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And that’s the Game!
The Union fall 2-0, despite all their opportunities to score. Boo birds ran down loudly as the whistle blew. Not an ideal way to start the season with 5 points in 5 games. Union are gonna be going on the road in Dallas next.
Jay Simpson Sighting!
Jay Simpson will come in to try to affect this match in the 76th minute. David Accam will make way for him as Sapong moves to the wing.
76' - Another change
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) April 14, 2018
Jay Simpson subs in for @iamdavidaccam pic.twitter.com/l1gnYMaKUd
It’s quiet, too quiet
Besides The River End singing Bohemian Rhapsody, the rest of the stadium is quiet. It is not shocking considering how poorly the Union have looked this second half sans a few chances. You cannot fault the fans, who did bring the noise in the first half, for feeling so dejected.
Ilsinho is here
Fafa Picault’s day is done in the 60th minute. Ilsinho will look to make an impact on the game with 30 minutes left in the match. Picault had a few chances on the night, but was unable to finish any of them.
60' - Another substitution
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) April 14, 2018
Ilsinho replaces @Fafagoal23 pic.twitter.com/Zik6emG6XR
Back to the Future
Jack Elliott has been substituted off in the second half with a right leg injury allowing another piece of the Union future, Mark McKenzie, to take the pitch. It will have to be seen how much that weakens the backline, if at all. With how the Union have been playing defense so far tonight, maybe it will be the spark the Union need.
52' - @markmckenzie4_ completes the path to the pros
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) April 14, 2018
He comes on for @jackells95 to make his @MLS debut. pic.twitter.com/VceyzX5yKb
Real’s rough night
Matt Real, who looked to have kept on Dom Dwyer on the first goal, was also involved in the second goal. In a miscommunication with Jack Elliott, Chris Mueller found the ball at his feet after it ricocheted off Elliott to slot home the second goal for Orlando City. At halftime, the Union find themselves down two goals as boo birds shower the team on their way to the locker room.
Going solo: @cmueller1662.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 14, 2018
2-0 @OrlandoCitySC! #PHIvORL https://t.co/PqLnzMQwZw
The More Things Change, The More Things Stay the Same
Stop if you’ve heard this one before. The Union have squandered their chances so far and find themselves down a goal. In the 38th minute, Dom Dwyer, who was kept on by Matt Real, hammered home the opening goal in the first half. Despite the Union attacking well in the first half, they find themselves down a goal.
That combo. @SachaKljestan ⏩ @Ddwyer14.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 14, 2018
1-0 @OrlandoCitySC. #PHIvORL https://t.co/TGuYcH4I7K
RJ Allen Off
Orlando has had to make an very early sub. Cristian Higuita comes in for RJ Allen (the older brother of Bethlehem Steel FC forward Brandon Allen) in the 29th minute. With the pace on the wings, that injury sub may come back to haunt Orlando late in the match when their backline will be exhausted.
29' - Higuita will come on for Allen. This should be interesting. #PHIvORL
— The Mane Land (@TheManeLand) April 14, 2018
Final Third Frustration Continues
Accam with an absolute waste of a great ball by Sapong. Bendik did well to make himself big, but Accam put it into the side netting. Wingers have looked dangerous, as was billed, but they haven’t been able to finish their chances so far in this game.
Union have had a good intensity to start this game, but it has been the same story: they cannot finish their chances in front of net. Picault also had a great chance in the 12th minute to get the Union a goal as the trailing man on a cross and flubbed it away from goal.
Jack Being Jack
Jack Elliott with a clearance off the goal line ans Orlando begins to build some pressure on the Union. Orlando has had two good attacks that have been aimed at attacking Rosenberry’s side. Orlando left back Mohamed El-Munir has had a ton of roon to overlap on the wings.
For as good as the Union looked in the opening 7 or so minutes, Orlando has had the most dangerous attempt on net so far this game. Thankfully Elliott was there, otherwise, the Union would be in a 1-0 hole to start the match.
12 MINUTES | 0-0
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) April 14, 2018
SO CLOSE! A few moments ago, Union’s Jack Elliott cleared this off the line! Great attack by @OrlandoCitySC!#PHIvORL #OCSC #MLS pic.twitter.com/jFkzFPJNhh
Keegan Rosenberry was limping just a few minutes into the match. Bedoya tracked back to cover for him on the defensive stand. Something to obviously keep an eye on as Ray Gaddis is warming up on the sidelines.
Lineups just announced over the PA system and there was a small but loud jeering for Union Head Coach Jim Curtin. Kickoff is 2 minutes away!
For the first time in club history, the Philadelphia Union are playing on Friday the 13th. Take that for what it’s worth (and if you feel like reading up on the Lions, The Mane Land wrote about the time they got lucky on a Friday the 13th).
Orlando City was anything but lucky on their last trip to Chester. In fact, they provided more entertainment last October (the last game of the season) than several games before and since in what ended up being a fun but meaningless 6-1 rout.
Given the struggles with the offense for the Union so far this season, any kind of win will do. Check out the starting lineups, how to watch if you aren’t at the stadium and share your score predictions in the comments. We’ll be providing updates here as well during the game so keep this page open.
Starting Lineups
For the first time this season, there are no changes in the lineup. And Jay Simpson is in 18.
Let's get 3 points.
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) April 13, 2018
Here's our starting XI, presented by @acmemarkets #DOOP pic.twitter.com/PuTbKCqSKO
The most important thing you need to know is that Joe Bendik is in goal tonight. A Haris free kick goal would be too perfect.
The XI fighting for our City tonight! #FaceOfCity pic.twitter.com/vpsOotJU2c
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) April 13, 2018
How to Watch
Tonight’s game is a national broadcast on ESPN so you can watch it wherever you normally watch games on ESPN. The broadcast is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.
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