olmes Garcia and Demar Phillips cramping up. No substitutions were made and the game continued to be chippy. MF Kyle Beckerman got into a shoving match with C.J Sapong with DF Aaron Maund getting in the action as well
Lighting struck in the 44th minute as C.J Sapong drew a penalty to end the half. Roland Alberg promptly stepped up and buried the penalty kick to give the Union a 1-0 lead at the half. Alberg with the goal becomes the Union’s highest scoring midfielder in a single season.
Coming out after halftime, RSL played with intensity and scored within three minutes. In the 48th minute, João Plata scored a wonder goal after one timing a shot around Andre Blake. The game was then 1-1 and the crowed was stunned silent after the goal. A potential “Goal of the Week” candidate.
Not six minutes later did RSL come up with yet another “Goal of the Week” candidate. Javier Morales received the ball around the top of the 18 and chipped Andre Blake to make the game 2-1. The ball curled just enough to fit in the upper 90 of the goal frame. It was a confidence killer and the Union struggled to come back. The team is used to being down, but they are also used to getting a point after being down.
Around the 90th minute, it was chaos inside RSL’s 18. RSL’s Nick Rimando came up with two great saves and the defense blocked quite a few shots to keep the game 2-1. It would end on that score line as the Union lost their second game in a row and lost their second game at home on the season.
The Union are now tied for third in the standings with Montreal Impact and Toronto FC. They currently sit on 30 points with games in hand. The Union travel to 8th placed D.C United on Saturday looking to get back to their winning ways.
