Photo: Marjorie Elzey
Jesus Ferreira scored the only goal of the game as a listless Philadelphia Union fell to FC Dallas on a hot night in the Lone Star State. After a bright start, the Union attack just didn’t create enough to breach a stout Dallas defense.
The hosts didn’t muster many chances of their own, but USMNT striker Ferreira buried his best opportunity, wrongfooting Jakob Glesnes and firing past Andre Blake from ten yards.
Player Ratings
Andre Blake – 6
Hard to blame Blake for Ferreira burying a shot from just ten yards. Few saves to make otherwise. One of a number of defensive players who didn’t have his best game with the ball at his feet.
Kai Wagner – 4
Industrious as always down the left side. Hits and misses on set piece delivery for the evening. Had one of the best chances of any Union player to score, but failed to hit the target cutting inside on his weaker right foot.
Jakob Glesnes – 4
Poor night for the Norwegian, who just didn’t seem to have his feet under him. Missed a tackle earlier in the sequence and then completely wrong footed by Ferreira on the Dallas goal. A number of misplaced passes and dangerous dribbles from the usually steady center back.
Jack Elliott – 4
It was an off night for the center back pair. Lucky to avoid giving away a penalty with what seemed a clear handball. But like Glesnes, just didn’t seem to bring his passing boots with him on the trip south.
Nathan Harriel – 5
Back in the starting line up for Mbaizo, Harriel looked solid if unspectacular. Had a couple of good reads to break up play and did get up field on the right, but just couldn’t find the right combinations, as can be said about so many on the night.
Jose Martinez – 6
In the wars all night in what was a feisty midfield affair. The smile that he flashed after a track back sprint and slide tackle was vintage Martinez. Not a great passing night for Martinez, who seemed to have eaten what Elliott and Glesnes did before the match.
Alejandro Bedoya – 6
Industry as always from the captain, who battled with Paxton Pomykal all evening down the wing. Pressured well but one of a number of players who just couldn’t find the final pass to create a solid scoring chance.
Leon Flach – 6
Another player that can be labeled as hardworking on the night. Got up and down the left and like Bedoya, had some great pressures, but just couldn’t turn those turnovers into opportunities.
Daniel Gazdag – 5
A rare off night for the Hungarian. Got into a few good positions, but the chemistry between Gazdag and the rest of the offense just wasn’t there in the Texas heat. I personally would have liked to seen Aaronson just a little sooner.
Julian Carranza – 6
Probably the most lively of the Union forwards. Aggressive in the press as always. Did well to work the goalkeeper from distance with a dipping shot.
Cory Burke – 5
A rare start for the Jamaican as Jim Curtin gave Mikael Uhre a rest. Physical and aggressive, but another lacking chemistry in the final third on the night. Forced off just before halftime with a rib injury, another knock to a guy who just seems to be getting a battering every time out.
Subs
Mikael Uhre – 5
Another in the lacking chemistry group. Had one decent look that was saved at the near post. Have to think Uhre didn’t have many midweek trips to places like steamy summer Dallas in his time in Europe.
Olivier Mbaizo – 5
Brought some energy coming in on the right side, but another who couldn’t just get the chemistry right.
Jack McGlynn – 6
Brought some energy from the bench and sprayed the ball around with his left foot as is becoming typical. Did well to force a save from a set piece, but he’ll likely view it as a missed opportunity after what we saw him do against Houston.
Paxten Aaronson – 5
Didn’t arrive until the 88th minute, which was too late in my opinion. Got on the ball in a few times, but, and stop if you’ve heard this one before in these ratings, just didn’t have the chemistry to create a clear cut scoring chance.
Chris Donovan – 5
Another late appearance for Donovan, who, in very limited minutes, hasn’t really found a way to get himself involved in the Union attack.
Man of the Match – Jesus Ferreira
Has to be the goal scorer, who converted the best opportunity of the game with his first half goal.
Geiger Counter
Nima Saghafi – 2
Poor evening for the man with the whistle. Inconsistent with foul calls, in what was a physical encounter. Not sure how Elliott got away with that first half handball. I find the way he runs after players and toward foul calls a bit aggressive and makes him visible, which a good referee shouldn’t be.
The defense (all 4, not Blake) looked tired. Unfortunately, very little in the way of subs, except right back (Harriet/Mbaizo).
I’d probably knock a point off of all the starters except Blake and another point off the 3 defenders who played the full game. As I stated in the game summary, I thought this was the worst game the team played all year, and the score could have been much worse if Dallas had been better at finishing.
I didn’t get to see the game but watched the highlights. I didn’t see the full sequence but from I could see it looked like Martinez failed to track Ferreira on the goal letting him walk into acres of space at the top of the box as opposed to Glesnes not closing faster. I saw another good chance for Dallas that looked even more clearly like Martinez not tracking a run. Did he look tired on the night? Did the replay not show the full picture?
I’m not as hard on referees as some, but totally agree on Saghafi. Refs should be seen and not heard, but his style is weirdly aggressive and confrontational — you could hear that Curtin was frustrated with the way he was managing the first half.