Real Salt Lake Wash Union’s Unbeaten Ranks
Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Union
Real Salt Lake used a 34th-minute Andres Gomez goal and an 88th-minute goal-of-the-year candidate from Alexandros Katranis to become the first team to take three points from the Philadelphia Union.
The last time we saw the Philadelphia Union play a game was two weeks ago when they used two second-half goals to cap off a thrilling come-from-behind draw with Atlanta United. The rest may prove beneficial in the long run, but tonight rust prevailed.
Fresh off a bye week and playing in front of the Subaru Park faithful, the Union came out with plenty of legs. They created chances and attacked using some good combination passing but were always lacking the last piece. Julian Carranza had a header deflected away, Quinn Sullivan forced a save from Zac MacMath and the RSL defense blocked multiple shots before their attack took its opportunity.
At the 33:36 mark, Daniel Gazdag was whistled for a grab of the jersey just outside the Union’s attacking 18-yard box. Eight seconds, a few passes, and a fortuitous hop, later, Cristian Arango was running at Kai Wagner and the Union backline. He played off to Gomez, on his right, who took one touch with his right foot and fired. Falling to his right, Andre Blake parried the shot at him, with two hands, straight up into the air. Before he could regain his footing, the ball spun itself out of the air and down into the net.
Philadelphia did respond with urgency yet had nothing to show for it. Jack McGlynn and Alejandro Bedoya both missed chances wide before the Union went into the break one nil down.
In the 50th minute, some good work by Julian Carranza, some hustle, and a beautiful backheel helped get the game level. Carranza was able to win and hold the ball at the top of the box before passing off. The ball eventually got back to Jack McGlynn whose shot struck Daniel Gazdag on the way to goal. Quinn Sullivan was able to beat the defender and MacMath to the ball. His cross found Gazdag who smoothly shielded the defender with his body and back-heeled the ball into the open goal with his left foot.
On this night, the late-game magic went against the Union as their failure to capitalize on opportunities early came back to bite them late. In the 89th minute, RSL won a free kick just inside the Union defensive half of the field. Jakob Glesnes headed the free kick away but right to Katranis thirty yards from goal. He touched it out of the air with his left boot and, off the bounce in the next motion, rainbowed a shot into the far corner over and past a diving Andre Blake. I’m still not positive if the quality of the strike or the impending result had the Philadelphia crowd in silence but they were left in silence.
This game is the first in MLS play that the Union have lost. However, the feeling that, with a little more precision and quality, the Union could still be unbeaten is probably gnawing at more than a few fans, this writer included. Jim Curtin‘s team will have to dust themselves off quickly. This Tuesday, April 30th, the rescheduled match between the Seattle Sounders and the Philadelphia Union will take place at Subaru Park, resuming in the sixth minute from their March 9th rainout. Kickoff time will be at 7:30 PM EST.
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