Brotherly Game - The Whole Story: Matchday 19 The Colorado Rapids Make A Quick Stop In PhiladelphiaThe beautiful game with a Philadelphia attitudehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48005/brotherlygame-fave.png2014-07-14T07:00:02-04:00http://www.brotherlygame.com/rss/stream/56542462014-07-14T07:00:02-04:002014-07-14T07:00:02-04:00Game Changers: Game of Cards
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<img alt="Michael Lahoud get's a yellow card - but a red card would follow soon." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YRTkFOnLrLBs0bKn9ahmucgowa0=/3x0:3996x2662/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35564034/20140712_ads_bg2_313.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Michael Lahoud get's a yellow card - but a red card would follow soon. | John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Every week we "Monday Morning Manage" every game with our fellow Union faithful. What could have been done better? What were the missed opportunities? Did that sub really need to happen? We bring all the talking points to you each week right here.</p> <p>There were people who bought tickets to yesterdays game, and sat in front of me during the game. They left just before the final whistle. I wonder if they realized they had purchased tickets to fireworks tonight. Or perhaps they had seen enough fireworks on the pitch. That was an interesting 90 minutes of action, and we have plenty to discuss in this week's game-changers article.</p>
<p><b>1. <span>Ethan White</span> starting in place of the suspended Maurice Edu.</b></p>
<p>It's been a very consistent, settled lineup under Jim Curtin so far, but that had to change this week because of <span>Maurice Edu's</span> suspension. Instead of moving <span>Amobi Okugo</span> back to central defense, Curtin gave Ethan White his first MLS minutes as a Union player. And White didn't let Curtin down. White had a solid game and played physical despite not being the tallest player. He was also quick enough to recover when things went against the Union, nearly getting a last ditch block on the third Rapids goal. The big question that White's performance brings up, however, is why hasn't he played before? The Union have had two converted midfielders in central defense and the disastrous "Wheeler experiment" all playing in central defense ahead of White prior to Saturday night's game. Surely White should have played prior to this.</p>
<p>The other benefit the Union had from this decision was allowing Okugo to stay in midfield, his most natural position. His passing ability allows him to create from the position. It was his fantastic run that created the third Union goal for <span>Andrew Wenger's</span> boot studs to bundle home. If Amobi is allowed to continue to play in the midfield he's going to turn into a special player who may one day see <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/7/3/5864221/potential-usmnt-players-to-watch-during-the-2018-world-cup-cycle" target="_blank">a call-up from Jurgen Klinsmann</a>. Let's hope he realizes his fullest potential with the Union for the near future.</p>
<p><b>2. <span>Danny Cruz</span> nearly having his leg broken in a tackle - and it's only a yellow card.</b></p>
<p>Last week I mentioned that Maurice Edu deserved his red card. This week, if anyone thinks that Shane O'Neill didn't deserve a red card they must have been thinking about where to watch the post-game fireworks. Unfortunately for the Union, referee Sorin Stoica must have been doing that at the moment of the tackle. Lets have a look at this still, expertly taken by Matt Reppert.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4750972/10551906_10202606016651603_2147415173_n.jpg"><img src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4750972/10551906_10202606016651603_2147415173_n_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="10551906_10202606016651603_2147415173_n_medium"></a></p>
<p>First , note that you don't see the ball anywhere near where O'Neill is tackling, so obviously it was quite late. Secondly, look how far off the ground that O'Neill's foot is. Thirdly, check out the position of his foot - i.e. studs up. Looking at the image, it was an awful tackle.</p>
<p><a href="http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-07-12-philadelphia-union-vs-colorado-rapids/details/video/20122" target="_blank">Now have a look at the video</a>.</p>
<p>Check out the speed that both players are moving at. Cruz manages to easily get the ball and O'Neill is absolutely flying in with an out of control tackle. If you manage to get to the last replay from behind the goal, you see the bend in Cruz's leg/ankle. It really was a leg-breaking tackle and Cruz was lucky not to be out for a year, and O'Neill was lucky to stay on the field.</p>
<p>I am willing to bet that the referee didn't give the red card because of the wrong belief that you can't send someone off early in the game. This was a tackle that deserved a red card even two seconds into the game, and it's a disgrace that it was only yellow.</p>
<p>Of course, talking about game-changing moments, maybe this is one that went the <a href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Union's</a> way, with their well-known inability to do well when they have a man advantage. The rest of the game was looking good for the Union until the 76th minute Then......</p>
<p><b>3. <span>Michael Lahoud</span> gets sent off and gives away a penalty kick.</b></p>
<p>There will be more on this later in the week from our TBG panel, but here's my comment on it. Michael Lahoud tried an overhead kick, and while he managed to clear the ball, he also <a href="http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-07-12-philadelphia-union-vs-colorado-rapids/details/video/20221" target="_blank">managed to kick Colorado's Jared Watts in the face</a>. The kick wasn't enough to hurt Watts, but it was enough for the referee to bring out the red card, sending Lahoud off for the kick.</p>
<p>For me, it was the wrong decision. It's a play that happens all over the pitch, with the outcome usually an indirect free kick and no card. Watts head was lowered, and while there was contact, Lahoud didn't go out to deliberately kick Watts in the face. If the ref had given a yellow card, then it would be a more acceptable decision, but that wasn't what happened, though a yellow would have sent Lahoud off anyway as he had already picked up a yellow in the first half.</p>
<p>As for the decision to give a penalty, I disagree as I believe it should have been an indirect free kick. According to Law 12:</p>
<p>"An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if, in the opinion of the referee, a player:</p>
<ul style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-position: inside; list-style-image: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">
<li style="margin: 10px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 2px 0px 2px 15px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; background: transparent;">plays in a dangerous manner"</li>
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<div>By all the rules I could find it should have just been an indirect free kick. Regardless of what Stoica should have done, this was a game changing moment, and it may have directly cost the Union two points.</div>
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<br><b>4. Making the wrong decisions defensively.</b>
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<div>One thing we can't blame the referee for is the decision that Michael Lahoud did by trying the overhead kick. Last week, Fabinho tried an ill-advised clearance that led to the own-goal. This week, Lahoud had his panicky moment trying the overhead kick, which even if Watts is not there, is far too risky a chance to take in your own box.</div>
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<div>There was another very poor clearance by Fabinho, and then later in the game Fabinho cleared the ball out of Zac MacMath's hands for a corner when Zac was shouting for him to leave it. On the Rapids' third goal, <span>Sheanon Williams</span> tried a risky interception instead of playing safe defense, and <span>Deshorn Brown</span> was in through on goal for the equalzing strike. While Sheanon's mistake, like Edu's last week, was likely due to playing in an unnatural position, it's typical of the defensive lapses that continue to haunt the Union. Hopefully if Berry, White, and even a returning <span>Carlos Valdes</span> are the centre-back pairings from now on, there will be a lot less of this.</div>
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<div><b>5. The idea that the substitutions made after the red card were wrong.</b></div>
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<div>I've seen a lot of suggestions about the substitutions costing the Union. Fans seem to hate the fact that <span>Brian Carroll</span> and Aaron Wheeler got to see the field. Let's go through the substitutions and see which are agreeable and which are not agreeable.</div>
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<div><i>A) Andrew Wenger for Danny Cruz. </i></div>
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<br>Danny Cruz had another good game. He was all over the place, should have got O'Neill sent off, and had a great effort saved by Clint Irwin (one of two the Colorado keeper had). However, as always, Danny Cruz isn't a 90-minute player. You put him out there, let him run a lot, and then take him off after 60 minutes. Looking at the bench, Wenger is the obvious replacement. This was a perfectly acceptable sub to make, and Wenger validated Curtin's decision with a goal.</div>
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<div><i>B) Brian Carroll for <span>Conor Casey</span>.</i></div>
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<div>This is one where most people were upset. However, like Cruz, Casey isn't a 90-minute player. The sub came just after the Lahoud red card, and was needed to keep the shape of the team. When going down a man, it is necessary to make changes to compensate the loss. This sub would not have happened if Lahoud didn't get sent off. Curtin needed to make a change to get the shape of the team back to four defenders with two defensive midfielders, and the rest attacking. It was the correct change to make as nobody else could fill that position in center midfield.</div>
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<div><i>C) <span>Aaron Wheeler</span> for <span>Cristian Maidana</span>.</i></div>
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<div>This was the strange one for me. In a game where the Union had the lead, bringing off a player that can hold the ball in midfield and create chances (Maidana) for a player that will just challenge for the ball (Wheeler) isn't a clever thing. If Maidana is coming off, Curtin needs to bring on <span>Vincent Nogueira</span> or even <span>Austin Berry</span> to shore up the defense.</div>
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<br>The fact that Nogueira didn't come on suggests one of two things. 1) Nogueira wasn't fit enough to play any minutes at all. If that was the case, then why was he even on the bench? Surely a player such as <span>Zach Pfeffer</span> should have been there, and would have been a better choice to bring on than Wheeler. Or 2). Nogueira isn't thought of as a player of high enough quality by Curtin to bring into the team. That's a disturbing thought.</div>
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<div>So, those are my picks for the moments that changed the course and outcome of the game. Do you disagree with my assessment of the substitutions? Vote in the poll and let me know! Was there anything I missed? Continue the discussion in the comments section!</div>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/2014/7/14/5895825/union-rapids-analysis-box-score-conor-casey-goalbluetooner2014-07-12T23:03:43-04:002014-07-12T23:03:43-04:00GAME RECAP: Union 3-3 Rapids
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<figcaption>John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Union's late 2-goal lead fell by the wayside following a red card to Michael Lahoud. The Union left PPL Park having drawn Colorado Rapids 3-3 and wishing for better.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Union</a> entered today's home game versus the <a href="https://www.burgundywave.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Colorado Rapids</a> optimistic following a big win in the U.S. Open Cup. But once <span>Michael Lahoud</span> picked up a red card up 3-1 in the second half, all good things fell apart faster than Brazil in the World Cup as the Union left PPL Park level at 3-3 and angry over an early first half non-call and an inexplicable <span>Amobi Okugo</span> post-match red card for dissent.</p>
<p>The fireworks began in the 11th minute when <span>Shane O'Neill</span> went into a tackle on <span>Danny Cruz</span> studs-up, injuring the aggressive Union winger. Referee Sorin Stoica showed O'Neill yellow for his reckless tackle, but a straight red card would not have been undeserved. Given how the match ended up going, it is one the Union would have badly liked to see.</p>
<p>Things did not go downhill right away, though. In fact, five minutes after O'Neill's tackle on Cruz, the Union responded on the scoreboard with one of their finest goals of the season. Casey passed the ball across the pitch to Ray Gaddis, who crossed the ball into the box where Casey was making a run. Casey received the cross and supplied an absolutely magnificent volley rendering Colorado Rapids goalkeeper <span>Clint Irwin</span> helpless as Casey and his Union teammates celebrated a deserved 1-0 lead.</p>
<p>The joy of the lead was vanquished by Colorado almost immediately. With Fabinho caught out of position, <span>Dillon Serna</span> became the second person to make Akron proud in the last 36 hours. Serna found some space following the Union's defensive collapse and from the top of the box placed the ball perfectly in the right corner of the net, evening the game at 1.</p>
<p>The Union would be the ones to get the next goal 13 minutes later. Cruz passed to Fabinho making a run at the edge of the box. Fabinho then crossed it back into the box to Cruz who forced a fine save from Irwin. With Irwin having pushed the ball out for a corner kick, Maidana took it and placed the ball well into the box where <span>Sheanon Williams</span> was able to latch onto it with a header that beat Irwin and put the Union ahead 2-1 still in the first half.</p>
<p>The Colorado Rapids attempted to equalize late in the first half, but a comedy of errors culminating in an embarrassing <span>Deshorn Brown</span> whiff that <span>Ethan White</span> easily blocked away thwarted the Rapids best opportunity in the final minutes of the first half. The Union found themselves ahead 2-1 at the break and you were hard-pressed to find a person who did not believe it was truly deserved.</p>
<p>The second half began with not much in the way of quality chances for either side. The Rapids were content to attempt numerous hopeful shots from distance that never really had much of a chance of going in, and the Union appeared satisfied to let Colorado make a living out of low percentage attempts. But things picked back up in the 63rd minute when <span>Sebastien Le Toux</span> was just a hair offside following a Michael Lahoud shot that Irwin spilled right to Le Toux. Le Toux had shot the ball in the net, but the linesman correctly ruled Le Toux was a fraction offside. The goal was disallowed, much to the chagrin of Seba and the Union.</p>
<p>The Union appeared to clinch the match and all three points in the 75th minute, though. While Le Toux's goal did not count, this one from second half substitute <span>Andrew Wenger</span> did. Okugo had made a great run into the box where he was fouled at least twice. He got a cross off that deflected off Rapids defender <span>Jared Watts</span> right onto the waiting foot of Wenger who just before falling down successfully poked it past Irwin and the goalline to put the Union up 3-1, seemingly seeing through their first home win in league play since March 15.</p>
<p>Things took a tragic turn for the Union late in the match when going for a free kick in the box, Lahoud's overhead kick caught Watts in the face. Stoica immediately presented Lahoud a straight red card*. Even though Lahoud had been going for the ball, the fact that he missed the ball and caught Watts in the face was enough for the official, who also awarded the Rapids a penalty for the foul in the box. <span>Dillon Powers</span> stepped up to the spot to take the penalty kick. With MacMath diving left, Powers chipped his penalty kick to the right, landing it in the upper corner of the net and pulling the Rapids within a goal with 11 minutes plus stoppage time remaining.</p>
<p>*<i>If not a red card, Stoica would have been well within his reason to present Lahoud a yellow card there. And given that Lahoud had already picked up a yellow in the 29th minute, that play would have been enough to see Lahoud off regardless of the color of the card Stoica pulled out.</i></p>
<p>With the Union clinging to a one-goal lead down a man, the Rapids pounced on them. Brown bobbled a pass intended for him just outside the box but he got a lucky bounce as it rolled in MacMath's direction and Brown was able to attach himself to the ball before the Union central defense could close in. Brown rocketed the ball past MacMath, pulling the Rapids level. The goal shocked the Union and the partisan crowd at PPL Park who thought surely their team had done enough to walk out of the match with three points.</p>
<p>The Union had one last golden opportunity to regain the lead, and it occurred in the 88th minute. Capitalizing on a poorly defended free kick from distance, Okugo latched his head onto the free kick directing the ball towards goal only to be denied by a fingertip save from Irwin. The ball was forced out for a corner, and with the Union down a man, the rest of the match saw the Rapids control the lion's share of possession. The Union never got another opportunity to get the lead back, and following four minutes of stoppage time, the whistle blew signaling the end of the match and a 3-3 draw. In a home dominated league like MLS, leaving home with only a draw is always going to be at least a tad dis-spiriting, but the manner in which the Union dropped points today was borderline heart-breaking.</p>
<p>After the match, emotions boiled over on the pitch. In a post-game interview with 6ABC's Heather Mitts, Union manager Jim Curtin stated "they actually gave another red card unfortunately to Amobi Okugo. They said it was for dissent." Curtin later added his confusion over the fact that dissent is normally punished with a yellow card, not a red card. CBS3's Kevin Kinkead provides the following clarification:</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>"Dissent by word or action" is a cautionable offense (yellow card)</p>
— Kevin Kinkead (@KevinKCBS3) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinKCBS3/statuses/488145990663540736">July 13, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>"using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures" is a sending-off offense (red card)</p>
— Kevin Kinkead (@KevinKCBS3) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinKCBS3/statuses/488146074444787712">July 13, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<p>What Okugo did or did not say to Stoica remains a mystery. Stoica did not give any interviews or provide any comment or clarification on his end following the match. Curtin further expressed his disappointment in the officiating to Mitts even adding "the guy in the middle makes it about him a little bit tonight."</p>
<p>Up next for the Union is a mid-week fixture against their northern rivals <a href="https://www.onceametro.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Red Bulls</a>. The Union will not be going anywhere, though, as this game will also be played at PPL Park and for the first time this season will be available nationally on ESPN2. After tonight's disappointment, a win at home against one of their biggest rivals would certainly be a nice remedy.</p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/2014/7/12/5894337/philadelphia-union-colorado-rapids-recap-deshorn-brown-conor-casey-sheanon-williams-goalJustin F.2014-07-12T18:45:05-04:002014-07-12T18:45:05-04:00GAME THREAD: Union vs. Rapids
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<figcaption>Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Colorado Rapids roll through PPL Park to take on the home town Philadelphia Union in a Saturday night MLS clash.</p> <table cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" border="1" align="center">
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<th bgcolor="silver" align="center" colspan="3">UNION GAME #19</th>
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<td width="240"><center> <a href="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2283364/qee7soq7augbn2jofb315sw1i.gif"><img alt="Qee7soq7augbn2jofb315sw1i_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2283364/qee7soq7augbn2jofb315sw1i_medium.gif"></a> </center></td>
<th width="20" align="center">VS</th>
<td width="240"><center> <a href="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2283370/exwxk96s5gfeu1iki34blm6ga.gif"><img alt="Exwxk96s5gfeu1iki34blm6ga_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2283370/exwxk96s5gfeu1iki34blm6ga_medium.gif"></a> </center></td>
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<td bgcolor="silver" align="center" colspan="3"><b>PPL Park, Chester, PA</b></td>
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<td align="center" colspan="3"><b>July 12, 2014</b></td>
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<td align="center" colspan="3"><b>7:00 PM ET</b></td>
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<td align="center" colspan="3"><b>6ABC - Marc Zumoff and Peter Pappas</b></td>
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<td align="center" colspan="3">
<b>Know Thy Enemy: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.burgundywave.com/">Burgundy Wave</a>
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<th bgcolor="silver" align="center" colspan="3">Starting XI</th>
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<td width="240" align="right"><span>Conor Casey</span></td>
<th width="20" align="center">Forward</th>
<td width="240"><span>Deshorn Brown</span></td>
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<td width="240" align="right">
<p><span>Danny Cruz</span>, <span>Cristian Maidana</span>, <span>Sebastien Le Toux</span></p>
<p><span>Amobi Okugo</span>, <span>Michael Lahoud</span></p>
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<th width="20" align="center">Midfield</th>
<td width="240">
<p><span>Kamani Hill</span>, <span>Dillon Powers</span>, <span>Dillon Serna</span></p>
<p><span>Nick LaBrocca</span>, <span>Jared Watts</span></p>
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<td width="240" align="right">Fabinho, <span>Sheanon Williams</span>, <span>Ethan White</span>, Ray Gaddis</td>
<th width="20" align="center">Defense</th>
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<span>Marvell Wynne</span>, <span>Shane O'Neill</span>, <span>Drew Moor</span>, <span>Marc Burch</span>
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<td width="240" align="right"><span>Zac MacMath</span></td>
<th width="20" align="center">Goalkeeper</th>
<td width="240"><span>Clint Irwin</span></td>
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<td width="240" align="right">
<span>Andre Blake</span>, Vincent Nogueira, <span>Brian Carroll</span>, Aaron Wheeler, <span>Andrew Wenger</span>, <span>Austin Berry</span>, Brian Brown</td>
<th width="20" align="center">Bench</th>
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<span>John Berner</span>, <span>Chris Klute</span>, Thomas Piermayr, <span>Marlon Hairston</span>, <span>Carlos Alvarez</span>, <span>Danny Mwanga</span>, <span>Gabriel Torres</span>
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<th bgcolor="silver" align="center" colspan="3">Stats (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/3/7/5481326/mls-advanced-statistics">Explained Here</a>)</th>
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<td width="240" align="right">.535 (3rd)</td>
<th width="20" align="center">TSR</th>
<td width="240">.521 (5th)</td>
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<td width="240" align="right">.492 (8th)</td>
<th width="20" align="center">DZR</th>
<td width="240">.387 (19th)</td>
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<td width="240" align="right">.514 (7th)</td>
<th width="20" align="center">xGR</th>
<td width="240">.449 (18th)</td>
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<th bgcolor="silver" align="center" colspan="3">Game Officials</th>
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<td align="center" colspan="3">Referee: Sorin Stoica</td>
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<td align="center" colspan="3">Assistant: CJ Morgante</td>
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<td align="center" colspan="3">Assistant: Matthew Nelson</td>
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<td align="center" colspan="3">Fourth: Younes Marrakchi</td>
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<p> </p>
<p>Fresh off a U.S. Open victory mid-week, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/">Philadelphia Union</a> hope to continue their rebound from their MLS defeat last Friday at Dallas as they take on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.burgundywave.com/">Colorado Rapids</a> in PPL Park. Comment on the game in our thread below. Go Union! DOOP!</p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/2014/7/12/5894071/game-thread-philadelphia-union-vs-colorado-rapidsJustin F.2014-07-11T10:00:08-04:002014-07-11T10:00:08-04:00Opposite View: Three Questions With Burgundy Wave
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<img alt="I forgot to ask if Rapids' fans called it "The Dick" " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4ovaBPtl5GtY6OTdgO6v4Kxj5Ss=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35456690/20140628_lbm_ad1_176.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>I forgot to ask if Rapids' fans called it "The Dick" | Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This week we sit down with UZ from Burgundy Wave, SBN's Colorado Rapids blog, about our annual fixture against the club that won the MLS Cup the year the Union came into the league.</p> <p><b>tBG) The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.burgundywave.com/">Colorado Rapids</a> are currently third in the Western Conference on the back of a stingy 1.1 goals conceded per game. What makes the defense such a strength, and what can be done to break it down?</b></p>
<p><b>BW) </b>Part of the reason the defense has been good is because <span>Pablo Mastroeni</span> has had his guys playing a defensive system similar to what we saw last year, when Oscar Pareja's Rapids had the second best season defensively in team history. They tend to play something that is often called a 4-4-2, but is really more of a 4-4-1-1, featuring two defensive midfielders in the middle to create a block of four with the center backs. That, along with the Rapids' love of holding onto the ball, allows them to collapse the defense when the other team has it as often as possible, which means fewer chances created -- their Achilles heel is along the wings -- and fewer goals conceded. But regardless of the tactics being used, the personnel is probably the biggest part of the success defensively for the Rapids. <span>Drew Moor</span> has quietly been one of the best CBs in the league for about six years now, <span>Shane O'Neill</span> and <span>Chris Klute</span> are both youngsters gunning for the US Men's National Team, and they have two very capable right backs in <span>Marvell Wynne</span> and Thomas Piermayr. Combine that good-looking starting group with a lack of major injuries in the back so far through the first half of the season and you've got a recipe for defensive success.<br><br><b>tBG) Colorado hasn't won on the road since defeating <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wakingthered.com/">Toronto FC</a> 1-0 back on April 12. What does the club need to do to prevent another long flight back to Denver?</b></p>
<p><b>BW)</b> That statistic is a bit misleading, since nearly all of Colorado's games since then have come at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, but it is undeniable that the Rapids' worst performances have come away from home this year. It's something of a mystery as to why that's the case, since all of those losses have come in vastly different ways. A lack of killer instinct early hurt them against Seattle in a game they ended up losing 4-1, hideous and uncharacteristic defensive mistakes killed them against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a>, and some really bad finishing turned a game that probably should have been a draw or win into a loss at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/">Real Salt Lake</a>. The Rapids are clearly a team that is still working on growing into themselves, being comprised of so many youngsters, and those kinds of things are always going to happen, and they've happened at DSGP as well. (See: That <span>Dillon Powers</span> pass against Columbus last weekend.) Really, the best way to win on the road for the Rapids is the same as the best way to win at home: play your best roster -- Mastroeni has been rightly criticized for way over-rotating his squad at times this season -- and hope that it's a good day for finishing instead of a bad one.<br><br><br><b>tBG) Our clubs don't play very often. Can you give the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/">Philadelphia Union</a> fans a sense of what to expect from the Rapids?</b></p>
<p><b>BW) </b>Funny enough, in the five years since the Union came into the league the Rapids have changed themselves identity-wise more times than they had in any other five-year period in the team's history, so I wouldn't blame a Union fan for not knowing quite what was going on out in Colorado. As it stands right now, the Rapids are in the midst of a successful youth revolution. 24 and under talents like <span>Deshorn Brown</span>, Dillon Powers, <span>Dillon Serna</span>, <span>Clint Irwin</span>, Chris Klute and Shane O'Neill began flooding into the team over the last two seasons and all of them have found their place in the starting XI or 18 since then -- they've also got some intriguing other youngsters on the team like <span>Carlos Alvarez</span>, Gale Agbossumonde, <span>Gabriel Torres</span> and <span>Charles Eloundou</span>. Since they're a young team with a young coach, it's somewhat hard to tell you what exactly to expect tactically, but you can probably bet on something resembling a 4-2-3-1 with Dillon Powers and Deshorn Brown at the center of the attack. The Rapids like to hold the ball as much as possible and create chances down the wings, with heavy emphasis on high runs from the fullbacks. The absolute biggest Achilles heel on the entire team is finishing, but they usually manage to create enough chances for themselves when things are clicking that they grab a goal or two out of it.<br><br>As for the rest of the culture surrounding the team, it's getting better than it might have ever been before. The newest front office to take over the team has done a wonderful job reaching out to fans, increasing season ticket numbers, slowly turning DSGP into a less generic and more homey stadium for the Rapids to play at, and generally making being a Rapids fan an exciting affair. The team got their highest ever point total last year, and look poised to break that record if they repeat their record from the first half of the season in the second. The Rapids are obviously still one of the less notable teams in MLS, and get talked about very little on the national level, but it looks like that might be in the process of changing very rapidly, and I think everyone in the Centennial State is pleased.</p>
<p>Predicted Lineup: 4-4-1-1: Clint Irwin; Chris Klute, Shane O'Neill, Drew Moor, Thomas Piermayr; Charles Eloundou, Nick Labrocca, <span>Jared Watts</span>, Dillon Serna; Dillon Powers; Deshorn Brown<br><br>Predicted Score: I could see this one fizzling out into a somewhat cruddy draw, unfortunately. Colorado on the road has been muddy at times, and both teams probably have a goal in them. 1-1.</p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/2014/7/11/5889147/opposite-view-three-questions-with-burgundy-waveEugene Rupinski2014-07-11T06:30:04-04:002014-07-11T06:30:04-04:00Match Preview: Union vs. Colorado Rapids
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<figcaption>wow deshorn how are you doing that where is the invisible string | Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Taking a look at how Deshorn Brown and Vincent Nogueira can alter their teams' performances.</p> <p>The Union, who have only lost one game in their last seven, will host the <a href="https://www.burgundywave.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Colorado Rapids</a> this weekend. The Rapids have recorded 26 points in 17 games: a number good enough for third place in the West. Philadelphia holds a 1-2-3 all-time record against Colorado, with the sole win coming in their last match-up.</p>
<h4>Brown Is Wild</h4>
<p><span>Deshorn Brown</span> is a pretty wild player in many senses of the word. The second-year forward and 2013 Rookie of the Year runner-up is one of the fastest guys in the league, and at 6'2, he's an aerial threat. He's an amazing athlete, but his efficiency is still a question mark. Brown has fired off 57 shots this season, the third most in the league.</p>
<p>His shot volume is remarkable, but his percentages are much less impressive. Of his 57 shots, only a third of them have been on target. Of the 27 players with at least 32 shots, Brown ranks 23rd in shots on goal percentage. His conversion rate--8.8%--is mediocre at best. While these numbers aren't, uh, great, they are an improvement from last season. While he is a handful for defenders across the league, Brown is not yet a polished scorer. Brown takes a little over four shots per game, and whether or not he can put them on goal will be crucial for the Rapids' success.</p>
<h4>No-gueira or Yes-gueira?</h4>
<p>Under John Hackworth, <span>Vincent Nogueira</span> was undoubtedly the team's best midfielder, and it could be argued that he's been the team's best player. He is third in MLS in completed passes, and fourth in attempted passes. Despite those numbers, he hasn't yet played under Jim Curtin. The Union have been slow to put him back in the team following a groin strain suffered in early June. Since Nogueira's injury, Mike Lahoud has performed admirably in his place, but there is no replacing Nogueira, who would undoubtedly have the most attempted and completed passes in MLS were it not for his injury. A central midfield pairing of Okugo and Nogueira could ensure that the Union's recent success continues throughout the remainder of the season</p>
<p>Yes, this is the heading I chose. Fight me.</p>
<h4>Prediction</h4>
<p>What happens when an in-form attack runs into a tight defense? No one wins. I'll spring for a 1-1 draw, with Le Toux and Deshorn Brown scoring the goals.</p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/2014/7/11/5889227/match-preview-union-vs-colorado-rapidsJohn Rossi