Photo: Paul Rudderow
Despite conceding the opening goal while being up a man, the Union stole a road point from Toronto FC courtesy of Jack McInerney’s stoppage time equalizer.
Looking leggy and overwhelmed from the opening whistle, the Union spent the majority of the first half under siege, until Doneil Henry’s 40th minute ejection took the hosts down to 10 men.
Toronto still looked the better side despite the numerical disadvantage, and Jonathan Osorio grabbed the opener when he headed home Jeremy Brockie’s cross in the 66th minute. Down a goal, the Union continued to lack the impetus to attack, but McInerney again put himself in the right place to break Toronto’s hearts, shooting inside the far post in second half stoppage time.
First Half
A week removed from conceding five goals in Montreal, John Hackworth named an identical lineup, with the majority of the side having featured against Ocean City in the Open Cup on Tuesday as well.
Steven Caldwell dispelled any notions that the match would be played in a better spirit than the match at PPL Park when he felled Zac MacMath with an elbow to the face in the second minute. Toronto was the aggressor throughout the opening minutes with both Robert Earnshaw and Luis Silva probing the Union back line.
Jeff Parke did well to snuff out a run from Silva after he had skipped by Sheanon Williams and Amobi Okugo’s sliding tackle prevented an easy tap-in for the dangerous Toronto striker.
The Union were forced into an early change when Kleberson limped off to be replaced by Keon Daniel after only a quarter of an hour.
Daniel nearly had an impact on the match, playing Le Toux in behind in the 20th minute, but his shot clipped off the top of the cross bar.
With Toronto pressing forward tempers began to flare in the Union end. First, Brian Carroll earned the first yellow card for a professional foul on Jeremy Hall, before MacMath and Doneil Henry got into it moments later. When MacMath slid out to claim the ball at the edge of his box, he looked to outlet quickly, only to be stopped by Henry sticking his boot in on the Union keeper. Rightfully infuriated, MacMath shoved Henry, earning himself a booking along with the Toronto defender.
The Union nearly had McInerney in behind when Danny Cruz stole the ball in midfield, but his pass took McInerney well wide of his intended run and the chance went begging.
At the back, the Union were doing just enough to sort out the flood of red shirts racing into the box and after a 35th minute scramble in the box, MacMath did just enough to swat away a chipped effort from Ryan Richter.
In the 40th minute, Cruz pounced on a loose ball and drove at net where he was tackled late from Henry. Referee Geoff Gamble took a long time to make his decision, but correctly sent off Henry, leaving the Union 50 minutes to find a winner up a man.
Second Half
With Silva sacrificed for Ashtone Morgan, Toronto dropped back into a defensive shell, allowing the Union to gain the possession they lacked in the first half.
But despite spending more time on the ball, Philadelphia failed to create any clear cut chances and the first goal-scoring opportunity of the half fell to Toronto. In the 56th minute, Parke mistimed Morgan’s delivery into the box, missing his header and allowing it to fall to Earnshaw. Fortunately for the Union, the Welshman’s strike was deflected out of play by Parke, who knew very little about the shot.
Five minutes later, Toronto nearly grabbed the opener again when Caldwell out-jumped Okugo, heading Bobby Convey’s free kick just over the bar.
It was hard to tell which side was playing down a man with the Union continuing to concede possession in midfield, and it was a Farfan turnover that set the table for Toronto’s opener. Trying to play out of the back, Farfan left the ball at the feet of Hall, who quickly played Brockie in behind Parke. Getting to the endline, his cross was perfectly weighted for Jonathan Osorio who beat Williams to the ball, burying his header in the back of the net.
With the Union struggling mightily to keep hold of the ball in midfield, the best reply they were able to muster came via Farfan, whose curling effort flew well high and wide of Joe Bendik’s back post.
Chippy fouls from both side kept the Union from finding an attacking rhythm as the match wore on, with the best chances coming from McInerney whose toe poke failed to trouble Bendik after 59th minute substitute Conor Casey’s knockdown header.
With time on Toronto’s side, the Union threw numbers forward in search of a late equalizer. And as he has done so often this season, Jack McInerney obliged in providing his side a goal when they needed it. Though the Union could not get a head to Williams’ long throw, Hall’s clearing header was unconvincing and fell to an unmarked McInerney. Taking the ball down and settling himself, McInerney rolled a low shot through the chaos of bodies and inside the back post to save the Union’s blushes and condemn Toronto to an 11th straight match without a victory.
The Union return home to face Columbus Crew on Wednesday at PPL Park (7:30pm: CSN, Direct Kick, MLS Live).
Philadelphia Union
Zac MacMath; Sheanon Williams, Amobi Okugo, Jeff Parke,Ray Gaddis; Michael Farfan (Antoine Hoppenot ’71), Brian Carroll, Kleberson (Keon Daniel ’16), Danny Cruz; Jack McInerney, Sebastien Le Toux (Conor Casey ’59)
Unused substitutes: Chris Konopka, Matt Kassel, Chris Albright, Leo Fernandes
Toronto FC
Joe Bednik; Ryan Richter, Doneil Henry, Steven Caldwell, Darren O’Dea; Jonathan Osorio, Matias Laba, Jeremy Hall, Bobby Convey; Luis Silva (Ashtone Morgan ’46), Robert Earnshaw (Jeremy Brockie ’61) (Danny Koevermans ’86)
Unused Substitutes: Gale Agbossoumonde, Reggie Lambe, Quillan Roberts, Darel Russell
Scoring Summary
66 – TOR: Osorio (Brockie, Hall)
90 – PHI: McInerney
Discipline Summary
25 – PHI: Carroll (caution)
27 – TOR: Henry (caution)
27 – PHI: MacMath (caution)
41 – TOR: Henry (caution + ejection)
77 – TOR: Laba (caution)
84 – PHI: Parke (caution)
Referee
Geoff Gamble
| Toronto FC | Philadelphia Union | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Attempts on Goal | 9 |
| 4 | Shots on Target | 2 |
| 4 | Shots off Target | 4 |
| 3 | Blocked Shots | 3 |
| 7 | Corner Kicks | 2 |
| 14 | Fouls | 16 |
| 20 | Open Play Crosses | 10 |
| 2 | Offsides | 3 |
| 1 | First Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 1 | Second Yellow Cards | 0 |
| 1 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 41 | Duels Won | 42 |
| 49% | Duels Won % | 50% |
| 327 | Total Pass | 374 |
| 77% | Passing Accuracy % | 79% |
| 47.5% | Possession | 52.5% |
We suck so much.
You must really have no life to take the time on your Saturday night to add a pointless comment such as that. We have tired legs. We got away with the tie. Yes it wasn’t pretty but your analysis of “we suck so much” sounds so uneducated and childish.
we suck so much
We suck so much.
We suck so much
We Suck so much.
We suck so much !
we suck so much
We suck so much!!!!
We suck so much, but thank God we don’t root for Toronro.
We suck so much!
We suck so much
we suck so much 🙁
…and the ninja after endless moments invisible in the fray suddenly explodes with deadly precision…
I just want to see some more squad rotation. Not only because everyone looks tired out there, but also our midfield still sucks. Might as well throw some others into the mix. We use the same 14 players every match.
Would you go as far as to day our midfield sucks so much?
We wouldn’t have tired legs if Hactics hadn’t trotted out an almost normal league starting 11 on Tuesday. Uninspired and disinterested when some other guys who could have used minutes could have gotten the start and more than likely displayed a lot more fire. Tuesday was turned into a glorified 4-3-3 experimental training session that almost cost the U today. And to add to what James and nickt said… We suck so much!
WE SUCK SO MUCH
we r horrible
Not much to say that hasn’t already been said over the last few months on PSP. Can’t possess the ball for any short period of time and a weak roster which is made even thinner with no squad rotation.
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Many feel like we’re gonna get a top 5 draft pick because of the Garfan trade to Chivas, but after watching tonight, we may end up having two. Jack’s great run of form has masked lots of problems for us. I shudder to think what happens to the side if he hits a dry patch.
or makes the official Gold Cup roster…
Or when he is at the Gold cup for what, almost 6 wks? At this rate, he is single-handedly saving Hackworth’s job.
We can’t say it enough: but Hack is absolutely pathetic. PATHETIC! And again, no leadership on the field. None.
Okugo makes a terrible turnover, and Carrol’s like “it’s ok man. This is just the Tuesday Men’s league @ YSC…oh wait…” Then Gaddis repeats the mistake. Then Sheanon. Then Cruz, etc. Nobody yelling.
Moreno Said it best, “there is just no purpose…” Sums up the season and the coach and maybe even the FO.
Union schedule over those 6 weeks (and I may have some dates wrong)
NYRB
Dallas
@RSL
@Houston
Chivas (ok, I’ll give us this one)
Portland
@Vancouver
be afraid friends, be very afraid
We don’t suck so much…but we are not good. 2nd time we have had man advantage for a significant period of time and could do nothing with it. I believe this is because the team lacks anyone who understands how to possess the ball.
Union’s strategy today was to absorb pressure from TFC and then counter attack. That we did not change tactics to passing, opening holes and attacking the gaps is the fault of the coaches and the players. Before the TFC goal the defense continued to launch long balls forward instead of building through the midfield. And Hack made the same 3 subs he always makes, situation be damned.
The team in red today sucks, 1 win in 26 matches. Union just are what they are, mediocre through and through.
Toronto hadn’t scored in 322 minutes and we concede to them while a man up. We’re not good and things aren’t on the upswing.
Its all I got, I know we aren’t good, hell probably not even mediocre. I just think there is worse dreck out there.
Yeah, but being the tallest midget doesn’t make you tall. And I think they are kicking the ball up is the defense and forwards don’t have any faith in our midfield to get the ball forward.
We sick so much! A good F/O would know that its time to open the wallet,buy some quality players and start looking for a new manager (quietly).
The Hack experiment has failed. The longer we roll on like this, the worse we will be. We need to cut the cord and start over…again.
Worst game since last season. Sign the Ivorian. Sign someone! As much as we are frustrated with Daniel what is going on with far fan?
I have a theory that Daniel makes everyone worse when he is out there
The Philadelphia Union: Where history repeats itself first as tragedy then as farce.
The boys flat out looked tired and uninspired. I would love to see a minutes played by each player ( I know Carroll, Gaddis, Okugo, and Jack have played every game but not every minuted). I’m not saying we should or will trade for Callif, but we sure could use some one like him to kick every one in the rear end and get in there faces. With all the games played we still have MLS games, a USOC game, and 2 friendly’s I believe coming in the next few weeks and I can see Hack playing the starters against reading “out of respect”. I often make the joke that I have to be an optimist because I root for the Cubs, but this Union season is slowly beating the optimist out of me.
Time for the SOBs to ring in “You don’t know what you’re doing, you don’t know what you’re doing, you don’t know what you’re doing.” to our manager upon entering the pitch Wednesday night.
It’s time for Hackworth and Sakaiwicz to go. Total mismanagement. This organization is an embarrasement. Alejandro Moreno for manager! I also can’t believe Michael Farfan was once an allstar. Toronto deserved 3 points but they have their own issues. If it wasn’t for the season Chicago, Columbus, and DC have had thus far the Union wouldn’t be where they are now. This is no improvement from last year, there are more teams struggling. We need new owners and better sponsors to go along with administrative changes in order to bring a better caliber of “soccer” player to the Union.
Hacks not leaving as long as Sack is here, and Sacks not leaving until we get new owners. Any lottery winners in the crowd today?
Sons of Ben is literally a team-sanctioned fan club now. It’s going to take a lot to get them to speak out.
How many times this year has the defense solved an opponent’s goalless drought for them? In all sincerity, it is almost like the league should be telling the teams that haven’t scored for some time that they need not worry if the Union is coming up on the schedule. While you might wind up with a frustrating draw, you will at least score.
Without Jack, we would likely have the same record as TFC. He is the only legitimate scoring threat on the team. “Sign the Ivorian! Sign the Ivorian! Sign the Ivorian!”
At least Kleberson didn’t get hurt…Doh!!
Anybody else afraid he’s basically a pussy? Even Keon took the hits better.
While your phrasing is not how I’d express it in a public forum- yes. I’m worried he doesn’t have the heart for this tough league.
Seriously, anyone know why Daniel was there? I could’ve swore he got called up.
I was legitimately angry when I saw him getting ready to come on
I would’ve loved to see Leo in that spot. Daniel had the one great through ball to Le Toux, and that was it.
Is it my imagination or do Daniels and Carroll seem to swap positions. I kept seeing daniel drop back to defensive mid and Carroll pushing up into an attacking role. Kleberson doesn’t do that…perhaps that’s why Carroll plays better when he’s on the field..it keeps him stable at his position.
You all who been grousing about Torres, I was like whatever. But this game I was so mad I watching such dreck. I wasted two hours, and the glee I felt when J-Mac scored was that of a thief. I felt dirty, poor Toronto. Please, make it less ugly. Please, involve some completed passed in the midfield, some offense beyond lumping the ball.
Dreck. Not soccer.
Something I am stewing over is after the Mac goal no one from the team gets the ball! They all run away.
They didn’t get the ball because we just stole a point. No reason to race it back to the halfway line so TFC has more time to find a winner… And because we suck so much
I love the Union but damn Toronto should be relegated. They are a joke. The fact that we can’t beat them is completely demoralizing. No way to sugar coat the fact that we are soft, rudderless team with a stubborn coach. Only a loser would be happy about a road point in Toronto….Geeeeez!
The sad part is how much we resemble Toronto, as far as quality goes.
In other words…we suck so much!
Seems its not just the negadelphians that question Hackworth’s ability.
See the 6th paragraph of this article:
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/30/chelis-firing-raises-more-questions-of-chivas-usa/
So he was saying Chelis could help us not suck so much?
Dismal
Anyone else notice that CHI has won two in a row since picking up Soumare and Magee? Or the Revs slapped the Galaxy (granted w/o Keane) yesterday and are now tied on points with a game in hand? We better focus on the USOC because we will not make the playoffs in our current configuration.
Hey, remember last year when Hack took over and the narrative was he can develop young guys because of his U17 experience (a team that crashed as U23s)? Ask Torres how his development is going. And with each week passing and the U at the bottom of goals against, the Okugo as savior of the USMNT story fades a little more. I still think Hack shot himself in the foot when he cleaned out his scouting dept last summer and our complete lack of talent shows. He won’t be fired. Nick won’t be fired. The Ivorian who hasn’t played in a year wil not be a savior. We will overpay to return Califf. We give hope to Chivas fans.
Well Chicago has been getting quality players back in their deals and not draft picks and allocation money. Not to mention they have been filling holes in their lineup. We haven’t.
And as far as New England goes they have quietly out together a decent team and are poised to make a run at the playoffs.
I sincerely believe the Union thought they had enough talent to drag themselves over the finish line and grab a playoff spot and in doing so they would claim that this season is an improvement and a victory. I doubt they can pull that off now.
Judging by our track record trading for people who walk and talk and occasionally kick soccer balls, we should do it more than for MLS magic beans and draft picks for players that end up in Harrisburg.
Brian Carroll for 2011 2nd rounder (Cole Grossman) WIN
Lahoud &AM for Califf WASH
LeToux for Martinez WIN
Cruz for Pajoy WASH (Pajoy has scored for DCU)
Perlaza for Mwanga LOSS (though not by much, Mwanga is a bust)
Parke for AM & Supplemental pick (Will Bates) (WIN)
Farfan for DP and money= wait and see
Baky for DP and money= wait and see
The problem is even when it’s a wash we still seem to lose in the long run.
Not to mention some of the craziness that went on with Novak, like Harvey for magic beans.
A friendly public service announcement:
After 14 matches last season the Union were 3-9-2 (11 points).
This season, after match 14 the Union are 5-5-4 (19 points).
While the performance in Toronto was unimaginably poor, our club has improved. Always look on the bright side of life.
All that being said, Reading are going to beat the Union on Friday!!!
I admire your optimism. I think it is sorely misplaced, but man do I admire it.
2010 4-2-8 / 14pts
2011 6-4-4 / 22pts
2012 3-9-2 / 11pts
2013 5-5-4 / 19pts
I’m not sure “improved” is the correct term. “Inconsistent” may be closer to the truth.
Our 19 points is more a testament to how bad the bottom half of the division is. The problem is the leser teams in the east are improving while we are regressing.
Agreed. We are Gnat Killers and look like 3 points to the top teams.
no
We create negative oral pressure so much!
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Remember the first 30 minutes against SKC during the opener when it seemed like we were destined for an MLS Cup? Me either.
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All of this pain will one day make our first cup that much sweeter…I just hope we’re alive to see it.
I root for the Union, but my MLB team are the Cubs, hope runs eternal, you just pray you’re alive to see it.
I’m so tired of MacMath and the defense just booting the ball blindly up field. I understand that’s an indictment on the midfield, but I sure as hell would love to see some build-up, rather than turning the ball back over after a punt / long kick.
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I’m assuming Kleberson will be out on Wednesday, as a precaution if nothing else. Any chance of Leo starting instead of Keon? Nah, probably not…
Hackworth was such a breath of fresh air after all the bizarre decisions by Nowak last year. I’m not ready to give up on him, although his insistence on using Keon Daniel in a playmaking role is concerning.
It’s my understanding Hackworth was considered a qualty up-and-coming coach last year when he got promoted, not sure we should give up on him so fast. But I’m as concerned overall as most of you.
Saturday’s game was just awful, not only did they play poorly but it was dull. The early part of this season was so exciting, the road win at Colorado, et al. I had very high hopes for this season. I guess I am coming back to reality.