Brotherly Game: All Posts by Jonathan Bach

Philadelphia Union fans at Azteca: A first-person account of Club América away

2021-08-19T12:17:00-04:00

Jonathan Bach recounts his journey to Mexico City for the Union’s first leg of the Concacaf Champions League semifinal

It hadn’t really settled in that the Philadelphia Union were playing the biggest team in Mexico until the cab ride to the stadium. Unlike many of the other Union fans that made the journey to Mexico City who took a bus from the Sons of Ben tailgate to the Azteca, my group of 3 decided to take a fancy private taxi in and maximize our time running around the city. The taxi ends up being a good example of life in Mexico City so I’m going to bring it up a few times.

We landed on Tuesday morning in Mexico City after catching a 6 a.m. flight out of Philly (being at PHL Airport at 4 a.m. is an experience I don’t recommend). Immediately after landing, our thought was “food” and naturally tacos but instead we stumbled onto one of a hundred Tortas stands in the area. If you didn’t know, a torta is an oversized sandwich with a meat or two of your choice with various veggies, avocado, sauces, etc. We asked how much everything was and were told 95 Mexican pesos for 3 tortas. At first your reaction is “Wow that’s ridiculous” until you learn the conversion rate. The entire meal ended up being less than 5 American dollars. This was the first of many, many authentic Mexican street food carts we would hit over the 4 days we were in Mexico City. Everything from tacos, quesadillas, chilaquiles, flautas, and so much more. And everything was ridiculously cheap but ridiculously delicious.

Snapped this picture on the descent. It has settled in now that I'm in Mexico to watch my @PhilaUnion playing in Concacaf Champions League. #DOOP pic.twitter.com/j4QeREeRHO
— Jonathan Bach (@bach2813) August 10, 2021

The city itself is beautiful and bustling, people on the go all day long. Our hotel was sandwiched between Centro and Chapultepec in an area called Zona Rosa, which had tons of bars and nightclubs as well as its fair share of shopping and restaurants. (We ended up staying at the Hotel NH Collection Mexico City Reforma, highly recommend, they hooked us up with the taxi in the taxi story). We did as much as we could in the four-day span. We ran around Chapultepec for a day, touring the various museums and landmarks including the Castillo de Chapultepec which gave us a wonderful view of the Mexico City Skyline. We took the 30 minute car ride to Coyoacan to tour it’s colorful markets and try an obnoxious amount of food (including pig’s feet tacos which were surprisingly good and very, very spicy). The Centro area of Mexico City included the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral and an abundance of cops.

I never felt like I was in any immediate danger, but some parts of the city felt like something was coming. Our area specifically had a higher than normal police presence, partially because we were located right next to the Ministry of Public Security. But it didn’t seem normal for cops in SWAT gear heading into the local OXXO (chain convenience store) with an M16. However we were told that these were simply precautions to protect us, the tourists. From an economic stand point, Covid-19 hit them just as bad as it hit us. Tourism numbers are down for obvious reasons like restricted travel guidance, and when we asked a local officer, we were told any negative experience related to crime would reflect poorly on the country as a whole and thus the tourism income would decrease as well. It made sense, however it was still eerie.

On game day, we wore Union gear for the first time and finally felt some eyes on us. Nothing threatening, but some were definitely aware of who we were, especially since the BY/U jerseys are hard to miss. But we didn’t care and we carried on with our day. We had to decide how we were getting to the famed Estadio Azteca. Uber rides seemed like a solid option but not with a solid return plan. We weren’t going to have enough time to meet up with the rest of the Union crew to take a bus to the stadium. Our hotel was aware we were going to the game and offered to take us there and bring us back. We generally avoided things that likely would be expensive, but we figured this was most likely the safest option. I didn’t catch our driver’s name that night but he played a significant role in getting us to the stadium and out. The drive to the Azteca on a game day was nuts. Tons of I-76 like traffic, tons of people cutting in and out of lanes to make 0% progress, and the time of arrival going up by the minute. But eventually we made it to the Azteca and it was quite the sight. The stadium’s layout isn’t the best I will admit. Our taxi driver who had been there many times before, had no idea where we were supposed to be dropped off. He blew past security guards to get us into restricted areas only to be turned away and sent to the general public area. Unfortunately for us, we got there before the rest of the Union crew, so the 3 of us in full Union gear had to stand outside of the main gate of the Azteca waiting. Every 2 minutes scalpers would come over asking if we had tickets. It didn’t seem to register to them that we were with the away team, so yes we had tickets and didn’t make the 2,000 mile journey without them.

On our way to the Azteca!!! @PhilaUnion #DOOP pic.twitter.com/NoCCzhY388
— Jonathan Bach (@bach2813) August 12, 2021

Finally the rest of the Philly supporters showed up and we were brought in through a side entrance. The Azteca has some serious security policies. Some people had their belts taken away. All of our scarves needed to go back to the bus (I wasn’t even on the bus, so if someone has my favorite powder blue scarf from that day, help a guy out). Once we made it through the gates, a private stand was waiting for us. We paid about 120 pesos for a tall Modelo, so about $4, which I had no complaints about. After a few minutes of waiting we were brought up to our seats. The barbed wire fences surrounding our section could’ve been dressed up a little bit nicer, maybe so we didn’t feel like a bunch of prison inmates who were being let outside to watch a football game. We questioned whether the fences were to keep us away from America fans or vice versa. Ultimately, it ended up being to keep them away from us.

The stadium is in a very high altitude, and you notice it immediately, especially sitting in the 500 level seats they gave us. I couldn’t imagine how the Philadelphia players felt having to run for 90+ minutes. It was nice to be surround by Union fans for the two hours we were there. The familiar chants you hear at Subaru Park were being led by guys like Mike Thomas and Sid MacLeod, and at times we were the only noise in the stadium. The Azteca was a unique place where it was loud when anyone made a sound, but had an almost deafening silence when no one was chanting.

After the first goal, I had to hold onto my newly promoted girlfriend-turned-fiance as the Club America fans immediately turned toward our section and began shaking the fences, yelling some words, and giving us the middle finger. Oddly, this is when I noticed that there were barely any security guards in our area. We assumed that the fence must have been enough for them. As the game went on, some America fans came by for pictures, giving us the “they aren’t all bad” impression of their fan base.

Shoutout to the Union faithful who made the trek to cheer on the Boys in Blue at Azteca tonight! To you, and to those who stayed up late with us - We love ya, we love ya, we love ya

We can't wait to be back Home with you! pic.twitter.com/3OFclzt7ue
— PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) August 13, 2021

One of my favorite things about the game was just sitting and meeting people who I’ve never met in person but have had Twitter conversations with. I won’t name everyone but I loved getting a few minutes to chat with you. Based on some Twitter reactions, I expected the mood to be very dampened after the first goal, but we were all just happy to be at the most famous stadium in Mexico, playing one of the top teams in North America. A long way from the dark days of the Philadelphia Union and a sign of things to come for the team.

A crap penalty call and a few minutes later and the game was over. We were scurried out of our section almost immediately after the game, not knowing there would be a squad of 50+ officers with riot shields waiting to escort us out of the stadium. I’ll admit, I felt a bit cheated at times because the Azteca was only at around 30% capacity. The rowdiness was a bit toned down, the crowd was rained out, it didn’t have that same aura that other teams have experience travelling to the Azteca. But the exit kind of made up for it. Boos and swears rained down on us just as the rain had done on the Club America fans. This was the experience I was waiting for. As the 60+ Union fans who made the trip walked down the stadium ramp, many of the boos turned into cheers and hands clapping, and some fans swapped jerseys on their way out.

Police escorted out of the Azteca. Not the result we wanted but honestly it's a magical stadium with some diehard fans. Thanks to @PhilaUnion for the effort and thanks to @SoBRoadtrips for hooking this experience up. #DOOP pic.twitter.com/Q1H3orBXyv
— Jonathan Bach (@bach2813) August 13, 2021

The armed guards stopped right at the gate, basically saying “you’re on your own”. Unfortunately for us, we had to walk through the entire parking lot in our full Union gear. By this time, it was pretty dark and had no clue what our taxi looked like. Was it silver? Was it black? We started to panic a bit as some fans began to notice and heckle us. But just as it got a little tense, our taxi driver suddenly appeared like a scene straight out of Rush Hour 3 (he didn’t say “I want to be an American” like in the movie, but it had those vibes). He swung his door open and drove us out of there as fast as possible. So fast, that he ended up taking a few wrong turns and we ended up in some sketchy dark alleys behind the Estadio Azteca, which I don’t recommend for tourists, or people in general. We got back on track and ultimately made it onto the main road back home. An hour later, we were at our hotel and finally we decided to ask how much the trip was. His answer was 1000 Mexican Pesos, so around $50 dollars. We were shocked that our hero drove us to the game (an hour and a half), sat in the parking lot for 3+ hours, and drove us back home (another hour) and it only cost us $50. I tipped him pretty well, especially since he paid for the parking cost as well. We had wondered the entire game if this guy was going to ditch us and we were very thankful that he didn’t. Our experience with him was a solid representation of how well we were treated while in Mexico. Everyone worked hard, was polite, and wanted to help.

While the Union didn’t pull out the best result, it wasn’t the worst and there were some positives that they can take into their home leg. This was my second big away match (the first being in Houston for the Open Cup), and the game played very similar to that. An early chance for the Union missed, a deflected goal and then a nail in the coffin. The big difference is the Union have a chance to steer things back on track, get the job done at home and punch their ticket to the final of the Concacaf Champions League.

Overall, Mexico City turned out to be an amazing place where a return trip is already being discussed to hit everything we were not able to do the first time around. I hear a certain national team is playing there in March.

Philadelphia Union 2020 MLS Season Preview

2020-02-20T14:43:45-05:00

Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images

After finally winning a playoff game in 2019, expectations have maybe never been higher heading into the start of the team’s second decade

Most points in history. Most wins in history. First playoff win in history. 2019 was a magical season to say the least for the Philadelphia Union, but after the dust of the MLS playoffs had settled, the Union remained without a trophy despite high hopes for the 2020 season. Philadelphia kicks off its season against FC Dallas on February 29, after a questionable offseason with many key departures and arguably not enough arrivals.

How did the Union finish in 2019?

The Union finished the 2019 MLS Season with 55 points, a new high for the franchise and defeated New York Red Bulls in a thrilling opening round playoff match at Talen Energy Stadium (now Subaru Park). They were defeated by Atlanta United in the second round of the MLS Playoffs at Mercedes Benz Stadium.

What’s new in 2020?/Biggest change from last year?

Philadelphia’s commitment to buying and selling players. The Union have a history of acquiring players via free transfer, rarely spending transfer fees, and almost never transferring out players for a sizable fee. However, with Ernst Tanner at the helm, Philadelphia managed to shed high salaries, acquire allocation money and spend on transfer fees for young, high potential players in the 2020 offseason.

Who’s out?

Let’s start with who left before we discussing who is in. Philadelphia traded homegrown centerback Auston Trusty to Colorado Rapids for $300k in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) in 2020, $300k in General Allocation Money (GAM) in 2021, and an additional $150k in GAM in 2021, pending performance thresholds. The Union also traded veteran winger and fan favorite Fafa Picault in exchange for $300k in 2020 GAM, with an additional $75k possible based on performance metrics. Mexican international star Marco Fabian departed the team after his option was declined, while former Bosnia international Haris Medunjanin was drafted by FC Cincinnati in the MLS Waiver Draft.

Who’s in?

The Union made it a priority to replace midfield maestro Haris Medunjanin, first signing defensive midfielder Jose Andres Martinez from Zulia FC. An undisclosed transfer fee was paid, but it was reported by Jonathan Tannenwald of The Inquirer that the team paid $325,000. Jamiro Monteiro, who came to Philadelphia on a short term loan, which was extended for the remainder of the 2019 season, was brought in on a permanent transfer for a record transfer fee (reported to be around $1.7 million) from FC Metz. Matej Oravec was the third transfer for Philadelphia, coming from DAC Dunajska Streda of the Slovak Super League. Oravec is a versatile midfielder who can also play in the defensive back line when needed. Finally, Jakob Glesnes was brought in from Norwegian club Stromgodset to provide more options at center back, with the team again paying an undisclosed transfer fee.

What’s the new jersey?

Philadelphia managed to bring in two jersey changes this season, although one is simply a sponsor change. For the first time in the Union’s history, a sponsor logo will appear on the secondary jerseys for the club. The Union and jersey sponsor, Bimbo Bakeries, came to an agreement to use Artesano, a child company under Bimbo, as the logo which appears on the secondary jerseys.

The Union also received new jerseys as part of MLS’ 25th anniversary lineup, with a bold navy blue base and 3 gold stripes on the right shoulder. The Union’s primary snake logo is included on the front of the jersey, although it is a light accented color and is hard to see.

Philadelphia Union

MLSStore.com

Who’s the coach?

Jim Curtin returns for the 2020 season, after helping the Union win their first playoff game and break the club record for points in a season.

How does Leagues Cup impact the squad?

Philadelphia missed the chance to compete in the Concacaf Champions League, but still managed to qualify for the Leagues Cup, a competition between MLS and Liga MX clubs. This will be the Union’s first appearance in the tournament, and will be a true test of the team’s depth. Not only are the Union dealing with an MLS schedule and Leagues Cup, but they will be competing in the U.S. Open Cup as well (though fortunately for them not until the fourth round), which sets them up for a busy summer schedule. The team has added plenty of depth pieces to account for these competitions, as well as any international call ups for players like Brenden Aaronson and Mark McKenzie.

Projected Starting XI

The roster seems to be well rounded, with the number 6 position still seemingly open for the taking. Matej Oravec and Jose Martinez have split time at the 6 during the preseason, with both showing flashes of quality while showing room for improvement. For now, Oravec gets the nod over El Brujo. Brenden Aaronson will be in the starting 11, most likely at CAM, but optionally can play RM with Monteiro at the 10.

https://lineupbuilder.com/new.php?sk=v61b

Expectations for 2020?

A trophy. Philadelphia tends to focus on one route to a trophy, with the exception of 2018, where the team made a run at the U.S. Open Cup and qualified for the MLS Playoffs. With three competitions this year, and a stacked roster in terms of depth, Philadelphia will be better equipped to handle the schedule than other MLS teams.

What did we learn last season about this team?

Philadelphia finally has the never say die attitude that they’ve been promoting for years. If you’re a Union fan, you’ve heard the epic tale. The tale of a Philly team that went down 3-1 in the first half to their archrivals at home, and when all seemed lost, found a way to claw back and win 4-3 after 120 captivating minutes. The Union want more now, and they have shown that they are capable of standing up to the big dogs like Atlanta and LAFC.

What’s the biggest concern for this season?

There are a few concerns that need to be highlighted. Who will replace Haris Medunjanin? Will Kacper Przybylko be able to reproduce his breakout season? Will Sergio Santos or Andrew Wooten prove to be a suitable dance partner for Kacper? Is this team deep enough to handle three competitions this season? What happens if Brenden Aaronson regresses; who takes over at the number 10 position?

Who is THE player to watch this season?

Brenden Aaronson. The young U.S. National team player has a lot to prove this season, and is being giving the creative reigns for a team desperate for a bit of creativity. His chemistry with midfielders Alejandro Bedoya and Jamiro Monteiro is crucial, as well as his ability to deliver significant passes to the strikers up top. Marco Fabian was slated to be the answer at the number 10 position, but after only one season, it has been handed to Aaronson and Fabian is a thing in the past. It is a lot of pressure for the young player, and it will be a major storyline as to whether he can produce higher stats after having one year under his belt.

He scored the biggest goal in team history, but Fabian’s season had mixed returns

2019-11-16T10:23:00-05:00

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Fabian had an underwhelming season, but was his playoff goal enough to positively cement his legacy?

Every season we hear the same thing. The Philadelphia Union need a major DP signing and need a strong number 10. The Union number 10 role has been a revolving door, with players like Roland Alberg, Tranquillo Barnetta, Borek Dockal all coming and going after relatively short stints. So who would be next?

Enter Marco Fabian, a Mexican international with three years of experience in the German Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt. That sounds great, but it leaves out some big question marks. In his three seasons with Frankfurt, Fabian only made 43 appearances, as his time in Germany was riddled with back injuries. His best season was his first full season after signing with the club in 2016, making 24 appearances with 7 goals and 4 assists. After that, his seasons were mostly down. In his next two seasons he made 8 league appearances with 1 goal. But the Union took a relatively low risk and signed him to the highest DP contract in team history (roughly about $2.5 million) on a free transfer.

In the 2019 MLS regular season, Fabian played 23 games and scored 7 goals with 1 assist. Sound familiar? If you look at that stat line, had he stayed healthy with no red cards or missing team meetings, he may have finished with 10 goals on the season. He made a few unfavorable headlines, being left off the team because he missed a team meeting and also receiving a red card early in the season after stamping on Johnny Russell in the Union’s match against Sporting KC.

But he showed the ability to finish from distance and make an instant impact on the field, when he wanted to. He scored stunning goals like this one against Chicago Fire:

He reminded me of Roland Alberg in that didn’t want to track back when needed at times, didn’t flow well with the team but could bang out spectacular goals. Even their MLS stats are essentially the same. In 2016, Alberg played 28 games with 9 goals and 1 assist. In 2017, Alberg played 24 games with 7 goals and no assists.

So basically they got an overpaid, overpriced version of Alberg.

But that’s only the tale of the regular season. MLS analysts always have this cliché “you need players to step up in the most important moments and deliver.” Fabian seemed to be that guy who could come on and get you a goal, but just never fit the bill as someone who could save the Union’s season. Guys like Ilsinho and Kacper Przybylko captured all the Union headlines and Fabian didn’t seem to be a factor going into the Union’s home playoff game against the New York Red Bulls. But tied 3-3 in extra time, Marco Fabian stepped onto the field and delivered that moment analysts talk about, a moment no Union fan will ever forget.

105+1'
BIGGEST. GOAL. IN. UNION. HISTORY.
Long version: Again, Ilsinho ball behind the line, Red Bull too tired to transition well, @raygaddis reads the outlet, Haris stunning crossfield ball, @Fafagoal23 never stops... it's all here, folks. #PhillyOrNothing | #ReplayTheMagic pic.twitter.com/u6ezaNgluD
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) October 22, 2019

Was that goal worth $2.5 million? It’s debatable, but Marco Fabian etched his name in the Union’s history and the memory of the ball somehow finding the back of the net, propelling the Union to their first playoff win will live on forever.

Community Corner: Choosing a number 10

2019-08-29T10:08:26-04:00

Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2019 regular season almost complete, who would you prefer, Marco Fabian or Borek Dockal?

There’s six games left in the 2019 regular season for the Philadelphia Union, and I decided to take a look back one of the bigger offseason stories that had fans biting their nails, who was going to play at the number 10 position? In 2018, Borek Dockal, on loan from Henan Jianye, left a huge impression on Major League Soccer, notching 18 assists to go along with his 5 goals.

But fans were always cautious about the fact he was on loan, and there was a good chance he would not return to the Union in 2019. In November of 2018, he was spotted training with his old team, Sparta Prague, and it was almost certain he would not be returning to Philadelphia. That led to the almost annual crisis of, who was going to be taking the reigns as the playmaker of the team?

That question was answered with less than a month until the 2019 regular season began, with the Union acquiring Mexican midfielder Marco Fabian from German club Eintracht Frankfurt in a free transfer. Fabian’s career at Frankfurt had its ups and downs, and his last few seasons with the club were hampered with injuries.

The signing was a risk for Philadelphia, who made Fabian the highest paid player in club history.

In 2019, Marco Fabian again dealt with injuries which have held him to playing 18 games with 13 starts, with a stat line of 6 goals and 1 assist. Not exactly eye catching numbers, but decent production and a few game winners sprinkled in. Fabian has mostly become a piece of the puzzle, rotating the position with Jamiro Monteiro and Brendan Aaronson.

The point in all of this is to ask, would fans prefer Marco Fabian or Borek Dockal? If the Union had kept Borek Dockal, would they have also been able to bring in a player like Monteiro at all (also Kai Wagner, Andrew Wooten, etc.)? Dockal’s transfer fee was rumored to be upwards of $3 million, far more than the Union could afford. One on one, Dockal seems like a no brainer, despite the fact that Fabian has a bit more positional flexibility, playing as a second striker when needed.

Let us know who you prefer and drop a comment below.

Three Takeaways from the Union’s home-away swing against Orlando City

2019-07-08T09:35:35-04:00

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia walked away with an away win followed by a draw at home

The Philadelphia Union played back to back games against Orlando City SC, winning 3-1 at Orlando in a game which saw two Orlando players sent off, then drew at home with a late equalizer by the red hot Kacper Przybylko in the 90th minute. Here’s three takeaways to go along with the four points the Union took home:

Kacper Przybylko has solidified his starting position

Why does this even have to be stated? Well because this was the last game to audition for a starting role at striker, as newcomer Andrew Wooten will become eligible to play on July 9th, just in time for the Union’s match against Real Salt Lake. The “Wooten Effect” has definitely influenced players, with both Kacper Przybylko and Fafa Picault having some of their strongest games this season since he showed up at the Men in Blazers Live show as the newest member of the Philadelphia Union. Przybylko has scored in four straight matches and brought his season total up to 9, which leads the team and has him sitting in sixth in Major League Soccer.

Not bad for a guy who didn’t play a minute last season.

Wooten isn’t a surefire starter, so this doesn’t mean that Fafa Picault doesn’t have a chance to keep his starting spot (I’m intentionally excluding Sergio Santos from the conversation, as he has had some of his weakest showings to date). But Przybylko can’t be taken off the field and saved a point for the Union in their home game.

The tough times are over and the Union are still in first place

The Union only have one more stretch in which they play more than one game in a week, a very difficult three-game away stretch in which they take on New York Red Bulls (9/22), then travel to San Jose Earthquakes (9/25), then travel again to Columbus Crew (9/29). Other than that, the team should play almost every game fully rested which should help considering they are dealing with two key injuries currently (Montiero and Ilsinho).

Through 21 games in the 2018 MLS season, the Union gathered up 27 points with an 8-10-3 record. The Union would then pull in 23 points in 13 games to set their record of 50 points in a season. This season through 21 games, the Union have collected 36 points with a 10-5-6 record. The team has demonstrated that they can turn some of those losses into ties and even wins. Another promising note: Philadelphia still has six home games left to play, the same amount of home games left at the 21 game mark last season.

Bench depth is good, just not as good without Ilsinho

Ilsinho missed both matches against Orlando with a small injury he picked up against NYCFC. His absence was not as relevant in the Union’s away match against Orlando, as the Lions dug themselves into a hole they couldn’t get out of with two red cards that sealed the three points for the Union. But in their home match, they were unable to break down the bunker that Orlando had set up and didn’t have many options on their bench to call upon. Ilsinho is obviously a one-of-a-kind player capable of extraordinary things, so it’s not realistic to expect great things from every bench player, but there really was no one on the bench the team could turn to. Sergio Santos, who has shown his ability to score off the bench, is in poor form currently and was not able to provide much to the attack.

On the Przybylko goal, the unlikely tandem of Anthony Fontana and Matt Real linked up to set up Kacper and save a point for the Union. The team has good bench options, but it seems like without Ilsinho (and potentially Fafa, if he moves to the bench with Wooten’s arrival), the team might be in trouble of saving points when they are having an off night against the better teams in MLS.

What were your takeaways from the Orlando series? Let’s hear them in the comments.

Three things we learned from the Union’s away draw in New England

2019-06-27T08:36:19-04:00

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Despite being down a goal for almost an hour, the U grab a crucial away point

The Philadelphia Union started their second half of the 2019 MLS Season with a visit to Foxborough to face the New England Revolution, who were unbeaten in their last four coming into the contest. After a defensive lapse on a set piece gave New England a 1-0 lead, Philly stole a point after Kacper Pryzbylko tapped in a low cross delivered by Fafa Picault in the 84th minute. Here are a few takeaways from the match:

New England may have cracked the cheat code known as Ilsinho

Ilsinho made a rare appearance at the half, coming on for Brenden Aaronson. It seemed he would immediately make an impact, making several runs down the right side of the field and putting in crosses into the box. But the Revs finally did what no team has really done with Ilsinho, push him inside. Mostly defended by Edgar Castillo, Ilsinho found himself dribbling toward the middle of the field and awkwardly working off of Ray Gaddis and Alejandro Bedoya. While he wasn’t totally ineffective, it seemed the Union were not really prepared for him inserting himself into the midfield.

A side comment for this as well: It seems obvious to say this, but the more time he had on the field, the better the team covered him. In his outstanding performance against New York, he came in and threw the Red Bulls off, but it was in the heat of the game when the Union needed a spark. It just seemed, coming off of a restarted half, Ilsinho wasn’t able to be that spark.

Fafa Picault should start over Sergio Santos

At least for now. Fafa provided the spark normally handled by Ilsinho in this match, and put in the cross that led to the eventual point saving goal for the Union. Picault once again showed both his strengths and weaknesses. He was blazing fast on the field, beating defenders up the middle and down the sidelines. But he also showed his lack of finishing touch again, putting in a weak shot toward the keeper after breaking through the defense with his speed. Santos had a weak game, mostly giving up fouls and complaining about the fouls he was being called for.

This was a game I expected the Union strikers to come out guns blazing, especially with the arrival of Andrew Wooten. Kacper had an okay game, scoring the tying goal and providing lots of hold up play for the team in need of possession. If I had to guess, Fafa and Kacper will be starting up top on Saturday against NYCFC, an important matchup in the Eastern Conference.

The Union were rusty but came away with a point still

The Union’s performance in this game is definitely one to forget. Rust probably played a factor, but as much as I hated Tommy Smyth stating it over and over, there were a lot of bad giveaways and the Union did not look like the first place team in the Eastern Conference. Jamiro Montiero may have been the only player on the field who showed no rust at all, being his usual disruptive self in the midfield. But other than that, the team played much slower, and couldn’t penetrate a defense that they dropped six goals on earlier in the season.

What were your takeaways from last night? Share them in the comments.

Philadelphia Union pass big test with 2-1 win in Toronto

2019-05-11T18:14:06-04:00

Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Goals from Fafa Picault and Jamiro Monteiro gave the Union its first road win in Toronto since 2014

A second half goal by Jamiro Monteiro lifted the Union over Toronto FC in a battle of Eastern Conference contenders after Alejandro Pozuelo cancelled out a first half Toronto own goal. The Union put distance between the teams, rising to 7 points over Toronto (though the Reds still have two games in hand).

Coming off back-to-back home wins against FC Cincinnati and New England Revolution, the Union rode into Toronto with huge confidence but needed to pick up a statement victory, especially on the road. Questions have been asked about whether the team could pick up a victory against an MLS Cup contender and whether they could keep playing at a high level after trading away two depth pieces in David Accam and Derrick Jones.

The Union lineup remained mostly unchanged from the previous match against New England, with the exception of Marco Fabián returning to the starting 11 in place of the injured (but not really injured) Brenden Aaronson.

After 20+ minutes of action, the Union struggled holding onto possession and Toronto, led by Pozuelo, attacked the Union defense hard and often, forcing several Carlos Miguel Coronel saves. After a few close chances from striker Kacper Pryzbylko, the Union finally broke through when left back Kai Wagner drove up the sideline and placed in a low cross toward Fafa Picault that was knocked in off of Toronto defender Chris Mavinga for the opening goal in the contest.

Perfect ball from the Machine and a smooth finish from @fafagoal23 has the Union ahead on the road!#TORvPHI 0-1 | #DOOP pic.twitter.com/f2DD6vJeeu
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) May 11, 2019

Going into the half, it was clear the Union were willing to give up fouls to stop Toronto from pushing forward, but Fabián seemed to give up the most chances in the worst spots, and played a role in the foul that led to the 51st minute free kick goal by Pozuelo, who chipped the ball over the wall and into the net.

Fabián, who played in his first game in almost a month after he suffered an ankle injury, showed signs of rust, with a few misplaced passes and a much slower pace than the 18-year-old Aaronson. Fabián was subbed off in the 57th minute for Aaronson, who took a knock in the previous match against New England Revolution.

Aaronson’s energy immediately helped the Union move forward, opening up the field for players like Jamiro Monteiro and Haris Medunjanin. In the 68th minute, Monteiro and Pryzbylko charged up the field on the counter, with Monteiro sending Pryzbylko out wide and then receiving a return ball down the middle of the field and slotting home his second MLS goal. Defender Auro was down on the field in the Union half, but the team pressed on despite the injury and finished their chance.

Vision➕hustle ➕great pass from Kacper=Jamiro Monteiro putting the Union up 2-1#TORvPHI | #DOOP pic.twitter.com/7Zir09Ukx9
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) May 11, 2019

The game was far from over, with several injury stoppages (Laurent Ciman left the game with what appeared to be a serious injury) adding 6 minutes of stoppage time to the end of the match. Jack Elliott continued his excellent season with a series of tackles toward the end of the game that would clinch a 2-1 victory for Philadelphia.

The Union now sit at 23 points through 12 games played (7-3-2) while Toronto FC remain at 16 points through 10 games (5-4-1). The Union returns home on Saturday, May 18 for an inter-conference matchup against the very dangerous Seattle Sounders.

Three things we learned in the Union’s 6-1 rout against the New England Revolution

2019-05-05T17:35:25-04:00

Photo by Morgan Tencza

Led by a brace from newcomer Sergio Santos, the Philadelphia Union ran wild on the Revs

Ernst Tanner has an eye for scouting players

Ernst Tanner made a handful of signings in the offseason while changing the Union’s forever 4-2-3-1 system to a 4-4-2 diamond. His signing list includes Sergio Santos, who nabbed a brace in under a half hour of being on the field, Kai Wagner, who played a full 90 and has been a bright spot on the defense this season, and Jamiro Montiero, who has terrorized anyone and everyone since joining the Union. Carlos Miguel Coronel, who signed from Red Bull Salzburg on loan, made a handful of wonderful saves to keep the score 1-1 at the half. And finally Kacper Pryzbylko, who can be considered the first signing under Ernst Tanner (he signed in September of 2018), scored his third goal in 3 games. Tanner hasn’t really had a miss yet, and his full roster of signings were really in the spotlight against New England.

Injuries continue to pile up for the Union, but it doesn’t matter

Brenden Aaronson was added to the growing list of injured Philly players picking up a hip injury and coming off in the 36th minute. Aaronson has been a bright spot in the midfield, providing a huge boost in energy and quality that will be missed (luckily his injury does not appear to be severe, and he will not be out very long). His replacement, Ilsinho, played the remainder of the match and scored a stunning goal less than two minutes into the second half. While Ilsinho isn’t a 90-minute player, Marco Fabian should be ready to go for the Union’s next match, a high profile contest against Toronto FC, which has major implications as Toronto still has three games in hand on the Union and are only four points back. After all the injuries (and red cards and visa issues), the Union still picked up 7 points in 3 games over 8 days.

Striker is not a serious need anymore

Every season, fans are foaming at the mouth for a DP Striker to take over games and provide a quality the team has never had before, being dangerous up top. None of the Union strikers can really be considered as DP level but so far this season that hasn’t mattered. Through 11 games, the Union have had five different strikers score goals (Accam, Burke, Picault, Santos and Pryzbylko). Out of the Union’s 18 goals, the platoon of strikers have scored 12 of them. While it isn’t really fair to compare five players to any single player, the 12 goals are more than Carlos Vela (11), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (9) and Wayne Rooney (6), who are all toward the top of the charts for goals scored this season. Is a DP striker required when there is good service being delivered to middle tier strikers instead? The answer so far seems to be no and the Union have shown that it’s not necessarily a requirement to win in MLS.

The King is back: Three things we learned in the Union’s 3-0 victory over Columbus

2019-03-24T12:26:45-04:00

Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

David Accam’s brace lifted a shorthanded Union squad over the Crew

There were many questions about the Philadelphia Union roster coming into their match against Columbus Crew. Would Marco Fabian still be suspended? Would Jamiro Montiero be cleared to play? Can the Union even fill up their bench? Are the Union going to switch formations to account for the lack of bench depth?

In the end, David Accam’s performance answered the questions no one was asking: is David Accam healthy and can he get back to the form he played in with Chicago?

Here’s the answer to that question and a few other things we learned from the Columbus game.

Accam is healthy

The Ghanian international endured a massively disappointing 2018 MLS season, scoring once in 23 appearances (he also scored once in US Open Cup play, a penalty kick against Richmond Kickers). Considered to be 4th or 5th on the depth chart at striker, Accam probably would not see much playing time if it were not for the various injuries and international call ups (Burke on INTL duty with Jamaica, Santos/Pryzbylko injured). But he seized his opportunity when it was presented to him.

Not only did David Accam score two goals against a Columbus team that only allowed one goal in their first three matches, but he played the entire 90 minutes, and did not seem to slow down one bit. The goals he scored highlighted his two greatest strengths, speed and the ability to do the dirty work when needed. His first goal was classic Accam, taking a through ball, blowing past his defender, and poking a shot home. His second goal, highlighted his never give up attitude, fighting with three defenders and somehow slotting a ball past Joe Bendik (who had a tough night). The assist he also recorded on Ilsinho’s goal, again showed a level of determination, fighting to win the ball and rolling a pass to the Brazilian for the Union’s third goal.

With this performance, does he jump over guys like Cory Burke and Sergio Santos? Does he start the Union’s next game against FC Cincinnati?

Brenden Aaronson comes back down to Earth, but still looks like a starter

The 18-year-old had himself one heck of a week. He started his first MLS match against 2018 MLS Champion Atlanta United in front of 45,000+ fans at the Mercedes Benz Stadium and scored a goal to earn the Union their first point of the season. But Jim Curtin noted in the post-game press conference that this might have been the game he was more nervous for. Playing in front of friends and family sitting in the stands at Talen Energy Stadium, Aaronson had a tougher time slicing through the Columbus defense.

He did however show his intense work rate, pressing Columbus all game which is something the Union would not get with a guy like Marco Fabian at the number 10 position. His passes were a little less accurate and he found himself being dispossessed several times throughout the match, but still had stretches of quality that can be valuable playing along side Alejandro Bedoya.

Aaronson did cramp up after running hard for 70+ minutes, which sounds like the perfect time to bring on Ilsinho once Fabian takes over the number 10 spot again.

The Union are cup ready

Depth is always a major question with the club, but the Union just trotted out a team with only five subs (only one offensive player), an 18-year-old playing his second MLS game, an aging Brazilian, an unknown backup keeper (Carlos Coronel, who did need not to do anything in this game), and a guy who slumped hard in his first season with Philadelphia, and still managed to pick up three points and three goals.

Depth at midfield is still a question (is it really though?), but there isn’t a lack of attacking players. Philly takes the U.S. Open Cup very seriously and although they have not lifted the trophy yet, they are very much a team built to succeed in the tournament this year. The Union will need to leverage Bethlehem Steel much more once players return from international duty, keeping them fresh and game ready for when their number gets called upon once Cup play begins.

Brenden Aaronson dazzles, helps Union draw Atlanta United on the road

2019-03-17T22:06:19-04:00

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The 18-year-old homegrown player scored in his first game for the team

Brenden Aaronson had himself one heck of a day. The 18-year-old homegrown from Medford, N.J. got his first start for the Philadelphia Union, and scored the lone goal in a 1-1 tie against the defending MLS champions Atlanta United.

Aaronson, starting in place of the suspended Marco Fabián, scored the first goal in open play for the Union this season, taking a shot outside of the box that took a deflection off of Leandro Gonzalez Pirez and found its way into the back of the net.

The Union were forced to make a change at the number 10 position after Fabián received a straight red in the previous match against Sporting Kansas City. Still trying to figure out who fits into the diamond, Jim Curtin went with Warren Creavalle to play alongside Alejandro Bedoya.

We got ☝️ guy cracking his first ever Starting XI, and another making his 175th appearance and tying @sebastienLeToux's franchise record tonight! @AaronsonBrenden | @RayGaddis | #DOOP | #ThisIsPhilly pic.twitter.com/79f5hOu9PX
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) March 17, 2019

Aaronson looked comfortable from the start of the match, earning a corner kick within the first minute of the game. His work rate was clearly something to highlight, as he pressed Atlanta for his entire spell on the pitch, something that gave the Union a slightly different look and feel. His first opportunity came in the 21st minute when Alejandro Bedoya ripped a cross in front of the Atlanta goal and Aaronson was inches away from putting the Union up 1-0. On the same play, Brad Guzan would take a knock and come up with a black eye.

While all of the focus was on Aaronson, the Union squad managed to put together a highlight reel of their worst quality, finishing. Strikers Fafa Picault and Cory Burke, paired together for the third straight game, found it difficult to put shots on target (and not into the second level of Mercedes Benz Stadium). Fafa Picault started the trend early, lofting a shot over the bar after slipping behind the Atlanta defense in the 4th minute, and Cory Burke did the same in the 34th minute.

Picault’s best chance came in the 40th minute, when he caught up to a through ball from Aaronson and managed to dance around Brad Guzan, but took a weak shot that ended up being blocked by Miles Robinson, who dominated the back line for Atlanta the entire match.

After the half, the legend of Brenden Aaronson was born:

From distance! Brenden Aaronson scores in his debut for @PhilaUnion! #ATLvPHI https://t.co/ViM7ovlFMH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 18, 2019

The Union now up 1-0, needed to simply hold onto the lead, and nearly gave it up when Josef Martinez created a chance that could’ve been a Goal of the Year candidate had Blake not been there to stop the bicycle kick attempt.

@josefmartinez17 // #ATLvPHI https://t.co/WcCVzsZR4f
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 18, 2019

Six minutes later, the Union defense would finally be broken down, when Alejandro Bedoya and Haris Medunjanin failed to mark their players, and Ezequiel Barco, who had just come on as a substitute, found himself with a free header in the box to tie the game up at 1.

Both Philadelphia and Atlanta would squander opportunities late, with Fafa failing to finish another chance in the box in the 88th minute, and a Medunjanin free kick that went over the bar in the final minute of stoppage time. The whistle would blow seconds later and the Union would capture their first point of the season in Atlanta.

Philadelphia now returns home for a Saturday matchup against Columbus Crew at 7:30 p.m. in Talen Energy Stadium. This match will include the return of Fabián from suspension and potentially the debut of Jamiro Montiero, who looks to help tidy up the diamond. Both teams will be short-handed with international call-ups, which for the Union includes Blake, Burke, Creavalle and backup left back Matt Real.