After playing out a series of close matches in 2020, the Union and Revolution started 2021 the same way, playing out a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night at Subaru Park.
The Revs look to be one of the top teams in the East so far this season, and a 1-1 draw isn’t the worst result for the Union. But in three home league matches this season, Philly has only managed a single point and they will have to improve their home form as the season goes on.
Player Ratings
Andre Blake – 6
Four saves for Blake on the night, including a strong one to deny Buksa in the first half. Won’t like to have been beaten at his near post for the NE goal, but he was moving the other way and Bunbury was unmarked in the box.
Olivier Mbaizo – 6
His crossing from the right side seems to improve each match, and should have notched an assist when Santos’ couldn’t redirect his cross in the first half. Turns off for a second and gets caught watching the ball on the Bunbury goal.
Jakob Glesnes – 3
Glesnes has had a mistake in him in almost every match this season and Wednesday night was no different. Does so many things well – wins his aerial duals, has a cool head in the back, but continues to make mistakes in the area of the field where it can’t be afforded.
Jack Elliott – 6
The more consistent of the center backs on the evening and in the season so far. New England seemed more comfortable letting Glesnes pass from the back and keeping Elliott from his long diagonals. Elliott did have a great run in the second half where he got forward and pushed a powerful shot just wide.
Kai Wagner – 5.5
An active night for Wagner, who covered a lot of ground on the left side. Did get forward often and provided four open play crosses on the night. His chemistry with McGlynn still seems to be a work in progress.
Leon Flach – 6
Another match where Flach showed plenty of hustle. Did well to work a shooting chance for himself in the first half and has a potent left foot. Overall, did well to contain to the dangerous Carles Gil for most of the match. Doesn’t quite seem to have the passing range of Jose Martinez, but a tough ask against a good pressing side in New England.
Alejandro Bedoya – 5
Ended up with the highest mileage of any player on the field for the Union and it looked it for parts of the match where Bedoya appeared to show a bit of fatigue. Another night where he did well to combine with Mbaizo on the right side, but I do think it will be important that the Union finds a way to rest the captain a little more this season.
Jack McGlynn – 5
Another match where the 17-year old didn’t look out of place. Found it tough sledding to keep the ball moving forward working on the left side.
Jamiro Monteiro – 6
Monteiro found himself at the top of the diamond again and probably had his quietest match of the season there against New England. Had a fantastic chance to open the scoring but lost his footing at the crucial moment after Fontana played him through. Did end up providing a quality cross that ended up being turned in by Przybylko.
Sergio Santos – 5
Probably should have scored from close range from Mbaizo’s cross in the first half. Struggled to find the game a little again and was only able to get behind the New England back line once using his speed.
Kacper Przybylko – 6
Was a little unlucky not to draw a penalty on 6 minutes – a tight call that we’ve definitely seen given. Also struggled to get himself into the match at times, but stuck with it enough to notch the equalizer late on. Could have very well been called for a foul on Turner, but didn’t lose his composure and rose highest to make sure the Union grabbed a point.
Subs
Cory Burke – 4
Struggled to get himself into the match and only completed four passes in his 30 minutes on the field.
Anthony Fontana – 5
Had a great ball in to Monteiro where the midfielder lost his footing, which was one of the best Union attacks of the night. Was interested to see that Fontana seemed to replace McGlynn on the left side as Jim Curtin kept Monteiro at the top of the diamond – the wide midfield roles don’t seem to suit Fontana’s best traits.
Player of the Match – Leon Flach
Kept Gil in check for most of the night in a match that was a midfield battle.
Geiger Report
Tori Penso – 2
Penso was inconsistent for much of the match and at times seemed to struggle to keep up with play. Seemed to let the New England players talk her into the yellow cards for Wagner and Monteiro. I personally thought the first foul on Przybylko was a penalty. A decent argument that Przybylko fouled Turner on the Union’s equalizer as well.
I think VAR probably got 3 calls wrong as there should have been 2 PK’s for Kacper and a foul by him on the goal. What’s the point of VAR if it is not being used, especially on the first PK which was clear and obvious.
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I’m worried the Union are getting a reputation as a dirty team and that is causing more fouls to be called against them.
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One thing I found interesting and I’m not sure if it was tactically called by Curtin or just the way the team was playing was that I saw Burke back on defense a lot more than Monteiro once Burke came on. And even Kacper’s yellow was taken in the Union’s third of the field. I wonder if Monteiro wasn’t going back as much because he had a card or for some other reason.
Burke definitely dropped deeper than monteiro and/ or bedoya on several occasions defensively. I was wondering about that too. Perhaps to allow quicker players to press the defenders?
Maybe he wanted Miro fresh for tonight’s game?
In reference to Santos only getting behind the New England back line on speed once, give Santos Credit for forcing Bruce Arena to replace Henry Kessler with someone who is faster and can match Santos.
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Arena learns from his mistakes.
You may give Mbaizo credit for crosses but his close in “moves to the basket” almost always result in loss of possession.
Przybylko doesn’t deserve to be one of the higher rated players. His ball handling is terrible. He has difficulty trapping, dribbling, and passing. Cant get the ball out of his feet to shoot.
But a decent ref/VAR would have awarded him 1 or 2 penalty kicks for what he did do.
My immediate thoughts on that first play inside the box were… ‘poor first touch by KP’ ..which caused him to chase the ball. and then come one danny… don’t become a homer after the first month already. I’m noticing a distinct non critical eye form him with this job. He offers sound analysis… but
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anyway, a cleaner touch by KP and a quick inside cut and he has a sitter there. I tend to agree with Vince, the ball gets stuck under his feet alot.
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The problem with him seems to be he is too slow to move the ball at times and gets caught dribbling. I think his trapping and dribbling is fine, it’s just his decision making lags behind. By the time he remembers he should pass he is surrounded.
Kasper should not have been on the field for the one goal. If everyone is going to make a big deal out of him going down soft on that push from behind. Then his 2 footed studs up slide tackle should have been a red.
Kasper is too easily flustered and when he does he has tantrums all over the field. It is really frustrating to watch.
As much as I love Santos, he’s the same way. Burke too. We don’t have consistent strikers because they seem to lack composure when things aren’t going well. When they’re hot they’re hot, but when they’re cold… they’re REALLY cold.