A shorthanded Philadelphia once again went with a back 3 (or 5 depending on how you view it), lining up in a 3-5-2 (though it looked more like a 3-4-1-2 ). The Union even scored first, taking a 1-0 lead into half-time. Unfortunately, the lead did not hold up as the offense failed to generate much of any threat, and the defense let in two late goals. I cannot fathom to replay this game in my head anymore than absolutely necessary, so the ratings for the Boys in Blue are brief today. The ratings are almost universally down one or two points across the board (Kai Wagner and Tai Baribo being the exceptions) than I would normally give, as this team continues to find ways to lose. 

GK Andrew Rick – 4

Looked hesitant at times and appeared to have been out of position for a few Toronto shots that ended up going wide. Perhaps it is too unkind to rate the eighteen year-0ld, fourth-string goalkeeper on the same scale as the past MLS goal keeper of the year, but Rick needed to do better with Toronto’s second goal. 

CB Damion Lowe – 4

Not a poor game by the center back, but not a stirring performance either, particularly bringing the ball upfield. Was not very accurate on long passes forward. Won less than half his aerial duels, but was better on the ground. Hi score is dragged down by the team’s defense on the whole.

CB Jack Elliott – 2

A colossally poor game from the veteran center back. Scored an own goal, but that was not even his most egregious play of the night. His pass up the middle four minutes after the own goal was poorly played, directly to Toronto, leading to the winning goal moments later. It’s hard to fault him for the own goal – had Elliott not deflected the ball, the Toronto attacker would have surely scored – but the pass leading to the winning goal was a massive blunder.

CB Jakob Glesnes – 3

Glesnes won his aerial duels, made clearances, and won most his tackles. His long balls upfield were horrendous, however, as all but one were turned over to Toronto. That said, as the right center back of three, he is partially at fault for being out of position on the cross that led to the first goal and the shot for the second goal.

LWB Kai Wagner – 6

A decent game from the left back. Wagner was not very accurate on his crosses, but his long passes were. Defensively he did a good job shutting down Toronto’s right-sided attack. Most importantly, his pin-point service assisted on Tai Baribo’s goal. 

RWB Olivier Mbaizo – 4

Starting because of Nathan Harriel’s Olympic call-up, one would hope that Mbaizo would bring some offensive threat to the right side. Perhaps he did bring more offensive threat than Harriel usually does, but it was offset by being pulled out of position multiple times – and both scores came down Toronto’s left side.

LM Leon Flach – 4

Flach’s lack of offensive capability (through he did create two chances) is to be expected, but his relatively quiet night defensively was also brought into focus. He won only one tackle on the night and won only half his duels. Not a poor night by any stretch, but more is expected of this once defensive stalwart. 

RM Jesús Bueno – 4

An average night at best for the midfielder, but Bueno’s score is brought lower by a huge chance missed at the far post. A score there and the Union could have been up by two. Subbed out in the 59th minute for Alejandro Bedoya.

AM Dániel Gazdag – 5

Not a poor night from the 10, but Gazdag has got to create more chances than he does. He simply must. Gazdag only created one scoring chance, and had only two touches total in the Toronto box. 

FWD Mikael Uhre – 3

A disappointing night for the striker, who was replaced by Quinn Sullivan in the 59th minute. Uhre whiffed on a massive chance when he got behind his defender but could only muster a shot into the arm of the outstretched Sean Johnson. An average striker should score in that situation, and Uhre’s immediate response betrayed his frustration.

FWD Tai Baribo – 7

He scored. Enough said. 

Just kidding, sort of. Baribo did lead the team in touches in the opposition box with six. He had a decent shot go just wide. But on the whole was not very effective (other than the header for a goal) with the fewest touches of any 90-minute outfield player. 

Substitutes:

(59’) Alejandro Bedoya – 5

Brought on to replace what looked like a Bueno injury, one would have thought this was an upgrade for the final thirty minutes. While neither Toronto goal was his fault, both started in the midfield wile Bedoya was out there.

(59’) Quinn Sullivan – 5

Was less impressive off the bench and in a forward position than he normally looks. Was dispossessed on two of this three dribbles and only had one successful cross in the 30+ minutes he played. At least he tried his chances with two shots, but both were off target (one greatly so).

(83′ ) Chris Donovan – 5 

Donovan wasn’t on the field long enough to earn a lower score, but let’s be honest – his skills are not those of an MLS-caliber striker. He is best when brought on with fresh legs to tire a defense out, not score a needed goal.

Geiger Counter

Referee Allen Chapman – 7

An evenly called match, with only one card on the night. 

Player of the Match – Deandre Kerr 

Tore in on goal from the left side to sneak the winning goal past Rick.

What’s Next…

The Union are back at Subaru Park on Wednesday July 17 at 7:30 pm to host Nashville.