Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union Communications

Philadelphia Union welcomed Pittsburgh Riverhounds to a chilly, rainy Subaru Park for a first-ever Keystone State Showdown in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 Wednesday night. It was a starting 11 similar to the last USOC game, though without Bedoya or Uhre. The Union played with purpose, intensity and confidence, putting four goals from four different players — Damiani (PK), Vassilev, Jean-Jacques and Lukic — past the Pittsburgh keeper and sending the Boys in Blue into the Cup quarterfinals. Tonight’s result extends the Union’s unbeaten streak across all competitions to eight games.

First half

From the opening moments of the match, Pittsburgh seemed content to let the Union have the ball, to absorb pressure and strike on the counterattack. But a yellow card foul by defender Biasi in the 12th minute set up a free kick that resulted in a hand ball in the box. And a penalty. Damiani stepped up and made no mistake, scoring in the 14th minute. Cavan Sullivan’s forceful dribbling, along with brother Quinn’s incisive passing kept the Riverhounds pinned back in defense for much of the half. Nevertheless, down a goal, the Riverhounds seemed to grow into the game.

When Pittsburgh did go forward they carried a threat, exploiting both left and right flanks. Glesnes picked up a yellow in the 22nd minute for an ill-timed slide tackle to break up a promising attack, and in the 43rd minute, Pittsburgh forced a diving double save from Andy Rick. Barely two-and-a-half minutes later, in the first minute of stoppage time, a series of intricate one-touch passes through the midfield resulted in Quinn Sullivan passing a ball through a defender’s legs to an onrushing Vassilev, who slotted the ball home to give the Union a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

Second half

The rain turned heavy as the two sides took the field for the second half, but the Union started strong, looking to put the game beyond doubt quickly. Some early, promising attacks on counters did not result in goals, however, with Pittsburgh smothering a series of early chances before the Union got their third goal through Damiani and Jean-Jacques. Pittsburgh began to make inroads down the Union’s right flank and through the hold up play of their striker Augustine Williams. But they were unable to capitalize on it.

The Union seemed to put the game out of reach in the 54th minute through Damiani and Jean Jacques, bringing the score to 3-0. But the Riverhounds’ substitution in the 63rd minute of Jorge Garcia for Bertin Jacquesson on the left brought a strong, curling strike for a goal from Garcia with his first touches on the ball. Pittsburgh’s lone goal was anything but a consolation goal, a bending rocket from distance. In the final moments of the game, Jovan Lukic drove and weaved through the Pittsburgh lines, split two defenders, picked his spot and passed in the fourth goal of the night.

It was a game of firsts: In addition to being the first-ever meeting between Philadelphia Union and Pittsburgh Riverhounds, midfielder Ben Bender made his debut for the Philadelphia Union; Frankie Westfield and Danley Jean Jacques made their first U.S. Open Cup starts tonight; and Bruno Damiani, Indiana Vassilev, Danley Jean Jacques, and Jovan Lukic scored their first U.S. Open Cup goals. And it was the first game where Cavan and Quinn Sullivan started together.

 Three points:

•  Rotation: Bradley Carnell continues to effectively rotate the squad through this congested period. Jovan Lukic played only about 25 minutes, Nathan Harriel played even less. Kai Wagner was not called on. Carnell is effectively giving minutes to younger players, getting them experience. In his post-game press conference, he also noted that Jesus Bueno’s improvement, and getting more minutes, has a positive effect, in terms of competition, in the performances of Indiana Vassilev and Danley Jean-Jacques.
• Midfield Play: The Union continue to look more comfortable and confident in possession, with players in Quinn Sullivan, Cavan Sullivan and Danley Jean-Jacques who will run at defenses, opening up lanes for passing through lines. Tonight the passing was incisive.
  
• Andrew Rick: The 19 year-old continues to impress. (Yes, he almost let a pass through his legs, but he didn’t; and he didn’t let it rattle him.) The club’s form dipped significantly during Andre Blake’s absences last year, but there has been no dip in team form with Rick in goal.  

Lineups

Philadelphia Union: Andrew Rick; Olivier Mbaizo, Olwethu Makhanya, Jakob Glesnes, Frankie Westfield (Nate Harriel 72’); Jesus Bueno, Danley Jean Jacques (Jovan Lukic 65’) , Cavan Sullivan, Quinn Sullivan ( Jeremy Rafanello 84’), Indiana Vassilev (Ben Bender 66’); Bruno Damiani (Mikael Uhre 66’).

Substitutes not used: Oliver Semmle, Kai Wagner.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds: SC: Eric Dick; Luke Biasi (Perrin Barnes 46’), Guillaume Vacter ( Charles Ahl 73’), Sean Suber (Max Broughton 84’) , Roberto Ydrach; Junior Etou, Robbie Mertz (Aidan O’Toole 63’), Danny Griffin, Jackson Wälti; Bertin Jacquesson ( Jorge Garcia 63’), Augustine Williams.

Substitutes not used: Jacob Randolph, Bradley Sample.

GOALS/ASSISTS
PHI – Bruno Damiani (PK) 14’
PHI – Indiana Vassilev (Q. Sullivan) 45+1’
PHI – Danley Jean Jacques (Damiani) 54’
PIT – Jorge Garcia (Williams) 63’
PHI – Jovan Lukic (unassisted) 86’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
PIT – Luke Biasi (caution) 12’
PHI – Jakob Glesnes (caution) 22’
PHI – Danley Jean Jacques (caution) 65’

Referee: Natalie Simon