Cucho Hernandez’s two goals push Union to brink of playoff elimination

Lower.com Field, in Columbus, Ohio, played host to the third contest in all competitions between the Philadelphia Union and Columbus Crew Saturday night and, by the end of the fixture, the Union no longer controlled their playoff destiny.

Jim Curtin’s visitors came in clinging to their playoff hopes, having dropped a valuable point in a 2-1 loss down in Orlando, FL Wednesday night. Orlando used two goals, seven minutes apart, early in the second half and held on late to beat Philadelphia 2-1. Quinn Sullivan had the lone goal in that one and it earned him the start Saturday night. The Union’s other two changes were Leon Flach and Nathan Harriel coming back into the starting eleven, replacing Jack McGlynn and Olivier Mbaizo, on the left flank and at right back, two spots the coach usually rotates.

On the other end of the spectrum, Wilfred Nancy’s Crew needed a bounce-back of their own. They were defeated 3-2 at home Wednesday, Inter Miami clinching the Supporters Shield on their turf in the process. Despite that, they entered this game looking to maintain the second seed and with the confidence of having beaten the Union in both previous contests this season, first 3-1 and then 1-0, a week apart in late August. That confidence would swell up even more early in this one.

With two minutes and forty-nine seconds showing on the clock, Dylan Chambost stood at the corner flag to \Andre Blake’s left and measured his corner-kick delivery. What he provided with his left foot was a beautiful in-swinger short of the near post. Cucho Hernandez was able to get away from the marking of Danley Jean Jacques, and in front of Nathan Harriel, to deliver a forceful header low and just inside the near post. The ball was in the back of the net before Andre Blake or anyone else could blink and the Union’s task became that much more difficult.

Columbus looked to double the lead shortly after, late in the 6th minute. Hernandez was at the edge of the box to Blake’s right and chipped a cross into the area for Ramirez to meet with his noodle. He went down low to the ground to meet it and the header was a good one, Blake springing up with his left hand to push over the bar. With that, you got the sense Philadelphia was in trouble.

Andre Blake and the Union were under constant attack, with Blake forced to make another save on a long-range Cucho strike in the 10th minute before the Union finally got a partial chance from Quinn Sullivan.

Off the following Columbus corner, Blake got a punch to the ball and the Union were able to clear out to near midfield. The clearance came down and bounced high in the air, allowing Sullivan time to get onto it. He chested the ball forward, took a few strides to catch up with it, and let fly with an attempt to catch Patrick Schulte off his line. It was hit well but just went over the crossbar, skimming the top, and back of the net as it went over. Two fewer strides and the game may have had a different complexion.

Quinn Sullivan was at the center of things for Philadelphia again in the 23rd minute, this time leading to the equalizer.

Darlington Nagbe was dispossessed inside the Union half by Leon Flach. Sullivan gathered the ball in and threaded the needle a good thirty yards to Daniel Gazdag, the ball dropping right onto his thigh between two defenders. Gazdag took the pass down and attempted to dip inside on his right foot before being taken down right at the top of the box.

Kai Wagner and Jack Elliott both gathered at the ball, presenting a left and right foot option for Schulte to consider. Elliott got the call and powered a low drive through the wall. Schulte saw it late but was able to push it away from the far corner with a strong left hand. Dejuan Jones gave a great defensive effort to keep Tai Baribo from an easy, rebound tap-in yet it was unfortunate that his header away fell right to Nathan Harriel. Harriel spiked the ball off the ground towards the far corner, giving Tai Baribo a shout to move as he was approaching to hit the rebound. Sound advice from the right-back as he watched the ball skip between the outstretched right leg and arm of Schulte for the tie. I would say that goal pissed off Columbus although it was hard to tell because they had dominated most of the play anyway.

Despite being overwhelmed by the Crew for most of the first half, it was beginning to look like Philadelphia was going to get to the break-all-even. That is when Columbus paid the pressure off a second time, Mohamed Farsi the lead man this time.

Farsi had Kai Wagner 1v1 at the top corner of the box, to Blake’s left, and began pushing inside on the pitch. Farsi’s push centrally forced Jack Elliott to step forward and opened a channel for him to play Diego Rossi in on goal. Andre Blake came up with a huge save on Rossi with his right cleat. Harriel reacted quickly enough to keep the rebound away from Dejuan Jones for an easy tap-in but his intervention sent the ball right back onto the left foot of Farsi. From about ten yards out, all the Algerian needed to do was hit the target and he did just that. That goal stung the visitors and, instead of going into halftime on a high note, now were chasing the game a second time against an eleven that could create an attack out of thin air.

Philadelphia continued to just hang around in the second half and, as time progressed, I started to wonder if they may find a way to steal an undeserved point. Cucho decided he wanted nothing to do with that outcome and delivered, what appeared to be at the time, the dagger.

Similar to his opening goal, this one came off a corner kick to Blake’s left also. Hernandez made a very similar run and once again was able to get inside Bedoya and Harriel. The difference this time was he was able to meet it more central on the pitch and, instead of driving the header home, he was able to flick this one to the far corner, again Blake virtually helpless.

Off the restart, Philadelphia planted a seed of doubt back into Columbus’ mind immediately. The Union tried to play Sullivan down the right side but it was cut out. Philadelphia’s Wagner was able to step in and dispossess Columbus in front of midfield and press towards the Crew goal. As he approached the top of the eighteen, he was spun around and the ball came off his foot. Fortunately for Philly, the ball stopped dead right there and McGlynn became Jack-in-the-box. He was able to step right into his left-footed blast and the Union were right back in the hunt. McGlynn would continue his best to try and pull the squad level but his two efforts late were unable to hit the back of the net.

The Union now must pull three points out from their final contest against FC Cincinnati and get help to keep their playoff streak alive. Gametime is 6:00 pm EST on October 19th from Subaru Park in Chester.

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