Photo: Marjorie Elzey

Another week, another immense disappointment for the Philadelphia Union. The U traveled north of the border to Toronto with hopes of ridding their unfathomably deplorable form.

Yet, awful defensive lapses proved to maintain their strangle-hold on the side. Again, the Union conceded back-breaking second half goals – derailing the Boys in Blue’s hopes of stealing their first 3 points in 10 matches.

Bereft of a midfield

The last time the two teams met, Toronto effectively man marked Jack McGlynn off the pitch – eliminating his ability to pick apart their press with his passing.

This time, Toronto was afforded the luxury of not having to apply the same tactics to suppress the Union’s midfield.

With both Jack McGlynn and Nathan Harriel away representing the US at the Olympics, El Brujo taking a short sabbatical post-Copa America, and Andre Blake still out injured, Jim Curtin was, yet again, left with limited options.

There was even chatter that Cavan Sullivan intended upon making his first bench appearance for the first-team, but Canadian child labor laws stood in the way.

Thus, Curtin opted to keep things consistent with the 3-5-2, which has proven to just only slightly solidify the team’s leaky defense. The formation has almost certainly seen the team play their most fluid soccer of late, though – allowing Curtin to get his best available XI on the field.

One of the formation’s perks is that it gives Jakob Glesnes and Damion Lowe license to step up into the half spaces with the ball at their feet. A 16th minute chance for the Union was generated by Jakob Glesnes stepping up into the half space, and just chipping a ball in behind the Toronto defense with a stellar pass.

Glesnes has not displayed the same defensive ability this season that Union supporters are accustomed to seeing, but he still has the ability to make things happen with the ball at his feet.

Another underrated first half Union chance came from Damion Lowe astutely stepping up and intercepting a Toronto pass with speed. His momentum had him curling a shot to Sean Johnson’s right, but it was never hit with enough pace to beat Toronto’s Sean Johnson.

The formation also seemed to give Wagner an additional security blanket with dealing with Bernardeschi and Etienne down the left. Lowe and Wagner worked well together putting out fires down the left throughout the match.

One true downside to the formation is how challenging it becomes for the Union to build out of the back. Having 3 at the back can often pull one direct and progressive outlet out of the build-up.

It is too often that the 3 center-backs are left trying to find the front 3 without sufficient movement from the two midfielders to create space for themselves and others.

Flach especially was a culprit of this in the first half. He was simply unable to find the game, and this forced his teammates into trying to play around him – effectively forcing his side into playing with 9 field players at times.

This continues to be problematic, and the hope is that Jose Martinez can bring his form from his strong Copa America performances with Venezuela back with him.

Apropos

The Union’s inability to progress the ball became even more evident early in the second half.  Toronto was eager to press higher, forcing the Union into errors.

The Boys in Blue continued struggle to retain possession with their lack of passing options through the midfield.

Alejandro Bedoya and Quinn Sullivan entered for the injured Jesus Bueno and the incapable Mikael Uhre in the 59th minute, and the game began to open up for both sides.

Unfortunately, as play opened up, so did the leaky Union back-line. Jack Elliott was unlucky to be on the wrong end of an own-goal after a nice attacking move by Toronto.

One of Mbaizo and/or Bedoya really needed to have followed their mark into the box here, as both of their lapses in concentration allowed one extra Toronto body to leak free.

Not 6 minutes later, Elliott was again involved in a goal for the opposition, as he smacked an ill-advised pass on the ground down the middle directly to Toronto feet. Toronto were easily able to take advantage, ending Jack Elliott’s night in poor fashion – as he was subbed off for Chris Donovan shortly later.

There will be questions as to why Damion Lowe didn’t just step up and draw the Toronto attacker offside. Questions can also be asked of Bedoya not following his man into the box. And more important questions can be asked as to why Elliott didn’t just thump the ball clear, as he had no options to pass to.

But that is the state of how this ship is sailing right now. Nothing is fully working, the team lose focus in key moments, and when it looks like the pendulum is swinging in favor of the Union, it swings back twice as mighty.

The youths

Every Saturday evening for the last two months has featured truly uninspiring efforts at the most beautiful game right before our eyes. Sometimes a midweek rendition even reprises on Wednesdays.

Every week, another venture into the underworld. Another opportunity for any sort of positive feeling when things are going well to be completely pile-driven into the earth.

Though, the Copa America and the European Championship competitions were often pleasing respites from the truly abysmal soccer that has reared its ugly head in Chester this season. Even some cool storylines emerged to take the mind off of the slog.

One of those storylines: aesthetically pleasing soccer prevailed.

Spain emerged victorious over England in the Euro 2024 final, proving that when given the choice, the soccer gods prefer beautiful football over the opportunity for the sport to “come home” in 2024.

Another cool storyline: the attacking load for Spain was carried by Spain’s young budding wingers 16 year-old Lamine Yamal and 21 year-old Nico Williams.

The pair combined for the opener in the Euro 2024 final in utterly stunning fashion.

And in a similar vein, the Union have decided it fit to include the next iteration of the Union’s youth in the first-team for the first time on Wednesday night vs. New England.

Along with announcing the return of Jose Martinez and Andre Blake, Jim Curtin shared in his presser yesterday that 14 year-old phenom Cavan Sullivan will feature in the Union’s game-day roster on Wednesday.

Yet another turn to the youth this Club has so heavily invested in. Can this iteration be the one that plays the beautiful game well enough to pick an entire club up off its rear-end before he leaves for Europe?

By himself, that is unlikely.

But when Cole Palmer laced a curler past GK Unai Simón last Sunday, I thought that football might actually be coming home. I was wrong about that, and I hope just as much to be wrong about this.