The Union will have a quick turnaround from their 2-0 defeat to Sporting Kansas City Wednesday night, and will face Montreal on Saturday at PPL Park. It was an emotional loss for the Union and their supporters.
Despite playing the more attractive and attacking soccer, the Union fell victim to a header from Jacob Peterson that snuck in past the fingertips of Zac MacMath. It was harsh for the young goalkeeper, who was distraught after the game. He felt that he should have made the save, and one cannot help but think of how this will affect him going forward. In the 93rd minute, with MacMath pushing up for a corner, Graham Zusi launched a long shot attempt at the empty net. It found its target, and the final ended 2-0.
After the match, there was a lot of controversy about SKC’s tactics. Manager John Hackworth was clearly annoyed at their park-the-bus and fouling techniques, but chose to take the high road. He maintained that SKC respected their offense enough to employ such tactics, which is believable since the Union beat SKC two weeks ago 4-0.
However, the rue didn’t end there. Social media was ablaze with fans from both teams calling each other into question. Kei Kamara’s frequent theatrics were criticized, as was SKC’s physical mentality. Together, the teams combined for an astonishing thirty-four fouls.
However, let’s take a step back here and give SKC credit. They recognized that what they did two weeks ago didn’t work and changed their game plan. Peter Vermes outcoached John Hackworth, and SKC showed maturity that simply wasn’t there for the Union. Overall, it was a great run from Philly, and hopefully they can use this experience to get even further next year.
Now, they must put their USOC loss behind them and focus on moving up the table. Saturday, the team directly above them comes to town, which presents a perfect opportunity to gain ground. This will be the first ever meeting between expansion side Montreal and Philadelphia. Here are a few interesting storylines surrounding this game.
Zac MacMath’s Recovery: As I mentioned earlier, Zac was very disappointed at letting in Peteron’s goal on Wednesday. The last time he made a bad error, it affected him for a few games. This cannot happen versus Montreal, who have shown that they have the ability to pour in the goals. Zac needs to be confident in his play, and needs to come up big for the Union Saturday.
Union Offense vs. Montreal Defense: The front line of the Union has come to life in the last month, with McInerney, Hoppenot, and Adu all scoring in bunches. Meanwhile, the Montreal defense hasn’t exactly been lock down. In their last six games, they have let up fourteen goals. No wonder they recently signed some defensemen. If they can’t contain the Union, L’Impact could be in for a long night.
Homecoming for Wenger and Valentin: I couldn’t resist this one. Two of Montreal’s most exciting young players are returning to their childhood homes for this game. Both are from the same town of Lancaster, a little over an hour from PPL Park. Ironically, Lancaster is my hometown, and I grew up a few blocks from #1 overall draft pick Andrew Wenger. I’ve known the Wengers for a long time, and I’m sure they are excited for him to return. The question is, will he play? He has struggled to get consistent minutes, though Valentin has been a staple at right back for the Impact. Regardless of playing time, they will be glad to be back home.
Roger Torres: The diminutive midfielder is still recovering from an injury suffered in April, but the fan favorite made his return last week against Toronto. Can he get some playing time against another Canadian foe? It might help if the Union build a big lead so he can come on later, for he is not match fit. Despite that, the fan base and the organization are happy to have him at their disposal once more. He is one of the few creative and attacking midfielders they have, and may prove to be pivotal in Philly’s fight for a playoff spot.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
