For the Philadelphia Union, Saturday’s game against the LA Galaxy followed a familiar script. For the first part of the opening half, the team looked sharp and created chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. Then, almost without warning, the wheels came tumbling off.
That’s what happened in three-goal losses in Columbus and Vancouver earlier this season, and that’s what happened again at the StubHub Center as the Galaxy poured it on in a 5-1 rout. The five goals matched a franchise record for the most goals the Union have ever allowed.
“Everyone has to take a good hard look in the mirror when you get outplayed like that,” Union head coach Jim Curtin said. “It starts with myself.”
Despite missing several players to injury, with some key absences in the attack, the Union pushed the pace for the first 20 minutes. Their best scoring opportunity came in the 12th minute when Maurice Edu hit one just high off a Cristian Maidana corner kick.
But the Galaxy wrested away control midway through the first half, when they took advantage of a rough touch from Richie Marquez to score their first goal and acres of space in the midfield to score the second.
The Union never recovered from that 2-0 halftime deficit.
“We need to stick together a little better when we [allow] a goal,” Union winger Andrew Wenger said. “We crumbled a bit. It didn’t go well.”
It certainly did not, as the Galaxy scored three more times after the break, including a beautiful Gyasi Zardes volley on a world-class cross from Robbie Keane in the 56th minute.
That goal, like some of the others, came on a counter following a Union giveaway -- which certainly bothered Curtin. The Union head coach still made sure to tip his hat to a brutally efficient LA attack.
“You let a good team like the Galaxy get good looks around goal, they punish you,” Curtin said. “They were on fire tonight. They beat us soundly. … We were outclassed tonight in all ways.”
Curtin added that his team doesn’t “have time to feel sorry for ourselves” as they host Seattle on Wednesday.
And they’ll certainly be glad to return home. Following Saturday’s drubbing, their road record dropped to 1-2-6 – and they’ve been outscored by a 22-11 margin in those games.
“This is a wakeup call,” midfielder Brian Carroll said. “The good thing is we have a quick turnaround and we get to play Seattle at home.”
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.
