Philly Sports Jabronis
Report From Philadelphia Union
Chester, Pa. (May 10, 2014) – Philadelphia Union (1-5-5) fell to D.C. United, 1-0 Saturday afternoon at PPL Park. The Union now travel to face defending MLS Cup Champions Sporting Kansas City this Wednesday, May 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
A sixth minute goal from D.C. United’s Chris Rolfe proved to be the game winner. Taking a deflected cross down with his chest, Rolfe hit a volley past Zac MacMath, capping the 50th goal of his nine-year MLS career.
Philadelphia held edge in a majority of statistics, including attempts on goal, passing accuracy, and possession, but it wasn’t enough for a result as the club remained winless for its ninth straight match.
“You could tell there is frustration in every part of it,” Union manager John Hackworth said postgame. “We feel like we’re a much better team than our results are showing obviously. But yet even when we play well, as we did at the start of the game, somehow we give up a goal on their first shot and that’s just the way the season has gone for us. As coaches and players, our whole staff, our whole organization is definitely frustrated at this point.”
During that time, the Union continuously gave D.C. fits, and had many chances to pull one past United goalkeeper Bill Hamid. The biggest came in the 64th minute, when a shot on target from forward Andrew Wenger was saved by Hamid before being pounced on by forward Conor Casey and again saved by Hamid in a scramble in front of net.
“It was a good match and a good result for us,” said United and U.S. men’s national team forward Eddie Johnson. “But if I’m being honest, despite their record [the Union] were a very good team. We couldn’t come here and take these guys lightly; they played some good football and have been unfortunate in a lot of games. We knew we were going to be in for a tough battle and I’m proud of my teammates because Philly didn’t make it easy.”
Saturday’s match kicked off yet another three game in eight day stretch for the Union as the team travels to take on defending MLS champions in Sporting Kansas City (8:30 p.m. ET) followed by a return to PPL Park to host New England for the second time this season.
“I don’t think anyone is putting too much pressure on each other,” said goalkeeper Zac MacMath, postgame. “We always tell each other to relax and have fun out there and compete; and for the most part we did that. We are going to get a quick turnaround we’ll be in [to train on Sunday] and right now the mindset has to be focusing on getting three points in Kansas City.”
BOX SCORE
D.C. United 1, Philadelphia Union 0
Saturday, May 10; 4:00 p.m. ET
Chester, Pa.
PPL Park
SCORING SUMMARY
D.C.: Henry 57’ (Miller)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
D.C.: Kitchen 33’ (yellow)
D.C.: Korb 67’ (yellow)
D.C.: Arnaud 78’ (yellow)
UNION STARTING 11
MacMath, Fabinho, Okugo, Berry (Fernandes 83’), Gaddis, Edu, Carroll (Cruz 45’), Nogueira, Maidana, Wenger, Casey (Le Toux 73’).
UNITED STARTING 11
Hamid, Boswell, Fernandez, Parke, Korb, Rolfe, Neal (Caskey 75’), Arnaud, Kitchen, Espindola (Silva 88’), Johnson (Doyle 84’).
