Everything but Nothing — Union settle for scoreless draw

Jim Curtin‘s squad was without 3 key starters as they welcomed Liga MX, and five-time Concacaf Champions Cup winner, Pachuca to Subaru Park to start their second-round matchup.

Los Tuzos, one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Mexico, combined with Philadelphia to provide plenty of fireworks, though I doubt either team will be satisfied with the result. Pachuca failed to get the away goal they were so desperately seeking and the Union failed to get a result at home and now must travel to Mexico needing a win or a draw while scoring.

What transpired down on the Chester Waterfront was a wildly entertaining nil-nil draw with both teams having plenty of chances yet failing to capitalize.

The Union, missing Julian Carranza for the second straight match, turned to a 4-3-1-2 with Daniel Gazdag and Mikkel Uhre up top. Uhre came out guns blazing and had two golden opportunities within the first twenty minutes. Both times Carlos Moreno came up with a big save for the Gophers. Pachuca, having weathered multiple storms early, started to find their footing as the first half went on and forced two saves from a returning Andre Blake.

Then just before the half, the Union found themselves potentially staring down another first-half deficit (we thought). Following a Philadelphia corner, Pachuca found themselves down in the attacking end. The ball found its way to Oussama Idrissi whose right-footed shot struck Nathan Harriel‘s right arm on the way towards goal. The referee pointed to the spot immediately and issued Harriel a yellow card. After two minutes of the usual soccer protests, Salomón Rondón stood holding the ball jawing with Andre Blake when the referee finally was called on by VAR. After going back into the build-up, it was determined that a handball by Pedro Pedraza led to Pachuca getting the scoring opportunity thus negating the penalty and Harriel’s yellow card.

The first half then strangely ended with the Union in the attacking half standing over a free kick that the referee never allowed them to take.

Pachuca rode a wave of momentum to start the second half and had the Union on their heels for the first twenty-plus minutes. The Philadelphia defense came up with some key blocks while Pachuca missed some shots wide and scuffed others to allow Philadelphia to maintain their clean sheet.

After a very uneasy first twenty-plus minutes, the Union finally had their first second-half chance in the 70th minute when Jack McGlynn forced a third save from Moreno. A couple of minutes later, Daniel Gazdag had an attempt that he fired high over the bar and that was basically the last of the Union offense for the night.

Andre Blake made a late save on Elías Montiel to keep the game scoreless and set up what should be a thrilling second leg in Pachuca, Mexico. That will take place at 8:15 EST Tues. March 12th at Estadio Hidalgo.

The Union will be in action again before the second leg, hosting the Seattle Sounders in MLS action on Saturday, March 9th at 7:30 pm.

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