Union vs. Dynamo

October 30th at 5 PM, it's 45 degrees out and I wouldn't want to be anywhere but Chester, PA to see the Union's first ever playoff game. The Union have come a long way since their inagural season last year, when they finished in the bottom three of the league, now they're in the top three in the east. There was an electricity through out the stadium moments before the first kick, but Houston took some of that away early in the game. Houston took an early lead from a header by Andre Hainault in the 5th minute from around eight yards out, set up by Brad Davis' indirect kick. But Philadelphia did not take long to strike back. Two minutes later Sebastian Le Toux scored the equalizer from a beautiful cross by Michael Farfan straight to the left foot of the French man. But Houston's offense was persistent and eventually took the lead in the 30th minute with a through ball from Brian Ching to Calen Carr who slipped past the defense and took a shot that passed an advancing Mondragon. Carr scored the final goal of the match but the intensity was far from over. Houston came out more aggressive than the Union, and controlled the ball in the first half, the second half was a different story. Peter Nowak put changed his lineup to be more offensive by putting Miglioranzi up at midfield and then eventually subbing him out for Jack McInerney. The Union got the crowd back into the game by staying on the attack. Sebatian Le Toux nearly tied the game with a free kick in the 54th minute just outside the box, but was eventually kicked out after a scrum. But on video replay there is a blatant hand ball on Houston, Le Toux said after the game that it was an obvious hand ball and should have been a penalty shot. The rest of the match went a lot like Le Toux's free kick, the Union coming very close to tying the game but just missing the net, and the referee's making more than questionable calls. I do have to give some credit to Houston's defense, who the Union couldn't place many balls past their tall defenders, and their Keeper who had to make some miraculous saves. It's a lame excuse to blame the referee's not making calls for a loss, but the referee's had a direct impact on Sunday's game. The problem was that they were so inconsistent, someone who falls down in a contest for the ball gets a whistle and a possible card, while there were muggings in the box which went uncalled. Another thing that the referee's failed to call was a dive. Late in the game there was a collision and a Houston player goes down. He stays down for a while and the referee blows the whistle to get him off the field, which took around 30-50 seconds. Once the player was on the sideline, he is up and ready to get back in the game. This is one of the main reasons why Americans are resistant to watching soccer, the MLS should find a way to discipline players who fake injuries to waste time. The NFL fined a player a substantial amount of money in the beginning of the season for faking an injury to stop the clock, the MLS and FIFA should create a policy to stop these "floppers." It would definitely get more American fans, and more fans world wide. But at the end of the day the Union are down one goal in this aggregate playoff and need to win by two goals in Houston on Thursday. In order for the Union to advance to the next round is simple, score! The defense for the Union has been solid all season, for the most part, if they keep the momentum and lineup they had in the second half of Sunday's game then they've got a good shot at winning. The Union usually come alive late in the game, and especially when they are fighting from behind. They just need to treat the next 90 minutes like the last 30 minutes of a regular season game.

Winning

After a long and brutal two win less months, the Union pulled off a must win against the first place Crew. Philadelphia's defense came up big in the game, the Crew have a great offense with Andres Mendoza who has the third most goals scored in the MLS at ten. The Union hit the ground running at the start of the first half, applying pressure and getting shots on net. The struggle to find a goal ended early when Roger Torres sent in a beautiful ball in for an open Le Toux. Le Toux sent a shot that slipped past William Hesmer, Columbus' keeper, in the 32nd minute. Which was all the Union needed to break their win less streak. There were other chances for the Union to extend their lead. In the 42nd minute Le Toux had the ball down on the Crew's end-line, passed it to the young Zach Pfeffer who ripped a shot as he turned toward the goal but was covered up by Hesmer, the Union's best chance at making it a 2-0 game. Columbus battled back, especially late in the game in stoppage time. But Philadelphia's defense held up and Zac Macmath staid strong in the box and was able to pick up his first MLS win. A huge win for the Union, and a great game for Le Toux, showing that he is back to being the offensive power he was last season. The Union are now only two points behind Columbus, and one point behind Kansas City, who happen to be the Union's next opponent tomorrow night in Kansas Cities brand new stadium. A tough road test with playoff implications on the line.

Union vs. Timbers Pregame

The Union pulled off a great comeback against the Revolution on Wednesday, they showed resilience by scoring three goals in the second half to tie the game 4-4. The Portland Timbers will not give up as easily. Portland is fighting for a playoff spot and one of the teams in the way is the Philadelphia Union. The Timbers have a lot of young talent and are coming off of a two game win streak, and a 17 day rest. While the Union haven't won a game in their last seven contests. In order for the Union to come away with a win, and to get back into the top two spots in the east, there defense needs to step up. The first and third goal scored by New England were uncontested headers, both set up by Chris Tierney. Giving rookie keeper Zac Macmath very little help. This was done by one of the worst teams in the league, so what is the playoff contending team going to do to Philadelphia. However, there is a ray of sunshine for the Union. Sebastian Le Toux scored two goals last game, and Freddy Adu got his first goal in the MLS since 2007. This leads me to believe that we might be seeing the Le Toux from last year, who led the team in goals. I would also like to see Peter Nowak start Adu and Mwanga, and keep them in for the full 90 minutes, they looked very in sync against the Revolution. If the Union can get an early lead I think they've got a good shot at winning, the Timbers are 1-8-3 on the road and if the Union can get on the board first that might break their backs. But, with putting Mwanga in the first half the defense will have to be strong. Macmath isn't the greatest keeper in the world but even Mondragon would have had a tough time saving some of those goals.

Deer in the Headlights to Late Game Thrills

My prediction for this game did not go as planned. Zac Macmath was not the keeper that I had expected, and the Union's offensive power was almost nonexistant. To the young keepers credit the first goal for the Revolution in the 9th minute by A.J. Soares, was uncontested. Tierney sent the cross in from the right side of the field and Soares came running through the defense, and heading the ball past the Macmath, with no one marking him up. Things went from bad to worse for the rookie. In the 21st minute New England was awarded a penalty kick off a questionable call, and Rajko Lekic made Macmath jump right and then burried the ball down the middle. It wasn't over either, Chris Tierney made the Union pay again from his passes. Chris crossed the ball from left to right straight to the head of unmarked Moncef Zerka in the 25th minute giving the Union a three goal defficet a little over halfway through the first half. But relief did come, three minutes later the Union push the ball into the "Revs" territory and Rogger Torres sends a beauty of a shot into the upper left 90 past the keeper to get the Union on the board. The excitement of the  Union's first goal was short lived. In the 33rd minute Benny Feilhaber ripped a shot from the eighteen yard line and passes by Macmath to the far left post. The first half ends with the Union having the majority of the scoring chances, especially from fan favorite Sebastian Le Toux. The Revolution were just more affective on their attacks. Coach Peter Nowak decided to keep the young keeper in and put Danny Mwanga into the game. The Union came into the second half firing on all cylinders. It only took until the 53rd minute for the Union to cut the deficit in half. Danny Mwanga gives a nice pass to his left to Freddy Adu who sent his first Union goal past Matt Reis, the "Revs" keeper. The union kept the pressure going on until they were awarded a penalty kick on a questionable call against Le Toux. But Sebastian takes advantage of the situation and puts a curve to the left, fooling the keeper. The "Revs" came back strong, nearly putting the game away, Macmath came up with a big save in the 82nd minute. Revolution's substitute Pat Phelan went down for five minutes late in the second half, he eventually walked off the field once the stretcher came out, but because of this there were seven minutes of stoppage time. Early in the added time Le Toux scored the equalizer out of mid air, inside the eighteen yard box. Making the final score 4-4. An amazing comeback by the young team, but I am still not satisfied. The Union at one point were the second best team in the east, and before this last game they were fourth. The Revolution are in last place in the East. With Adu and Le Toux getting on the board this shows that Philadelphia can be an offensive power. The Union play the Timbers this Saturday, and Zac Macmath will have a much bigger test against Portland than in New England.

The Philadelphia Union take on the New England Revolution tomorrow night at eight PM in Chester, PA. The Union took a huge hit with the loss of all-star keeper Faryd Mondragon. Mondragon fractured his right finger during his last game against Real Salt Lake. He was taken out of the game at halftime and rookie, Zac Macmath, came in the second half to make his MLS debut. The 'rook' had three saves in his first forty five minutes of action in a 2-1 loosing effort in Salt Lake City. Despite this being Macmath's first game as a starter, he has been taught very well by Mondragon. Faryd and Macmath have been reviewing game footage of goals, in order to figure out how they could have been stopped, or if it was a blunder on the defensive part. The Revolution have not played a game in the last seventeen days, which is a club record. New England is in last place in the east, which gives the Union better odds as long as they can keep the ball in New England's half and get quality shots on net. Also, with Freddy Adu getting more and more playing time with the team, and Le Toux getting his first non PK goal of the season, I expect a possible offensive resurgence. The Revolution also have a goal differential of -13, while the Union have the best goal differential in the east. I'm expecting a high scoring win for the union tomorrow night.