Brotherly Game - Match 22: Philadelphia Union vs. Real Salt LakeThe beautiful game with a Philadelphia attitudehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48005/brotherlygame-fave.png2016-07-29T12:00:04-04:00http://www.brotherlygame.com/rss/stream/120950892016-07-29T12:00:04-04:002016-07-29T12:00:04-04:00Three questions with RSL Soapbox
<figure>
<img alt="MLS: San Jose Earthquakes at Real Salt Lake" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JcBGSJzhWtE9EC85QRPLjyMx96s=/0x0:1788x1192/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50241799/usa-today-9397363.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We spoke with Derrick Saunders of RSL Soapbox, SB Nation's Real Salt Lake blog, about the upcoming match between the Union and RSL.</p> <p id="EvAcDt"><em><strong>Brotherly Game</strong></em><strong>) Since defeating the New York Red Bulls on June 22, Real Salt Lake has lost twice and drawn four times. What is the cause of this slide, and what is being done to reverse RSL's fortunes?</strong></p>
<p id="o8j1Xo"><strong>Derrick Saunders, </strong><em><strong>RSL Soapbox) </strong></em>This is the million dollar question. This past month has been reminiscent of last season for RSL, and in the worst way. Watching draw after draw at home is almost excruciating. Midfielder Luke Mulholland was interviewed after the home draw against Montreal July 9th and had a quote that sums up my thoughts well: </p>
<p id="yBsdWz">“Still haven’t lost at home this season and you can take that as a positive, but on the flip side of things we’ve only picked up 3 points of a possible 9, so sometimes it’s better to win a couple game and lose a game than to tie 3, so I think we just need to raise our level a little bit.”</p>
<p id="JQjeym">Since this interview, RSL lost in Vancouver 2-0, and drew with 0-0 with New England and 1-1 with San Jose at home, . That’s a total of 4 points earned out of a possible 18 in the winless stretch, including 4 out of 12 points at home. The only word to describe that kind of play is dismal. </p>
<p id="3RbbLX">As Luke said, RSL is still undefeated at home. But this hardly matters if the team isn’t getting full points from the home games. As for the exact reason, it is probably a combination of a lot of things. We could blame international call-ups, injuries to key players, and schedule congestion for poor play. The loss of Sunny Stephen Obayan for 6-8 weeks during this stretch has affected an already thin midfield. RSL hasn’t had it’s full strength lineup on the pitch in months.</p>
<p id="o4csdi">The simplest solution for month without a win is to go out and win a match. Maybe even more than just win, if RSL was able to put together a really solid victory with couple goals, it would do wonders for team and fan morale. Will they be able to do that against Philadelphia? That remains to be seen. But an authoritative victory at home would at least be a step back in the right direction.</p>
<p id="QFxyL8"><em><strong>tBG</strong></em><strong>) At 34 years old, how much longer does Kyle Beckerman have in the tank?</strong></p>
<p id="Kz9ebm"><em><strong>RS</strong></em><strong>) </strong>During the past two seasons it is becoming more obvious that Beckerman is slowing down physically. His performances haven’t been affected drastically, and he is still very much an integral part of the team’s success, but he has definitely lost a step. Beckerman has continued to contribute to the USMNT this season, and has only missed MLS matches for national team duty or suspensions. So far this season it looks like his body is holding fine to the rigors of professional soccer.</p>
<p id="7JhAj9">It’s hard to gauge the length of a player’s career when we don’t know how they’re feeling physically. Beckerman has made no indication that he’s planning on retiring after this season. Neither has Javier Morales or Nick Rimando for that matter, and both are older than Beckerman. So, as it stands, Kyle has at least a season and a half left in the tank before he might entertain thoughts of retiring.</p>
<p id="GxIL1w">If and when Kyle decides to hang up his boots, he’ll be greatly missed in Salt Lake. Sunny Stephen Obayan has shown that he is a very capable replacement for the CDM position in the 4-3-3 that RSL plays currently, but Sunny is currently out with an orbital bone fracture.</p>
<p id="5qZ5Fr"><em><strong>tBG</strong></em><strong>) Who is Real Salt Lake's unsung hero - someone who might not get the recognition but is otherwise critical to RSL's success?</strong></p>
<p id="hqhNr8"><em><strong>RS</strong></em><strong>) </strong>I’m going to select two players as unsung heroes for RSL’s season thus far. Demar Philips and Tony Beltran play LB and RB respectively, and are a huge reason that the defense has been miles more consistent than last season. The meteoric rise of the Justen Glad-Aaron Maund partnership has been well documented, and the two center backs have grown in leaps and bounds from last year. Their play has been incredible, but I don’t think that it qualifies as unsung. </p>
<p id="TctmbB">Defenders in general have a thankless job. Often times the attention they receive is for poor play. Highlight reels are full of defenders getting their ankles broken, nutmegged, or flat out embarrassed. But when a defender has a really good game, they are hardly noticed by fans. As fullbacks, Philips and Beltran are expected to defend the wings and also providing overlapping runs and key passes on offense. A lot of responsibility falls on their shoulders, and the fact that both have been solid this season is hardly noticed. </p>
<p id="gQqHm1">Philips has developed chemistry with Plata on the left wing, and has looked sharp, creative, and aggressive in his defending. Beltran continues to be the veteran presence on RSL’s backline, and has performed at or near his last year’s All-Star season level. Though both have made a few mistakes here and there, they have made RSL more dangerous and resilient. That’s why I think they deserve the title of unsung hero for 2016.</p>
<p id="98wE6B"><strong>Injuries: </strong>Jordan Allen - hamstring, questionable; Yura Movsisyan - hip, doubtful; Emery Welshman - hip surgery, out; Sunday Stephen - face fracture, out</p>
<p id="bRz97z"><strong>Line-up: </strong>Nick Rimando; Demar Phillips, Aaron Maund, Justen Glad, Tony Beltran; Kyle Beckerman, Luke Mulholland; Javier Morales; Joao Plata, Juan Manuel Martinez, Olmes Garcia</p>
<p id="ZOEsbg"><em><a href="http://www.rslsoapbox.com/2016/7/29/12306992/rsl-vs-philadelphia-union-three-questions-with-the-brotherly-game">For our three answers for </a></em><a href="http://www.rslsoapbox.com/2016/7/29/12306992/rsl-vs-philadelphia-union-three-questions-with-the-brotherly-game">RSL Soapbox</a><em><a href="http://www.rslsoapbox.com/2016/7/29/12306992/rsl-vs-philadelphia-union-three-questions-with-the-brotherly-game">, go here.</a></em></p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/2016/7/29/12320104/match-preview-philadelphia-union-real-salt-lake-three-questions-rsl-soapboxEugene Rupinskid_ricky2016-07-29T10:00:04-04:002016-07-29T10:00:04-04:00Match Preview: Philadelphia vs. Real Salt Lake
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kkDMcYD-yzlbeRbH9qVABuGSxPM=/465x0:5529x3376/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50231171/IMG_4771.0.0.JPG" />
</figure>
<p>The Union return to Talen Energy Stadium this Sunday and will look to bounce back from the worst loss of the season against the Impact last weekend. With a full week off, hopefully the Union will be able to stop what some have viewed as a slow slide back into mediocrity. </p> <p id="paragraph0" class="pgh-paragraph"><b>Game:</b> <a href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/" class="sbn-auto-link" data-ref-index="6">Philadelphia Union</a> vs. <a href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/" class="sbn-auto-link" data-ref-index="6">Real Salt Lake</a></p>
<p id="paragraph1" class="pgh-paragraph"><b>Date:</b> Sunday, July 31st</p>
<p id="paragraph2" class="pgh-paragraph"><b>Time:</b> 7:00 PM</p>
<p id="paragraph3" class="pgh-paragraph"><b>Venue:</b> Talen Energy Stadium</p>
<p><b>Referees:</b> <span>REF: JUAN GUZMAN </span><span>AR1: Peter Manikowski </span><span>AR2: CJ Morgante </span><span>4TH: Mark Geiger</span></p>
<div class="m-ad m-ad__article-body">
<div id="div-gpt-ad-mobile_article_body" class="dfp_ad" data-cb-ad-id="Mobile article body" data-cb-dfp-id="unit=mobile_article_body"></div>
</div>
<p id="paragraph5" class="pgh-paragraph"><b>Television:</b> The Comcast Network, KMYU</p>
<p id="paragraph6" class="pgh-paragraph"><b>Streaming: </b>MLS LIVE<br><br><b>What the Union will look like: </b></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph">Man, last week was tough. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/">Montreal Impact</a> are a very good team, especially at home. The Union have been less than stellar on the road this season. Knowing all that I don't think anyone went into the Montreal game hoping for much more than a draw. Maybe stealing three points on the road after a late goal, but no one thought the Union would handily beat Montreal in Stade Saputo. What we definitely didn't expect was to see the team let <span>Didier Drogba</span> score a hat trick, give up two more goals for good measure, and just all around get their butts handed to them. It was a poor loss. Even more so after a tough loss in PK's against The Revolution mid-week. The Union have only won two games since the departure of Vincent Nogueira. They desperately need to find a way to start stringing some wins together, particularly on the road, or they will continue to see themselves fall in the standings. <br><br>Lots of people, myself included, are starting to feel that sense of dread set in. You know the one. It's the one you always feel when a Philadelphia sports team that has been performing well, suddenly seems to be letting it all slip away. I feel a bit like a wizened old farmer predicting rain because his old knee injury is bothering him. I can just feel it in my bones. <br><br>But this is not the Philadelphia Union of old, and it's not fair for us to assume that they will crumble. This is a team that is now more likely to score the late goal to steal points than to concede it. This is a team with a determined, young defense, and a core of veteran offensive players that know how to get the job done. We should remain hopeful. And let's not forget that this is a team that has performed very, very well at home. <br><br>The Union will be missing <span>Tranquillo Barnetta</span> on yellow card accumulation on Sunday. Expect Warren Creavalle to step in for Barnetta at the #8 spot. I know everyone is excited about <span>Derrick Jones</span>, but I doubt very highly he jumps right into starting for the first team. With Fabinho getting rest on Saturday, he should return to the starting line up at left back. I'd also expect to see Ilsinho return to the starting line up, now that he has served his suspension for the red card against The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a>. With Barnetta off the pitch, The Union will have to find a way to move the ball through the midfield. The double pivot with <span>Brian Carroll</span> and Creavalle is typically a very good defensive choice, but it also tends to leave a gap between the offense and the defense. Without <span>Vincent Nogueira's</span> quick passing and constant switching of the field, this is an area in which The Union have struggled mightily. Barnetta has done a good enough job filling in, but it's becoming clear that the position is not his natural one, and it is wearing on him. With Creavalle at the #8, the team doesn't get forward fast enough, with Barnetta they get forward perhaps too fast. The team needs to find an answer to this problem, and quickly. Logic seems to suggest that Edu can step into the #8 role, if and when he gets healthy in order to free up Barnetta to return to the #10 spot. If Edu is not coming back soon enough, hopefully the Union can add a solid piece to the midfield before the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">transfer window</a> closes. <br><br>This is a big game for Roland Alberg. Alberg struggled in the opening months of the season, which is pretty normal for a player new to the league, but had an explosion of goals when he broke through. Since then, though, he has seemed very absent. His finishing has been off, and he has seemed unable to provide the kind of creative spark you need from your #10 in recent games. Without Barnetta to help him out offensively, Alberg will need to take a little more of that role on his shoulders. Hopefully he will drop deep enough to collect balls from Carroll and Creavalle and find some quality passes to feed Ilsinho, Pontius and <span>CJ Sapong</span>. <br><br><b>What <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/">Real Salt Lake</a> will look like: </b></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph">Real Salt Lake has had a somewhat rough stretch recently, or at least it looks that way from an outsider's perspective. They're winless in 6 games, registering 4 draws and 2 losses. But even with all of that, RSL still sits one spot ahead of the Union in the Supporters Shield standings, inching in front by one point. Salt Lake may be having a somewhat inconsistent season, but they are a very dangerous team with very skilled players. It would be very careless of The Union to take this team lightly. Western Conference opponents are always a tough test, and RSL is no different. <br><br>In terms of line-ups, Salt Lake may be missing their leading goal scorer and star center forward, <span><span>Yura Movsisyan</span>, who had to leave last week's game towards the end of the first half with a hip flexor strain. If Movsisyan can't go, RSL will have to turn to 23 year old <span>Olmes Garcia</span>, who hasn't managed to find the back of the net in over a year. <br><br>But even without Yura, Salt Lake is still dangerous. Burrito Martinez and <span>Joao Plata</span> have 11 goals between them and will most certainly be testing the Union's young defense all game. Martinez, in particular, has been a highlight machine with his incredible skill on the ball all season, and any fan of MLS will tell you how dangerous Joao Plata can be. </span></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph"><b>Prediction: </b></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph">1-1 Draw<br><br>I'd like to be more hopeful about this game, but I just can't bring myself to be optimistic. The Union have drawn RSL the last four times the two teams have played. With RSL possibly missing their star striker, and the Union missing a lot of offensive punch without Barnetta and Ilsinho, I just don't know where the offense is going to come from for either team. I'm expecting a hard fought draw, with both teams struggling to find the final pass.</p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/2016/7/29/12308074/2016-match-preview-philadelphia-union-vs-real-salt-lake-news-scheduleDrew Gobrecht