Although the Philadelphia Union have had difficulties closing out games in the past, captain Maurice Edu was confident when Philly stormed to a 2-0 lead just four minutes into Sunday’s Eastern Conference matchup with D.C. United at RFK Stadium.
“To be honest,” Edu said, “I thought we would get a third goal and finish the game off.”
The third goal did in fact come … but not for the team Edu plays for as D.C. United scored three unanswered goals to rally for a 3-2 come-from-behind victory and send Philly to yet another brutally painful loss in a season that’s already had plenty of them.
So what went wrong?
“Today we showed up in glimpses – a couple of good moments and a lot of bad moments,” Edu said. “Overall it wasn’t enough collectively. We zoned out on too many plays.”
The zoning out Edu referred to was primarily on tracking men in the box as D.C. United scored twice on crosses, including the 79th-minute game-winner from Fabian Espindola. The Union defense was also left flat-footed on Nick DeLeon’s game-tying goal 13 minutes earlier, which came on a wide-open rebound attempt right in front of the net.
“We didn’t do a good job holding on,” Curtin said. “It’s not for lack of effort. Guys played hard, they fight for everything. But, at the same time, we come up a little short in critical moments in the box … and we let ourselves down on the day.”
Curtin also lamented the fact that he had two of his best players – Vincent Nogueira and Fernando Aristeguieta – were getting ready to come into the game before D.C. United took the lead, but “the ball wouldn’t go out-of-bounds in that time” before the hosts scored the game-winner.
Also during that stretch, C.J. Sapong nearly put the Union ahead 3-2 but had a shot hit off the crossbar – which served as a painful reminder that luck hasn’t always been on his team’s side this season.
“That’s the way it’s gone for us this year,” Curtin said. “And now we have to bounce back from adversity again.”
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Although Sapong just missed scoring the potential winner, it was still a great night for the Union forward, who logged the fastest goal in Union history with an impressive turn-and-strike 21 seconds into the game – the seventh fastest goal in the league all-time. He also played a big role on Philly’s second goal and did a nice job holding the ball up all game.
In the end, though, it just wasn’t enough.
“All players know the two-goal lead is pretty much the most dangerous lead in soccer because one goal and they have the momentum,” Sapong said. “But I still think in some areas we could have locked down a little better. Personally, I feel like I could have put away an opportunity away, as well.
“I think in this last stretch of games, we have to be a little sharper, and we have to have a lot more heart if we want to make the playoffs.”
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him atdjzeitlin@gmail.com.
