Photo: Earl Gardner
All-time record: 0–3–6
At Talen Energy Stadium: 0–1–4
At Rio Tinto Stadium: 0–2–2
Goals for: 11
Goals against: 16
Did you know…
The Union have never defeated Real Salt Lake. Outside of expansion sides Atlanta and Minnesota, FC Dallas is the only other club Philadelphia has failed to beat.
July 31, 2016: Philadelphia Union 1-2 Real Salt Lake
PSP Match Report Highlights
Roland Alberg’s seventh goal of the season gave the Union the lead late in the first half, but two Real Salt Lake goals to start the second half gave the visitors a 2-1 win at Talen Energy Stadium.
Philadelphia would open the scoring in the 44th minute though. C.J. Sapong tried to turn Aaron Maund inside the RSL box after a ball into his feet, and the defender hauled the Union striker to the ground, giving referee Juan Guzman no choice but to point to the spot. Maund was yellow carded for dissent on the play.Alberg grabbed the ball to take the kick and made no mistake firing a low drive into the lower left corner with Rimando going the wrong way.
Salt Lake equalized just three minutes into the second half through Plato. The midfielder played a clever give-and-go with Demar Phillips at the top of the Union box and curled a fine effort in off the underside of the crossbar that left Blake no chance from 18 yards.
The visitors took the lead in the 54th minute through Morales. Olmes Garcia did well to find Morales near the top of the Union box and the midfielder lofted a measured chip over Blake into the far corner of the Philadelphia goal from 17 yards out on the right side.
PSP Analysis and Player Ratings Highlights
Despite going into halftime up 1-0, Philly was never particularly dominant, and their inability to build lasting possessions into good chances created a stilted contest that was decided by two gorgeous goals by the visitors.
Lately, the Union center backs have been pressured faster and played more passes from deep positions. When Carroll played the ball wide on Sunday, Marquez and Tribbett often immediately looked to pass forward instead of moving the ball with their feet. This is due to a combination of slow play between Carroll and the center backs and, perhaps more problematically, a lack of movement in midfield.
Here’s the good and bad about Alberg. The good is that he’s potentially lethal around the goal and he knows it. That type of player draws defenders to him around the box. The bad is that he isn’t very effective in the middle third of the park.
Link to MLS Match Center for Stas, Chalkboard, and more
Philadelphia Union
Andre Blake, Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Ken Tribbett, Keegan Rosenberry, Brian Carroll, Warren Creavalle (Leo Fernandes 72′), Roland Alberg (Fabian Herbers 63′), Ilsinho (Sebastien Le Toux 76′), Chris Pontius, C.J. Sapong
Unused Subs: John McCarthy, Ray Gaddis, Walter Restrepo, Joshua Yaro
Real Salt Lake
Nick Rimando, Jamison Olave, Demar Phillips, Tony Beltran, Aaron Maund, Javier Morales (Devon Sandoval 90+1′), Luke Mulholland, Kyle Beckerman (John Stertzer 86′), Joao Plata, Olmes Garcia, Juan Manuel Martinez (Omar Holness 69′)
Unused subs: Jeff Attinella, Chris Wingert, Justen Glad, Phanuel Kavita
Scoring Summary
PHI: Roland Alberg (PK) — 44′
RSL: Joao Plata (Demar Phillips) — 48′
RSL: Javier Morales (Olmes Garcia) — 54′
Disciplinary Summary
PHI: Fabinho (unsporting behavior) — 21′
RSL: Aaron Maund (dissent) — 42′
RSL: Javier Morales (time wasting) — 55′
PHI: Brian Carroll (unsporting behavior) –90
Saturday, March 14: Real Salt Lake 3-3 Philadelphia Union
PSP Match Report Highlights
In a game with six goals (and there could have been more), the Union earned a road point in Salt Lake, 3–3, on Saturday night. Four of the six goals were ugly as you like, but the Union would have won the game if not for a very poor referee’s decision late. The play of new acquisition Fernando Aristeguieta, who notched a brace, was the biggest positive.
PSP Analysis and Player Ratings Highlights
It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
This is a reminder, not to players or coaches, but to the MLS refereeing core. It’s a long season. There will be plenty of opportunities to weave mind-bogglingly stupid decisions into your performances throughout 2015. Pace yourself. Because if you can’t, we here at Philly Soccer Page will start getting emails with reports of Silviu Petrescu and David Gantar running the lines for Allen Chapman at local U-11 tournaments.
The decision-making by multiple referees to begin the new season has been so bad that MLS has been left with less a black eye and more with the type of bruise that appeared when the goalkeeper at my high school dove face first into his far post. It wasn’t pretty then, nor is it now.
Link to MLS Match Center for Stats, Chalkboard, and more
Philadelphia Union
Rais Mbolhi, Ray Gaddis, Steven Vitoria, Ethan White, Sheanon Williams, Maurice Edu, Vincent Nogueira, Andrew Wenger (Zach Pfeffer, 79), Cristian Maidana (Michael Lahoud, 79), Sebastien Le Toux, Fernando Aristeguieta (Conor Casey, 87)
Subs not used: John McCarthy, Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Fred
Real Salt Lake
Nick Rimando, Chris Schuler, Demar Phillips (Kenny Mansally, 82), Jámison Olave, Tony Beltran, Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales, Luis Gil (Luke Mulholland, 70), Olmes García, Sebastián Jaime (Jordan Allen, 65), Álvaro Saborio
Subs not used: Jeff Attinella, Elías Vásquez, Devon Sandoval, Sebastian Saucedo
Scoring Summary
RSL: Javier Morales — 29
PHI: Fernando Aristeguieta — 34
PHI: Fernando Aristeguieta — 38
RSL: Jámison Olave (Olmes García, Javier Morales) — 55
PHI: Jámison Olave (OG) — 58
RSL: Álvaro Saborio (PK) — 86
Disciplinary Summary
RSL: Olmes García (foul) — 4
PHI: Steven Vitória (foul) — 23
RSL: Kyle Beckerman (Dissent) — 50
PHI: Maurice Edu (Foul) — 52
PHI: Ethan White (Off-the-ball Foul) — 62
RSL: Luke Mulholland (Foul) — 74
PHI: Fernando Aristeguieta (Dissent) — 86
April 12, 2014: Philadelphia Union 2-2 Real Salt Lake
PSP Match Report Highlights
Despite allowing another goal late, the Philadelphia Union were able to come up with some last second heroics when Maurice Edu headed in Cristian Maidana’s corner kick in the 90th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw.
Salt Lake got on the board early when Austin Berry was judged to have fouled Olmes Garcia just inside the Union box. Zac MacMath, for the second week in a row, saved the penalty, this time off the foot of Alvaro Sabario. But Luke Mulholland was quickest to react and poked the rebound into the far corner of the net.
New Union signing Andrew Wenger pulled the game level early in the second half from a sensational pass from Vincent Nogueira.
But Philadelphia again conceded after the 80th minute when Javier Morales brushed aside a challenge from Berry and pulled a pass back from the endline for Kyle Beckerman to finish.
PSP Player Ratings and Analysis Highlights
It is officially a trend. Going into Saturday’s match with Real Salt Lake, most fans would have probably accepted a draw against one of the truly elite teams in MLS, despite being at home. Yet in the end, once all was said and done and the draw was officially recorded, it was hard to not want for more. And unlike past weeks, in this one, the Union were the side scoring just before time was called.
Rewind a week and a draw on the road in Chicago also probably sounded a reasonably appetizing proposition. But when a team proves that they have the goods to get the job done and then fall short, the sinking feeling is natural.
At this point, after only six games, that sensation has become alarmingly commonplace.
PSP Postgame Video and Quote Sheet
Link to MLS Match Center for Stats, Chalkboard, and more
Philadelphia Union
MacMath, Williams, Okugo, Berry, Gaddis, Carroll (Maidana 76’), Edu, Nogueira, Fernandes, Wenger (Hoppenot 86’), Le Toux (Casey 74’).
Substitutes not used: Holt, Wheeler, Lahoud, Bone.
Real Salt Lake
Attinella, Wingert, Beltran, Borchers, Schuler, Morales, Mulholland (Velasquez 73’), Grabavoy, Beckerman, Saborio, Garcia (Sandoval 68’).
Substitutes not used: Salcedo, Mansally, Grossman, Stertzer, Fernandez.
Scoring Summary
RSL: Mulholland 6’
PHI: Wenger (Nogueira) 55’
RSL: Beckerman (Morales) 85’
PHI: Edu (Maidana) 90’
Disciplimnary Summary
None
July 3, 2013: Real Salt Lake 2-2 Philadelphia Union
PSP Match Report Highlights
For the second consecutive match, the Union conceded a stoppage time equalizer, despite being up a man on both occasions. Javier Morales scored from the penalty spot in the 97th minute after Ray Gaddis had handled the ball in the box. It was RSL’s second tying goal of the match, both coming after Lovel Palmer was sent off.
Sebastien Le Toux got the Union off to a great start, touching home Conor Casey’s cutback to give the visitors the surprise lead after 13 minutes. The match continued in dour fashion until Palmer’s ejection in the 59th minute changed the complexion of the match.
Even after the ejection, the Union remained timid, allowing RSL to probe and try their luck, despite the numeric disadvantage. In the 75th minute, Luis Gil shook free of Brian Carroll on a corner, burying his header. Casey came to the rescue though, pushing the Union back into the lead a minute later after Antoine Hoppenot stripped Nat Borchers and found the big forward racing into the box.
But RSL would have the final word. Deep into added time, Gaddis’ handball set the hosts up for the chance they needed to steal a point at home.
PSP Player Ratings and Analysis Highlights
Of the last five goals conceded by Philadelphia Union, four have come while they have been up a man.
Two of those came against RSL on Wednesday night, after Lovel Palmer was sent off for an early shower following his tackle on Michael Farfan.
Whether at home or on the road in MLS, having a man advantage for more than 20 minutes should result in a victory, especially when the side holding the man advantage also holds the lead at the time of the referee’s decision.
But the Union showed an alarming disinterest in the ball on Wednesday night. Finishing with less than 37 percent possession despite their man advantage, they sat back and allowed RSL to find a way back into the match twice.
Postgame quote sheet
Link to MLS Match Center for Stats, Chalkboard, and more
Philadelphia Union
Zac MacMath; Sheanon Williams, Amobi Okugo, Jeff Parke, Ray Gaddis; Danny Cruz (Matt Kassel ’66), Brian Carroll, Michael Farfan (Antoine Hoppenot ’61), Leo Fernandes (Aaron Wheeler ’86); Conor Casey, Sebastien Le Toux
Unused substitutes: Chris Konopka, Roger Torres, Chris Albright, Don Anding
Real Salt Lake
Josh Saunders; Lovel Palmer, Nat Borchers, Carlos Salcedo, Chris Wingert; Ned Grabavoy, Morales, Yordany Alvarez (Luis Gil ’57), Khari Stephenson (Sebastien Velasquez ’71); Joao Plata, Robbie Findley (Olmes Garcia ’56)
Unused substitutes: Attinella, Aaron Maund, Kenny Mansally, Devon Sandoval
Scoring Summary
13 – PHI: Le Toux (Casey, Williams)
75 – RSL: Gil (Morales)
76 – PHI: Casey (Hoppenot)
97 – RSL: Morales (penalty)
Discipline Summary
33 – PHI: Carroll (caution)
59 – RSL: Palmer (ejection)
90 – RSL: Wingert (caution)
94 – PHI: Wheeler (caution)
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Attendance: 20445
August 24, 2012: Philadelphia Union 0-0 Real Salt Lake
PSP Match Report Highlights
With both Real Salt Lake and Philadelphia Union looking to rediscover their league form, the sides were forced to share the points following a sloppy match at PPL Park on Friday night. Typically billed as attacking sides, both the Union’s John Hackworth and RSL’s Jason Kreis elected to field a lone striker, creating a stalemate in the center of the park.
Second-half substitutions nearly created some late fireworks, but in a match where neither outfit did enough to grasp control of the proceedings, a 0–0 scoreline was a fair result. In what is becoming an all too familiar refrain in Chester, PA, Hackworth lamented, “Created a couple of really good chances there, unfortunately we didn’t finish.”
PSP Player Ratings and Analysis Highlights
Another must-win game. Another non-victory.
Against an exhausted foe who was forced to fly across the country in an effort to break their own league funk, the table was set for the Union to earn three valuable home points.
Yet, where was the intensity, the drive, the aggressive nature that gives fans the hope that this team does indeed still believe it has something to play for in 2012?
Link to MLS Match Center for Stats, Chalkboard, and more
Scoring Summary:
None
Misconduct Summary:
RSL: Chris Wingert (Caution: Foul) 58′
PHI: Michael Farfan (Caution: Dissent) 59′
Lineups:
Philadelphia Union: Zac MacMath; Raymon Gaddis, Gabriel Farfan, Carlos Valdés (c), Amobi Okugo; Brian Carroll, Michael Lahoud, Michael Farfan; Gabriel Gómez (Freddy Adu, 82), Danny Cruz (Antoine Hoppenot, 71), Jack McInerney
Substitutes Not Used:Chase Harrison, Chris Albright, Porfirio Lopez, , Keon Daniel, Josue Martinez,.
Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando, Tony Beltran, Nat Borchers, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Chris Wingert, Kyle Beckerman (c), Ned Grabavoy (Yordany Álvarez, 74), Will Johnson, Luis Gil (Jonny Steele, 62), Javier Morales (Paulo Jr., 87), Alvaro Sabório.
Substitutes Not Used:Kyle Reynish, Chris Schuler, Sebastian Velasquez, Justin Braun
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Attendance: 18,441
September 3, 2011: Real Salt Lake 2 – 1 Philadelphia Union
PSP Match Report Highlights
“Two goals in the first 26 minutes from Real Salt Lake sealed a home win over the Philadelphia Union at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday night.”
“After another close defeat, the Union are left to sort out their set pieces. On both offense and defense, Philadelphia was overmatched and outmuscled.”
PSP Player Ratings and Analysis Highlights
“This is a particularly difficult loss to take because there were no pointedly awful performances. Scapegoats: We have none.”
“MacMath [in his first MLS action] handled himself with poise and confidence, looking like a veteran as he strode through the melee to claim a corner kick. It was a performance that will ease minds with the specter of a late season run without the team’s mental and vocal leader.”
Link to MLS Match Center for Stats, Chalkboard and more.
Scoring Summary:
RSL — Kyle Beckerman 3 (Paulo Araujo Jr. 3) 18
RSL — Chris Schuler 2 (Kyle Beckerman 8) 26
PHI — Sebastien Le Toux 4 (Justin Mapp 3) 30
Misconduct Summary:
RSL — Robbie Russell (caution; Reckless Foul) 35
PHI — Danny Califf (caution; Tactical Foul) 67
Lineups:
Philadelphia Union — Faryd Mondragon (Zac MacMath 46), Sheanon Williams, Danny Califf, Stefani Miglioranzi, Michael Farfan, Justin Mapp (Roger Torres 68), Sebastien Le Toux, Kyle Nakazawa (Freddy Adu 59), Amobi Okugo, Veljko Paunovic, Danny Mwanga.
Substitutes Not Used: Gabriel Farfan, Juan Diego Gonzalez, Jack McInerney, Zach Pfeffer.
Real Salt Lake — Nick Rimando, Tony Beltran, Jamison Olave, Chris Schuler, Robbie Russell (Blake Wagner 89), Andy Williams, Kyle Beckerman, Luis Gil, Collen Warner (Ned Grabavoy 73), Paulo Araujo Jr. (Cody Arnoux 66), Fabian Espindola.
Substitutes Not Used: Rauwshan McKenzie, Alvaro Saborio, Donny Toia, Tim Melia.
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Referee’s Assistants: Frank Anderson; Paul Scott
4th Official: Allen Chapman
Attendance: 18,720
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Clear-and-61-degrees
June 11, 2011: Philadelphia Union 1 – 1 Real Salt Lake
PSP Match Report Highlights
“The Union ran ragged over a lethargic Real Salt Lake side in the first half but only Keon Daniel put his chance away. It came back to haunt them home team when Fabian Espindola drove home the equalizer in the 53rd minute.”
“Only two minutes later, Daniel took matters into his own hands. Michael Farfan floated a cross from the right over Jamison Olave’s head and Daniel charged in front of a daydreaming Robbie Russell to head past Rimando.”
PSP Player Ratings and Analysis Highlights
“The Union never fully adjusted to these changes and fought to find their rhythm after halftime. Scouts that watch this tape will notice that Philadelphia is slow to recognize halftime tactical changes, something RSL may have picked up from the Union’s romp over Toronto.”
“Either the coaching staff is playing chess while everybody else is playing checkers or they are making moves almost purely by instinct. I would like to imagine it’s the former, but thus far results have varied more than an infomercial product’s.”
Link to MLS Match Center for Stats, Chalkboard and more.
Scoring Summary:
PHI — Keon Daniel 1 (Michael Farfan 1, Sheanon Williams 1) 24
RSL — Fabian Espindola 3 (Jean Alexandre 2) 53
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake — Nick Rimando, Robbie Russell (Tony Beltran 57), Jamison Olave, Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert, Ned Grabavoy, Kyle Beckerman, Luis Gil (Collen Warner 83), Andy Williams, Fabian Espindola, Jean Alexandre (Artur Aghasyan 71).
Substitutes Not Used: Nelson Gonzalez, Rauwshan McKenzie, Chris Schuler, Kyle Reynish.
Philadelphia Union — Faryd Mondragon, Sheanon Williams, Danny Califf, Carlos Valdes, Jordan Harvey (Justin Mapp 57), Keon Daniel (Roger Torres 67), Brian Carroll, Kyle Nakazawa (Jack McInerney 73), Michael Farfan, Sebastien Le Toux, Danny Mwanga.
Substitutes Not Used: Juan Diego Gonzalez, Stefani Miglioranzi, Zach Pfeffer, Zac MacMath.
Misconduct Summary:
RSL — Robbie Russell (caution; Reckless Tackle) 43
RSL — Jean Alexandre (caution; Reckless Tackle) 54
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
Referee’s Assistants: Paul Scott; James Conlee
4th Official: Jose Carlos Rivero
Time of Game: 1:51
Weather: Cloudy-and-79-degrees
Attendance: 18,728
August 11, 2010: Philadelphia Union 1 – 1 Real Salt Lake
PSP Match Report Highlight
“Danny Mwanga returned from injury to score on a terrific pass from Sebastien Le Toux on 8 minutes. But in what is becoming a trend for Philadelphia, the lead was gone in less than 10 minutes when Juan Diego Gonzalez failed to deal with a ball into the box and it fell to Fabian Espindola who slotted past Chris Seitz at the near post.”
Link to MLS Match Center for Stats, Chalkboard and more.
Scoring Summary:
PHI — Danny Mwanga 6 (Sebastien Le Toux 8) 8
RSL — Fabian Espindola 5 (Tony Beltran 2) 17
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake — Kyle Reynish, Tony Beltran, Rauwshan McKenzie, Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert, Andy Williams (Will Johnson 64), Jean Alexandre, Javier Morales, Nelson Gonzalez (Collen Warner 72), Pablo Campos (Robbie Findley 64), Fabian Espindola.
Substitutes Not Used: Kyle Beckerman, Ned Grabavoy, Robbie Russell, Nick Rimando.
Philadelphia Union — Chris Seitz, Jordan Harvey, Juan Diego Gonzalez, Danny Califf, Michael Orozco Fiscal, Fred (Andrew Jacobson 81), Kyle Nakazawa (Amobi Okugo 63), Justin Mapp (Roger Torres 57), Eduardo Coudet, Sebastien Le Toux, Danny Mwanga.
Substitutes Not Used: Cristian Arrieta, Jack McInerney, Nick Zimmerman, Danny Cepero.
Misconduct Summary:
PHI — Fred (caution; Reckless Tackle) 2
RSL — Nelson Gonzalez (caution; Reckless Tackle) 37
RSL — Jean Alexandre (caution; Reckless Tackle) 50
RSL — Rauwshan McKenzie (caution; Reckless Tackle) 60
RSL — Nat Borchers (caution; Reckless Foul) 79
PHI — Roger Torres (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 93+
Referee: David Gantar
Referee’s Assistants: -Philippe Briere; Adam Wienckowski
4th Official: Jeff Gontarek
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Clear-and-87-degrees
May 8, 2010: Real Salt Lake 3 – 0 Philadelphia Union
PSP Match Report Highlight
“At this point in the season, it’s cliched to say that the only thing consistent about the Philadelphia Union is inconsistency. Every game somebody seems to take a step forward while somebody else takes a step back. The only exception to this rule is Chris Seitz, who has been consistently horrid.”
Link to MLS Match Center for Stats, Chalkboard and more.
Scoring Summary:
RSL — Kyle Beckerman 2 (unassisted) 27
RSL — Jamison Olave 2 (Javier Morales 2) 51
RSL — Alvaro Saborio 2 (Pablo Campos 1) 70
Lineups
Philadelphia Union — Chris Seitz, Danny Califf, Cristian Arrieta, Michael Orozco, Jordan Harvey, Kyle Nakazawa, Fred, Andrew Jacobson (Shea Salinas 53), Roger Torres (Nick Zimmerman 71), Alejandro Moreno, Jack McInerney (Danny Mwanga 59).
Real Salt Lake — Nick Rimando, Tony Beltran, Jamison Olave (Rauwshan McKenzie 73), Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert, Andy Williams (Collen Warner 79), Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales, Will Johnson, Alvaro Saborio, Robbie Findley (Pablo Campos 38).
Misconduct Summary:
RSL — Andy Williams (caution; Tactical Foul) 17
RSL — Kyle Beckerman (caution; Tactical Foul) 41
PHI — Cristian Arrieta (caution; Tactical Foul) 50
RSL — Nat Borchers (caution; Tactical Foul) 81
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Referee’s Assistants: George Gansner; Cameron Blair
4th Official: Tyler Ploeger
Attendance: 14,224
Time of Game: 1:48
Weather: Cloudy-and-63-degrees
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