Philly Sports Jabronis
Reports from Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union Sweeps Season Series Against Columbus
Columbus, Ohio – Philadelphia Union defeated Columbus Crew SC 2-1 Wednesday night in Columbus. The victory gives Philadelphia the three-game season sweep of Columbus this season. Philadelphia had their three first round draft picks in the 2016 draft start for the second time this season. The Union improved to 10-9-7 on the season. Philadelphia is back in action Saturday when they host Sporting Kansas City. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be televised on Comcast Network.
The first half show was stolen by the goalkeepers from each side. Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake made the save of the night in the 15th minute on Columbus’ Ethan Finlay. Justin Meram’s cross into the box missed the intended target and found a wide open Finlay in the box. Blake made a fantastic reaction save with the front of his body to keep the match scoreless.
Columbus keeper Steve Clark kept the Union frustrated in the first half with saves on two goal-scoring opportunities. Rosenberry created both chances, the first came in the 27th minute when he found Herbers in the box, but Clark denied the attempt. Four minutes later Rosenberry placed a perfect ball for Chris Pontius, but the headed effort was sent directly to Clark and the match remained scoreless after the first 45 minutes of play.
Philadelphia was able to break through in the 60th minute thanks to the No. 6 overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft Herbers. Tranquillo Barnetta started the play by delivering a pass to Pontius who was able to dribble into the attacking zone. Pontius sent a pass to Herbers who fired a shot attempt but was blocked by the Columbus defense. Herbers was able to retrieve his first shot and sent a second effort as he was falling down to beat Clark and give the Union a 1-0 lead.
Columbus was able to equalize the match in the 73rd minute after a foul call on Barnetta set up a free-kick opportunity. Federico Higuain delivered the effort into the box and found the head of Tony Tchani. Blake was able to push the shot upwards, but hit the crossbar allowing Adam Jahn to just barely put the ball just over line to tie the match at one.
The match was even at one for 62 seconds before MLS All-Star and Rookie of the Year Candidate Rosenberry buried home the go-ahead goal to give the Union a 2-1 lead. The goal was set up after Barnetta delivered a subtle pass to Rosenberry who took a shot off his left foot and found the back of the net. Columbus mounted a furious comeback effort in the final moments of match, but Philadelphia stood tall and came away with the 2-1 victory.
Philadelphia will have a quick turnaround as they look to continue their form this Saturday when they host Sporting Kansas City at Talen Energy Stadium Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be televised on The Comcast Network.
MATCH RECAP
Philadelphia Union 2, Columbus Crew SC 1
Mapre Stadium
Columbus, Ohio
FINAL MATCH STATS
Shots: 12-10 Columbus
Shots on Target: 5-4 Union
Possession: 58.3-41.7 Columbus
Passing Accuracy: 83-78 Columbus
Fouls: 11-11
Corners: 4-3 Columbus
Duels won: 56-43 Union
Tackles won: 13-9 Union
SCORING SUMMARY
PHI – Fabian Herbers 60’
CLB – Adam Jahn 30’
PHI – Keegan Rosenberry (Tranquillo Barnetta & Roland Alberg) 74’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
PHI – Alejandro Bedoya (yellow) 78’
PHILADELPHIA UNION STARTING XI
Andre Blake; Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Josh Yaro, Keegan Rosenberry; Warren Creavalle, Alejandro Bedoya; Chris Pontius (Charlie Davies 81’), Tranquillo Barnetta ©, Fabian Herbers (Roland Alberg 66’); C.J. Sapong
Substitutes not used: John McCarthy, Ray Gaddis, Walter Restrepo, Ken Tribbett, Leo Fernandes
COLUMBUS CREW SC STARTING XI
Steve Clark ; Hector Jimenez (Corey Ashe 68’), Nicolai Nauess, Michael Parkhurst ©, Harrison Afful; Tony Tchani, Will Trapp; Justin Meram, Federico Higuain, Ethan Finlay (Dilly Duka 63’); Ola Kamara (Adam Jahn 60’)
Substitutes not used: Brad Stuver, Tyson Wahl, Mohammed Saeid, Chad Barson
OFFICIALS
Allen Chapman (referee), Matthew Nelson (assistant), Andrew Bigelow (assistant), Nima Saghafi fourth)
ATTENDANCE
13,114
TEAM NOTES
Philadelphia won two road matches against the same club for the first time in club history.
Fabian Herbers has scored two goals in his professional career both have come against Columbus.
Keegan Rosenberry logged another 90 minutes, doing so for the 26th consecutive game in league play. He is the only player in MLS to play every minute.
Rosenberry recorded his second career goal.
The last time two rookies scored a goal in the same game was 10/05/13 Col. vs. Sea.
Union have recorded three wins on the road this season, third most in the Eastern Conference.
He’s only one of two players in all of MLS to play every single minute for his club.
Fellow rookie Josh Yaro made his 13th league appearance.
Fabinho made his 73rd start, tied for seventh in Union history.
Andre Blake and Cory Burke called up to Jamaican National Team for 2018 World Cup Qualifiers
MLS All-Star Blake has earned 18 international caps; Burke recalled to club
CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake and Bethlehem Steel FC striker Cory Burke have been called up to the Jamaican National Team for upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Panama and Haiti, the club announced today. Blake and Burke will be away on international duty from Aug. 30 through Sept. 7.
Blake, 25, is currently in his third professional season in MLS after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Union in the 2014 SuperDraft. He is the only player in MLS history to be selected No. 1 overall as a goalkeeper. Blake has started 31 career MLS matches and already amassed 109 saves. He also broke the franchise’s single-game record for saves (with 10 against New England Revolution on Sept. 26, 2015) and secured the franchise’s first ever win, both in Montreal (keeping a clean sheet over the Impact on Aug. 22, 2015), and Columbus (a 2-1 win on March 12, 2016). This season Blake was the starting goalkeeper in the 2016 MLS All-Star Game in San Jose, where he earned Sportscenter’s No. 1 play of the night with a save against English Premier League power Arsenal.
Blake’s call-up comes just months after he served as the starting goalkeeper in all three matches for Jamaica in the 2016 Copa America Centenario. He was a member of the Reggae Boyz for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where Jamaica finished as runners-up, as well as making his World Cup debut in 2018 qualifiers in September as Jamaica advanced over Nicaragua. He’s made 18 career appearances on the senior team with his first coming on March 2, 2014 against Barbados where he kept a clean sheet during a 2-0 win. Blake also backboned the team to the 2014 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup championship where they defeated Trinidad and Tobago in the finals.
Burke, 24, will be recalled to Jamaican National team, but has yet to make an appearance. Burke was a part of the club that traveled to Haiti last November. Burke joined Bethlehem Steel FC via loan on Feb. 17, 2016 from Rivoli United FC of the Red Stripe Premier League in his native Jamaica. From 2013-2015 Burke played for Rivoli United where he scored 12 goals and was the second-leading scorer in Jamaica’s Red Stripe Premier League in 2015-16 season. In 2014-15, he scored 11 goals making a total of 23 goals in the past two seasons, the third most in the league since the start of the 2014-15 campaign. Overall at Rivoli, Burke has scored 25 goals in three seasons.
The Reggae Boyz will take on Panama on Sept. 2 and Haiti on Sept. 6. in the semi-final round of the CONCACAF semi-final round World Cup qualifiers. Currently Costa Rica holds the top spot in Group B with 10 points, followed by Panama with seven, Jamaica holds the third slot with four and rounding out the group is Haiti with one point. Only two teams will advance out of Group B and into CONCACAF’s Fifth Round of World Cup Qualifying, better known as “The Hex”.
