Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union
The Philadelphia Union fought back in the second half of a home match against the L.A. Galaxy, snatching all three points and the Boys in Blue first win against the Galaxy since 2012.
Here are the ratings.
Player Ratings
GK Andrew Rick – 6
Not a bad game from the teenager (don’t forget, Andre Blake was 24 when he earned the starting job). Defensive lapses led to both goals.
LB Kai Wagner – 6
The German left back was not credited with an assist on the Union’s first goal, but he deserved one as his corner kick sailed perfectly to the far corner of the six-yard box to find an unmarked Jakob Glesnes. Strong on defense, as usual, but he was caught watching a few yards behind the play when the Galaxy’s Christian Ramirez had an open header after a Nathan Harriel giveaway.
CB Nathan Harriel – 6
Harriel would deserve a rating of 7 for a nice deflection leading to the first Union goal of the night but is knocked down a point for his horrible giveaway in the 90th minute. It led to an open Galaxy header that should have been a third goal for L.A.
CB Jakob Glesnes – 6
Poor defensive lapses led to both L.A. goals, and neither was any one particular player’s fault. It was his strong header on goal that was deflected in by Harriel.
RB Frankie Westfield – 6
Another decent night for the other teenage starter on the night. Strong offensively with three chances created and four shots taken. However, was caught so far up field that he was not even in the picture frame for either of L.A.’s goals.
DM Danley Jean-Jacques – 7
Danley is really coming into his own as a box-to-box midfielder. It was his cross that led to the tying goal. A fifth game in a row with a goal or an assist.
DM Jovan Lukić – 6
The Serb had a quieter night than Danely but was still solid at the base of the midfield box. Only took one shot, which was blocked, but had a solid game defensively.
AM Quinn Sullivan – 6
Always strong pressing the opponent, Sullivan pressed like crazy against the Galaxy. Perhaps that and schedule congestion were the reasons he only went 58 minutes. He only had one touch in the Galaxy box and only created one chance.
AM Indiana Vassilev – 6
Not a particularly strong night from the attacking midfielder. He too pressed hard against L.A. but like his partner did not create much offensively. Vassilev did have three touches in the opposition box but also lost two dribbles in the midfield.
FWD Bruno Damiani – 6
Damiani started again, but with the same end result – no goal on the night. While he did hustle, his passing left something to be desired as his accuracy was off on the night. Subbed off for Uhre in the 58th minute.
FWD Tai Baribo – 8
Baribo went the full ninety minutes plus injury time, and fans and the Union can be grateful he did. His second goal on the night at 90+6′ snatched all three points for the Boys in Blue. Two terrific headers led to a brace (his third multi-goal game of the season) and the lead in the Golden Boot race.
Substitutes:
(58’) Mikael Uhre – 7
Brought on to replace Damiani, he helped inject a spark into the Union offense. He should have done better with his one shot on target (right to John McCarthy), but his beautiful chip to Baribo for the winning goal bumps his rating up a point.
(58’) Alejandro Bedoya – 7
More so than Uhre, Bedoya sparked a flagging Union offense (which had battled back with two goals). He replaced Sullivan on the right side and immediately pressured L.A., creating four chances in his forty minutes on the field.
(86’) Cavan Sullivan – 7
The phenom (to be?) was instrumental in the Union’s winning goal, kicking a mishit clearance backwards over his own head to Bedoya who passed to Uhre in the six-yard box. He gets a 7 simply for keeping the play alive.
(86’) Olwethu Makhanya – n/a
Geiger Counter
Fotis Bazakos / Sergii Demianchuk – 7
Bazakos called an even game, until he left with an injury to be replaced by Demianchuk. The Galaxy probably believe this score is a bit high as Demianchuk awarded a corner leading to the winning goal – a corner that L.A. felt was a goal kick.
Player of the Match – Tai Baribo
Does anything need to be said? When he’s on, he’s on.
What’s Next…
The Union travel to Georgia to face Atlanta FC on Saturday, May 17. 7:30 pm on Apple TV.
I think Harriel and Glesnes are a little high here especially the latter. While it’s nice that they contributed on the first goal, their primary job is to defend and they failed on that big time during the first half. Plus, Glesnes had some real inconsistency where on multiple occasions he would press forward with the ball and then make an unforced pass directly to the feet of a player on the Galaxy.
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Regarding the refs, I would have been fine with those scores until I saw the pictures of the WWE slam on Baribo at the top of the box that went completely unpunished.
Seconded on both of these.
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The U’s defensive shape was a mess in the first half, and officials done decide games but they should at least try and adjudicate them fairly.
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The U won though. All 10s is suitable as well.
Why does everyone think Nate Harriel was good?? Yes he scored (accidentally), but was poor defensively on both goals. Was I the only one who saw him run over and get in the way of Glesnes’ defensive run on the opening LA goal?
No, you weren’t. But what do we know? He must be good if MLS put him on Team of the Matchday. (That, or MLS is showing how ignorant it is and how much they reward defenders who score rather than defend).
Have to say that the subs were key. They used the fresh legs to pester the Galaxy. And were instrumental in the winning goal. The ref was ok. I don’t care for his usual lack of mobility. But no one likes to see someone get injured.Harriel and Glesnes were both off their game. Not what any Union supporter wants to see. Hopefully they get back on track. Not gonna quibble over the scores. Keep up the great work!! Appreciate you and all the PSP writers!