Game thread: Philadelphia Union 4 Real Salt Lake 1 final

Final

It took 11 tries, but the Union finally beat Real Salt Lake for the first time tonight with their biggest offensive output of the season and most goals since they dropped six on Orlando City at home in the 2017 season finale.

It’s also the first time this season the Union have won two games in a row and the first time since last July that they picked up back-to-back victories.

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Fontana in

Anthony Fontana is the third sub, coming in for Dockal to make his first appearance since March 30.

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Four goals to the good guys

Remember the “flood gates” Jim Curtin kept talking about when the Union couldn’t score? They appear to have finally opened tonight. Keegan Rosenberry made it 4-1 with a shot from distance. The goal is his first since August 2016 and third of his career. Ilsinho picked up the assist.

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Second Sub

Epps’ night comes to an end and he’s replaced by David Accam. It was a really strong performance from the second-year winger.

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Finally a third

Marcus Epps thought he had a brace when he put a shot on net that went through the hands of Rimando and in but after the celebration ended the goal was called off for an offsides. Epps came from an offside position when he received a pass from Dockal.

It was Epps and Dockal involved with an attack down the left flank that finally led to the third goal, which Ilsinho punched in for his second of the season and 10th in his Union career.

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2-1

Rosenberry appeared to be taken down in the box by Saucedo but no foul was called and then this happened.

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First Sub

Ilsinho checks in for Sapong so perhaps we’ll see Picault up top after all.

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Rimando

Dockal denied a brace by Rimando’s fifth save of the night.

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Halftime

“Probably should have had four goals.” -Jim Curtin

The Union go into the break up a pair of goals but Nick Rimando made four saves and Keegan Rosenberry had a chance to make it 3-0 just before the whistle off a pass from Dockal on a play he may have done better to take himself (especially considering that ridiculous angle he scored from against D.C. United). Marcus Epps was also in on goal on a shot that Rimando didn’t get credited for a save on but obviously touched to keep out.

Hopefully that doesn’t come back to haunt the Union in the second half.

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2-0 Union

Borek Docksal cal for the ball from Alejandro Bedoya and took the ball first touch on the run in the box and calmly chipped Rimando to make it 2-0 to the good guys. Pretty goal from the much maligned on loan DP midfielder, who was having another quiet and underwhelming evening up to that point.

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Epps puts the Union up 1-0

After a flurry of chances that ended in Nick Rimando saves, Marcus Epps finally put one where the veteran RSL keeper couldn’t get it. Fafa Picault did the heavy lifting on the play, using his speed to beat his defender and sending a ball through the box to the pride of Jackson, Mississippi, who put it home for his first goal of the season and third of his career.

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Blake vs Rimando

So far early it’s been Andre Blake vs Nick Rimando with both veteran goalkeepers each making a couple saves in a game that has suddenly opened up with chances for both teams.

Rimando had to come way out of his goal and beyond the 18 to stop CJ Sapong from a breakaway but his clearance went right to Alejandro Bedoya, whose quick shot on the empty net went wide. Bedoya will want that one back.

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Lineups

Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Ray Gaddis, Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Keegan Rosenberry; Alejandro Bedoya, Haris Medunjanin; Fafa Picault, Boreck Dockal, Marcus Epps, CJ Sapong

Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando; Pablo Ruiz, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Adam Henley; Albert Rusnák, Damir Kreilach, Kyle Beckerman; Corey Baird, Brooks Lennon, Jefferson Savarino

Philadelphia Bench: John McCarthy, Fabinho, Jack Elliott, Warren Creavalle, Anthony Fontana, David Accam, Ilsinho

Real Salt Lake Bench: Connor Sparrow, Danny Acosta, Nick Besler, Aaron Herrera, Stephen Sunday, Sebastian Saucedo, Luis Silva

How to Watch

Game: Philadelphia Union vs. Real Salt Lake

Date: Saturday, May 19th

Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern, 6:30 p.m. Central, 4:30 p.m. Pacific, 11:30 p.m. UTC

Venue: Talen Energy Stadium (Chester, Penn.)

Referees: REF: CHICO GRAJEDA AR1: COREY PARKER AR2: CORY RICHARDSON 4TH: JOSE CARLOS RIVERO VAR: JORGE GONZALEZ

Television: PHL 17 (Philadelphia Market), KMYU (Utah)

Streaming: ESPN+ (free with trial)