Photo: Marjorie Elzey
The Union came from behind Saturday evening in the capital to salvage a point against D.C. United, after a frightening first half and coming off back-to-back losses at home.
The Union’s lineup differed slightly from what they’ve started with in earlier matches this season, including Leon Flach at the midfield. Having been injured for most of this year, Flach saw his first nod to the starting lineup since August 30. Additionally, Andrew Rick saw the bench for the first time with a first-team contract due to a lingering knee injury for Andre Blake. The Union consumed his fourth and final short-term call-up on Tuesday’s rescheduled match against Seattle.
Philadelphia hangs on by a thread through the first
In the ninth minute, Flach gave the ball up on a turnover and remained out of position for D.C.’s Cristian Dájome to open the scoring off of a cross. Flach’s position and ball retention in the first half failed to live up to the expectations of a player praised to be of national team quality.
Julián Carranza received a yellow card for a foul on an attacking corner in the 20th minute. Being his fifth of the season, he is suspended for their next match due to yellow card accumulation.
D.C. dominated possession for most of the half, moving the ball around outside of the box in hopes of finding another opening. Damien Lowe held the line at center back to clear multiple aerial balls aimed at Christian Benteke.
Jack McGlynn won the ball at midfield and dribbled to the outside of the 18 to draw a foul. Carranza hit the bar on the free kick, narrowly missing the equalizer in the 30th minute.
Three minutes later, Jakob Glesnes and Nate Harriel were beaten by Jacob Murrel, who scored his first goal for D.C. United from outside the box.
Alejandro Bedoya got one back for Philly in the 42nd minute off of a restart from Wagner. D.C. goalkeeper Alex Bono was stepped on by one of his defenders in the aftermath, holding his leg.
On a foul from behind, Flach received a yellow card. Lowe also picked up a yellow for poor sportsmanship after kicking the ball away. The Union went to the locker room at halftime with a chance to get even.
Second Half
Coming out in the second half, Quinn Sullivan caught Bono off his line and tried to chip him. The keeper got a hand to it and sent it over the crossbar for a corner.
Aside from that, Philadelphia’s attacking play didn’t connect in the earlier minutes of the second half. Crosses coming from Bedoya in the wing found the feet of D.C. defenders, and Carranza’s shots were easily blocked.
Carranza narrowly avoided a second yellow in the 68th minute for a foul at midfield, directly in front of the fourth official.
Harriel had a brilliant defensive header in the 72nd minute, sparing the Union from falling down another goal. José Martínez, tasked with clearing the ball from the box, was stepped on by Dájome shortly after entering the match. He remained on the sideline for two minutes, per the new league rule.
McGlynn equalized in the 79th minute with his magical left foot, finding the upper 90 from well outside the box. Had it not been for this clean strike finding the back of the net, Philly likely would’ve faced their third loss in eight days.
Three Points:
- Leon Flach’s Return: He played exactly like someone who hasn’t seen the field since November. He will need to improve greatly over the next few weeks to get back into form and relieve an aging Bedoya from playing 90-plus minutes.
- Continuing to Conceed: It’s frustrating to see the Union give up multiple goals against a team they’ve outscored so drastically in the last few years. For a team that used to live on clean sheets, poor communication in the defensive third is having a strong negative impact. Can the Union regain their defensive form, or will they be shopping for defensive-minded players this summer?
- Homegrown Success: Harriel played well on both sides of the ball tonight. He shut down Benteke completely and made several runs into the box. Meanwhile, McGlynn’s goal saved the Union a point on the road.
Lineups
Philadelphia
Oliver Semmle, Kai Wagner, Damien Lowe, Jakob Glesnes, Nathan Harriel, Jack McGlynn, Alejandro Bedoya, Leon Flach (José Martínez 66’), Quinn Sullivan (Mikeal Uhre 66’), Daniel Gazdag, Julián Carranza
Unused subs: Andrew Rick, Jack Elliott, Jesús Bueno, Jeremy Rafanello, Tai Baribo, Chris Donovan
D.C. United
Alex Bono, Cristian Dájome (Kristian Fletcher 85’), Lucas Bartlett, Christopher McVey, Aaron Herrera, Matti Peltola, Mateusz Klich, Jackson Hopkins (Steven Birnbaum 74’), Jared Stroud, Jacob Murrell (Ted Ku-Dipietro 64’), Christian Benteke
Unused Subs: Matai Akinmboni, Tyler Miller, Gabriel Piriani, Martín Rodríguez, Pedro Santos, Garrison Tubbs
Scoring Summary:
DCU: Cristian Dájome– 9’’
DCU: Jacob Murrel– 33’
PHI: Alejandro Bedoya– 42’
PHI: Jack McGlynn– 79’
Discipline Summary:
PHI: Julián Carranza– 20’
PHI: Damien Lowe 45’+2
PHI: Leon Flach– 45’+2
DCU: Ted Ku-Dipietro– 92’
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
I think Jim outthought himself tonight.
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I actually like McGlynn in a deeper role like we’ve seen with the YNT… but on this team he was too deep and on that first gol against… well we see his deficits in understanding defending.
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He could have rescued one of two runners possibly breaking up the run of play and tracked neither winding up in a Bermuda Triangle of his own making. Then that wonder strike which was rising the whole way only to knuckle at the last moment and duck the bar killing 2 spiders in the corner and saving a point.
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Poor Uhre. I feel bad for the lad. He’s not what I think I thought he was and I’m unsure he thinks he thought he should be better too.
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I have a question for you all. Who’s the smartest player in the field?
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Alejandro Bedoya. Why is he not the 6 in Jose’s absence. Leaves me very curious.
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We toil in 10th place. A point here and there. Miami scoring gols with former world class players like bullies picking off the unathletic kids in an 80’s dodgeball circle….by the way in my worldview you have to be playing against the best to be World Class.
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Night all.