Preseason match recap: Philadelphia Union 1 – 2 D.C. United in game one of Suncoast Invitational

Philadelphia Union failed to hold on to a draw against Eastern conference rival D.C. United and lost 2-1 at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida Saturday night after allowing a late goal. The match was the first of three as part of the Suncoast Invitational hosted by USL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies. The brief tournament serves as the last series of preseason matches for the Union as they prepare for the 2018 MLS season to begin March 3rd. Here’s a look back at game one of Suncoast Invitational

1st Half:

The scoring started in the 14th minute when D.C. United’s newly acquired Jamaican forward Darren Mattocks beat Union right back Ray Gaddis to a ball sent into the box by DC midfielder Zoltan Stieber for the game’s opening goal. Mattocks athletically outmaneuvered Gaddis and won better body position as the ball was sent in leaving little for starting goalkeeper John McCarthy to do to prevent the goal. DC perhaps noticed and subsequently exposed a mismatch early on.

The Union responded to the early setback well. Newcomer to the group, midfielder David Accam, utilized his speed effectively in transition which allowed several opportunities for an equalizing goal. Philadelphia nearly tied the mat up less than 10 minutes after DC’s goal when Accam forced United’s goalkeeper Steve Clark off his line. Accam dodged Clark and sent a shot towards net only to have it cleared away by United’s last man back, Steven Birnbaum.

After a slow start in which the Union sat back too much and absorbed the game’s action including a goal, Philadelphia sprang back and applied continuous pressure. Their closest chance at a goal in the first half came 30 minutes in. Union forward CJ Sapong forced the ref to call a penalty for Philadelphia. Sapong stepped up to take the PK but unfortunately could not convert. DC’s Clark got a hand on the shot which then hit off the crossbar and away from net. Missed opportunity for sure.

2nd Half:

After failing to tie up the affair before halftime, Philadelphia made two changes to start the second half. Keegan Rosenberry came on in place of Gaddis and Jay Simpson replaced Sapong. The Union continued the high pressure that worked so effectively the end the first half. Head Coach Jim Curtin decided he had seen enough from the collective starting unit after 60 minutes of play and prepared the bench for wholesale changes. In the 62nd minute Curtin yanked the starters and emptied the bench.

62' – We really like substitutions. Here goes:
Epps for Accam
Najem for Fontana
Creavalle for Bedoya
Picault for Herbers
Real for Fabinho
Jones for Medunjanin
Marquez for Trusty
Yaro for Elliott
McGuire for McCarthy

— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) February 17, 2018

The fresh legs created more pressure and chances soon followed for forward Jay Simpson. The Englishman showcased his footwork to create a chance on goal but ultimately missed the frame. That was the story for Simpson against DC: missing the frame. He found the right spaces in the box and fired off a couple shots but could not force the goalie to make a save. His lack of converting created chances was a bit frustrating.

Adam Najem played the #10 position after coming on for Anthony Fontana. Najem displayed the same precise passing skills and vision which helped him with Bethlehem Steel FC. He looked comfortable in the #10 spot connecting on passes in addition to sending dangerous crosses into the box. One of those crosses proved to be much too dangerous for DC to handle late in the match. In the 88th minute, Najem found some space and whipped the ball into the box and onto the head of Jamaican forward Cory Burke’s head and into the net. The Bethlehem connection was smooth and the Union tied it up at 1-1.

But only for a short period of time.

Center back for Philadelphia, Richie Marquez making a game-deciding error only minutes after Burke’s tying goal. He attempted a pass under pressure which ended up leading to a turnover and breakaway for DC United’s Luciano Acosta. Acosta netted the game-winner for DC. And that was the end.

Game two of Suncoast Invitational:

Philadelphia Union return to soccer action against Montreal Impact Wednesday in their second match of the Suncoast Invitational Tournament hosted by the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The match will take place at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater, FL.

Takeaways

Auston Trusty and Jack Elliot were the first center back pairing for Philadelphia. Both made zero glaring mistakes. The second grouping at center back Josh Yaro and Richie Marquez made a few mistakes. Yaro gave up a free kick only 20-30 yards away from net in the second half. And, well, Marquez did what he did.
I do not want to mention this – but I think my editor would be mad… CJ Sapong and the newly acquired David Accam were seen displaying some ‘not-so-positive’ body language towards each other. There, I mentioned it…
Cory Burke came on and produced multiple chances in the limited minutes he was provided with. I agree with him. I also think it’s going good so far.

https://twitter.com/PhilaUnion/status/965035709383036928

Philadelphia Union

John McCarthy; Raymon Gaddis (Keegan Rosenberry 45′), Jack Elliott (Joshua Yaro 62′), Auston Trusty (Richie Marquez 62′), Fabinho (Matthew Real 62′); Alejandro Bedoya (Warren Creavalle 62′), Anthony Fontana (Adam Najem 62′), Haris Medunjanin (Derrick Jones 62′); Fabian Herbers (Fafa Picault 62′), C.J. Sapong (Jay Simpson 45′) (Cory Burke 76′), David Accam (Marcus Epps 62′)

D.C. United

Steve Clark (Ousted 45′); Oniel Fisher, Steve Birnbaum, Frederic Brilliant (Opare 68′), Nick DeLeon; Junior Moreno (Durkin 45′); Yamil Asad (Acosta 45′), Zoltan Stieber, Ulises Segura, Paul Arriola; Darren Mattocks (Mullins 65′) (multiple subs occurred in 70th minute): Ian Harkes, Chris Odoi-Atsem, Bruno Miranda, Jalen Robinson, Jared Jeffrey