Jim Curtin deployed a new formation (3-5-2) but the Union fell behind early (again). Second half substitutions and a return to a 4-4-2 diamond formation saw the Union rally in the second half by scoring twice in three minutes, before conceding the tying goal on a free kick following a Jack Elliott red card. Here is how the Boys in Blue play rated Saturday night.
GK Oliver Semmle – 4
Perhaps it is not fair to compare Semmle to the one of the best (if not the best) MLS keepers of the last decade in Andre Blake, but I have to believe Blake saves at least one of Montréal’s two goals. The first goal was a defensive meltdown (again) and a perfectly placed shot. The second goal came on a set piece that was headed off a post before being hustled into the net. Are either Semmle’s fault? I don’t know, but the fact is he gave up two goals, while only making one save on the night.
CB Damion Lowe – 4
Lowe was beaten down the left side on Montréal’s first goal, allowing a cut-back pass that led to the goal. Not entirely at fault on the first goal, Lowe was also partially complicit in the second goal, allowing the free kick to pass above him, while meekly raising an arm asking for offsides after the goal.
CB Jakob Glesnes – 5
Not at fault on Montréal’s first goal, the captain was the one CB subbed off at halftime in favor of Alejandro Bedoya as the Union returned to a 4-4-2.
CB Jack Elliott – 3
Despite getting the ball first, a rash studs-up challenge in the 63′ led to a red card. The resulting free kick led directly to Montréal’s second and tying goal. With Glesnes having been subbed off at half, and Curtin not trusting in or willing to use another substitution to bring on the untested Olwethu Makhanya, the dismissal meant the Union were playing with only one true CB for the remainder of the game. Not a great night from the center back who should have known better on the reckless challenge.
With respect to whether Elliott’s red card should have remained the yellow it was originally called as, Curtin had this to say: “I still say Jack wins the ball, right, kicks it out of bounds. I think the part everyone would agree with when you’re sliding and you’re 6′ 5″ and you leave your feet there’s nowhere else for your legs to go and and they [Raheem Edwards] leave their feet as well late and there’s a collision, and again I hate for players to get injured but I think the the reaction from a yellow to a red was because of an injury. I don’t think Jack had any […] maliciousness or intent to injure or anything like that so it’s tough break that goes against us and and obviously changes the game.”
LWB Kai Wagner – 6
Not a bad game from the left winger, but not a particularly notable one either. His crosses were less accurate than normal (less than 50% accuracy) and he only played half his long balls accurately as well.
RWB Olivier Mbaizo – 6
Ostensibly offered a starting role to boost the Union’s offensive attack down the right side, it was a subdued night from the right wing back who was more often off target on his crosses and long balls.
DM Jose Martinez – 7
Martinez was asked to do less with the addition of Leon Flach in the midfield, and thus was not out of position as often as he has been recently. He was accurate on a great majority (90%) of his passes, but two of his three shots were off target. He took an elbow to the face from Montréal’s Lassiter, earning the Montréal forward a red card. Perhaps a bit of acting was involved, but it was a hard foul and kudos to Martinez for not getting himself into trouble with a response.
RM Leon Flach – 6
Added to the starting lineup as second defensive midfielder, Flach had a quiet night, though he was accurate on all of his passes on the night. He was subbed off for Quinn Sullivan at halftime as the Union searched for some needed offense.
LM Jack McGlynn – 8
As Curtin said in his post-game press confereence, McGlynn did his job while on the ball. Once again he completed more accurate passes (81) than anyone in the game. Playing mostly on the right side of the field, there were fewer opportunities than usual for him to change the side of attack and his crosses were less accurate than we have come to expect. That said, he defended fairly well despite being on the opposite side of the field from where he normally plays.
FWD Dániel Gazdag – 7
The Union forward not only earned a penalty kick, but he returned to his scoring ways on PKs in the 56′, tying Sebastian Le Toux’s record of 50 MLS goals. Besides earning and scoring the penalty, Gazdag did not create many chances and only had two shots on the night.
FWD Mikael Uhre – 8
Uhre looked dangerous from the start, forcing a diving save from Montréal’s keeper in the fifth minute. It was off the rebound of an Uhre shot on which Gazdag was fouled, leading to the penalty kick and subsequent goal. In the 58′ Uhre received a nice pass from Quinn Sullivan, rounded a center back with a nice touch, and nicely slotted the ball past Sebastian Breza for a goal.
As Curtin said: “Mikael has had a a good run of games. He did a good job of you know [being] a little deceptive at the top of the box, [he] fakes a shot, loses the defender, makes them fall and and finishes off [the goal]. That’s not an easy finish too, to go to the outside of the the right foot. Good game from him.”
Substitutes:
(46’) Alejandro Bedoya – 6
Subbed on to replace Glesnes as the Union sought a tying goal, Bedoya had an average half (for him). Though he had twelve passes into the final third, he only had four touches in the Montréal box.
(46’) Quinn Sullivan – 7
As usual his speed on the right changed the game. A nice take-away and subsequent pass to Uhre led to the Union’s second goal. Despite incredibly accurate passing, it only led to one chance (Uhre’s goal).
(71’) Nathan Harriel – 6
Probably brought on to shore up the defense after Elliott’s dismissal, he did his job.
(90′ ) Chris Donovan – NA
Geiger Counter
Referee Ted Unkel – 5
An evenly called match, though there were two red card calls, both of which could have gone either way. Because of that Unkel only rates a 5.
Player of the Match – Mikael Uhre
Despite having his many doubters, Uhre did what was expected of a striker – he scored a goal and set up another – when no other player in Union blue had a particularly auspicious night.
What’s Next…
The Union are back at Subaru Park on Saturday, June 15 at 7:30 pm to face a Messi-less Inter Miami.
I will second you on Uhre. He’s been playing well.
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The only big disagreement I have is on McGlynn. He brought nothing to the game and disappeared long enough for me to forget he was playing at points. He also halted the attack far too often, preferring to play backwards or square.
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I also thought that Gazdag was a little bit ‘off’, though clearly trying to make something happen.
The reason that players play a ball backwards or square is that nothing is on attack wise and the risk of trying to play forward is that it could lead to an opposition counter.
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When you don’t have numbers or an advantage over the opponent, the play is to keep the ball while focusing on continuing to move the opponent to create an advantage in a specific area or a clear opportunity to progress.
Oh I agree. Except I’m seeing opportunities he is not. Granted angles and all. But it is very conservative play as well.
I’m curious if the rating for an “average” performance has changed? My understanding is that it is a 5, but given some of the commentary (especially on Wagner and Bedoya), I’m thinking it has changed to a 6.
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I would definitely drop Wagner to at least a point below average. He was completely out of position when the counterattack that led to the first goal started which left Lowe out to dry. And not only were his corner kicks somewhat subpar for him, he never tried anything different once Glesnes and Elliott were both off meaning the Union did not have any sort of height advantage in the box. He needed to try a short corner to McGlynn at the top of the box for a bending shot at least once.
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A 3 is high for Elliott. Whether or not the call was the correct one (I haven’t seen a replay but live I thought it was a red), you can’t put the ref in a position to be able to make that call when you’re currently up a player.
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Mbaizo was also below average rather than a 6. Just look at the comments. Plus he was just standing around watching when Elliott took the red. If a foul wasn’t called there, he was missing his chance to keep possession.
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For McGlynn it’s hard to give an 8 to an attacking midfielder who wasn’t a part of either goal and had crosses that were less accurate than usual.
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For those who know me as a Martinez hater, please notice that he is NOT one of those players that I think is scored to high. 🙂 🙂
McGlynn played a great pass into the box that created the penalty. Has to come deep to get the ball as we just aimlessly kick the ball into numbers down situations.
Dont care about ratings but at least analyse the game objectively. Still had 15 completed passes into the final third. Sorry I am fan and wish we have a few more soccer players like him and less focus on hustle merchants.
Looking at the wrong problems. Team is out coached every week and limted roster cannot adapt.
Semmle got a hand to the second goal actually, and pushed it wide – except it didn’t go wide, it went off the post and back centrally. Does Blake actually dispose of the chance with his parry? Who knows.