This Saturday the Union played one of their most important games of this season against the Houston Dynamo. A win would have secured the Union’s fourth place position in the Eastern Conference while keeping Houston out of playoff position. Unfortunately the Union fell to the Dynamo, 1-0 and were pushed down to sixth place. The Union have been winless for a consecutive five games now and hope of the postseason is subsiding.
Blame can profoundly be put on coach John Hackworth and the lineup which he has played for the past five games. Even for this essential match, Hackworth put out the same starting eleven we’ve seen for the majority of the season, though he claimed dramatic changes would be made. This lineup that once seemed to work, has been without success recently. The problem seems to lie within the midfield which includes Sebastien Le Toux, Brian Carroll, Keon Daniel, and Danny Cruz. Although for the Houston game, Le Toux was played up top with Conor Casey and Fabinho took on the left midfield role.
Early on, the Dynamo brought tremendous energy and produced many goal scoring opportunities that the Union were lucky to have not let in. Then in the 30’ the Union were rewarded with a free kick from just outside the box. Taken by Keon Daniel, who lobbed the ball beautifully into the back left corner of the net. Seconds later, however, the goal was called off by the sideline official and ruled as offsides. Amobi Okugo, the one behind the last defenseman. Later on the referee declared that there was an obstruction of the goal keeper’s line of vision by Okugo which is an absurd and inaccurate call.
Then, in the 53rd, Houston was given a free kick which was taken by Brad Davis not far from the box. Davis sent a lofted ball into the box where midfielder Ricardo Clark was able to head the ball just out of Zac MacMath’s reach. Despite being down by one, the Union still had plenty of time to make a comeback.
In the 61st minute Jack McInerny was brought on for Danny Cruz, a substitution with potential. One thing Danny Cruz always brings to the game, under any circumstance is energy. He is one reliable player that will always try his hardest for the full ninety minutes. Sometimes the game plays out in his favor and his hard work pays off, and sometimes it doesn’t. This game was not working out for him. McInerny brings a lot to the table as well. Although scoreless for the past 12 games, he’s due for a goal, and once he gets it I’m positive he’ll get back into the swing of things. It’s apparent that his lack of confidence is preventing him from scoring goals. This game would have been the perfect one for him to make a comeback. Unfortunately he didn't. On a positive note, he did get his fair share of shots on goal.
In the end the Union were unable to get a goal to change the game and now find themselves fighting for a playoff position they worked hard for all season.
The question is, how many losses will it take for Hackworth to do something different with the starting lineup? It is strikingly noticeable that the Union lack creativity in the midfield. Midfielders like Keon Daniel make safe plays far too often. Arguably the most frustrating aspect is that there are brilliant options on the bench. Jose Kleberson and Roger Torres are two creative midfielders who when played, have proven to be effective but they never see the pitch. Exaggeration on Kleberson who holds a designated player salary, and is on loan with the team for only a year. His talent is being wasted on the bench. I see it nearly impossible to make it to postseason if Hackworth continues to play the same old lineup as he has recently been doing.
One particular player who has been nothing but incredible on the pitch is one of the Union’s more recent signings, Fabinho. He is exactly what the team needs, he’s proven to be an effective threat. With his continued hard work and accompanied by a creative midfielder like Kleberson the Union will definitely be a force to reckon with in their upcoming games.
