Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union Communications
All the momentum seemed to be behind the Union for the last game before the international break against FC Dallas. The Union hoped to carry that momentum into the break. They were unbeaten in 10 games and 3 points clear at the top of the Eastern Conference, while Dallas was in 11th place in the Western Conference and winless in their last five games. The Union hadn’t won in Frisco, Texas, since 2019, and unfortunately, that dismal streak will continue, as Dallas FC and Philadelphia Union will share the points in a 0-0 tie.
This was the final game in the congested May schedule, too, and once again, coach Carnell had a heavily rotated the squad. Andre Blake was not in the lineup or on the bench. Bedoya got the start, as did Donovan and Uhre up top; and Ben Bender got his first start–and only second appearance–for the Union in midfield. Glesnes, Quinn Sullivan, as well as Lukic and Vassilev all started on the bench.
First Half
The game began slowly, with both teams probing the other for weaknesses. Dallas was comfortable letting the Union hold most of the possession. From the first minutes of the game it looked like both teams were going to play patient while looking for the killer strike. In the ninth minute, the Union had their first shot on a goal, a flicked header from Bedoya that Donovan put just wide. This was followed a minute later by a quick restart that saw Dallas slice through to the opposite end of the field, where their effort was also wide of goal. In the next minute, the Union played a lovely ball between the two Dallas deep lying defenders, but again the effort was off target.
For the first 20 minutes of the half, some promising build ups were cut short by poor touches, or passes to players who weren’t on the same wavelength. But from about midway through, the Union grew into the game and looked threatening. In the 31st minute, Dallas defender Abubakar was given a caution for taking down Michel Uhre, whose runs were causing problems for the Dallas defense. Unfortunately, just four minutes later, Uhre had to come off with a leg injury, substituted by Damiani. In the 39th minute, Abubakar received his second yellow and was sent off for scything Donovan as sped toward goal. A follow-up yellow seemed to be issued to Dallas coach Eric Quill in the 40th minute.
Second Half
If Dallas’ first half game plan had been to defend from deep lying positions and strike with long balls over the top, with a man down, they bunkered in and clogged up the middle. The Union continued to create chances, but weren’t able to get in behind the defense. Lukic was subbed on at the half for Jesus Bueno, and in the 63rd minute, Baribo and Vassilev were subbed in for Donovan and Jean Jacques, followed by Quinn Sullivan for Bedoya in the 72nd minute. Ben Bender did not have a standout first start, but he did look dangerous at times, and he and Wagner looked to have a good understanding on the left. It will be interesting to watch how he and that partnership develop.
At a recent press conference, coach Bradley Carnell discussed what he called the Union’s “wastefulness” in front of goal, and how the score line against Miami should have been higher. That inability to finish their chances showed tonight against Dallas, too, and it is certainly something the Union will need to address. Despite playing a man up for the last 50 minutes of the game, having 62% possession and outshooting FC Dallas 23-7, the Union failed to put a shot on goal until Lukic’s strike in the 67th minute The Union put 28 crosses into the box, but still couldn’t find a winner. Kai Wagner continued to find space and time to swing in dangerous crosses.
The Union remain on top of the Eastern Conference as the international break begins, and first in the Supporter Shield running.
Three Points
- Converting chances.
The Union are a strong attacking team, but they are, as Carnell pointed out, wasteful in front of goal. This was a frustrating performance. If the Union had been able to capitalize on their chances in the first half, then the low block defense Dallas used to salvage a point for most of the second half would not have mattered. The Union have momentum, good build-up and dynamic movement in the box. - Evolving squad.
Being able to call on multiple players, Carnell’s “next man up mentality” has kept the team fresh and minimized injuries. He is getting the best out of some very young players, like Andrew Rick, and Frankie Westfield, and that is exciting. - Countering the low block.
Lesser teams will see how Dallas played tonight, and they will see how effective lying deep is against the Union attack. As a top team in the league, the Union are likely to face this tactic more often. They will need to combine speed of play with varying tactics.
Lineups
Philadelphia Union: Andrew Rick; Nathan Harriel, Olwethu Makhanya, Kai Wagner, Frankie Westfield, Alejandro Bedoya (Quinn Sullivan 72’), Jesus Bueno (Jovan Lukic 45’) , Ben Bender, Danley Jean Jacques (Indiana Vassilev 63’), Chris Donovan (Tai Baribo 63’), Mikael Uhre (Bruno Damiani 37’).
Substitutes not used: Oliver Semmle, Jakob Glesnes, Jeremy Rafanello, Cavan Sullivan.
FC Dallas: Maarten Paes; Marco Farfan, Lalas Abubakar, Patrickson Delgado, Petar Musa ( Logan Farrington 87’), Luciano Acosta, Anderson Julio (Bernard Kamungo 83’) , Ramiro, Shaquell Moore, Sebastien Ibeagha, Kaick da Silva Ferreira.
Substitutes not used: Sebastian Lletget, Katlego Ntsabeleng, Pedrinho, Show, Álvaro Ribeiro de Brito Augusto, Michael Collodi, Nolan Chandler Norris.
GOALS/ASSISTS
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
DAL – Lalas Abubakar (caution) 31’
DAL – Lalas Abubakar (caution, ejected) 39’
DAL – Kaick da Silva Ferreira (caution) 75’
DAL – Sebastien Ibeagha (caution) 90+1’
Referee: Sergii Boiko
Why not start the best players and try to score early against a poor team, taking all 3 points into the break ?
Resting up for the friendly ?
Get the easy points when you can !
Good Luck on the break, hopefully no one who got called up will get hurt.
DOOP.
Yes, there is a break coming up, but it was still their 9th game in 4 weeks and it was in the heat of Dallas. So planning to use your top players for 30 minutes rather than 60 or 90 makes some sense. Plus, resting Baribo definitely makes sense given that he’s going to be travelling half way around the world and back during the international break. Not so much as to keep him rested for his national team, but so he’s not as worn out come October and November.
I get that, but how about starting with them, and subbing them out after scoring a few…
Maybe putting goal hungry Tai out there when they went down to 10 men ?
Ymmv.
Same basic reasoning as rehabbing an injured player in the later stages of a game rather than the earlier ones.
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The opposition will be more tired and thd pace of play will be less,
Generally speaking, a point on the road is a good result. . . but not when the team is up a man for 50 minutes. I attended my 11 year-old grandson’s soccer tournament and I ended up listening to the first half on the radio. I did see the second half. Yuck.
The Union played S-L-O-W-L-Y and I did not see any sense of urgency in their play. I think Damiani needs a sports psychologist who speaks Spanish–“Aqui es el gol–ponga el balon aqui!” [For those who speak Spanish, I apologize for the lack of accents and punctuation.]
That quote applies to Donovan also. If he had made even one of his first three misses we would have 3poibts. Not that he was the only problem, but he remains a problem
Hard not to come away with 3 points a man up. I know all the teams had a similar schedule, but the boys looked gassed. All of them looked slow and without a doubt no creativity in the final third. But it’s 15 points from a long stretch of games and a quarter final game on the way. Not so bad I think.
The Union has always been vulnerable to the low block.
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You beat the low block with a game winning experienced Attacking Mid or Striker.
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The Union’s business play either seels them on, or avoids buying them.
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They have always been vulnerable to the low block. It is a weakness of their overall strategy, always has been.
With each appearance I’m starting to think that Damiani is on the fast track to being our worst DP signing ever. He provides almost no contributions of value
There will never be a worse signing than Rais M’Bolhi.
mmmm…tasty throwback. Can’t disagree.
This is, and will always be, correct
Damiani has been really bad. Is he the Union’s highest paid player? Huge disappointment.
This would have been a good opportunity to sub on Cavan Sullivan for the last 20 minutes and let him try stuff and run at the backline. Maybe an FCD defender leaves a leg out and Union get a cheap PK, because just crossing it into the box wasn’t working.
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Bender offered nothing, glad he got 90 minutes of cardio. Hopefully Damiani just needs to see one of these headers go into the net to get him started because the vibes right now, they are not good.
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Good luck to all the callups, hope for good performances and no injuries.
C. Sullivan is getting ready to practice with Manchester City when they are training in Philly during the Club World Cup. I am guessing, but logic would suggest the Union give Man City’s wishes every consideration.
And if that is true, let him leave on the plane back to England with them and sign an actual attacking mid. Because, as you said above, the deep low block is how you beat Energy Drink Soccer and after Orlando and Dallas got a point using it, I would expect to see more of it in the second half of the season. He is the only player on this roster with any creative 1v1 attacking skills, and if Man City is determining his availability it is hurting the team.
Win at home, draw on the road, win the Shield.
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Drawing the red was savvy. Trying to score against the world’s lowest low block was ugly.
Damiani: Arristegueta lite
You’ve invoked a name I care to forget
Dallas defended well at home. Credit to them. What really bothers me is that Philadelphia can’t do the same, at home, WITH A LEAD.
Annoying as hell to be unable to finish the chances and let slip 2 points like that. However, this is still one of the top offensive teams in the league — 3rd or 4th. So it hasn’t been a problem overall.
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Also, the team finished the May meat grinder with a record of 6-0-3, and in the 3 draws, they outplayed every opponent. Plus they are still not only atop the Eastern Conference, but they lead it by several points.
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Big picture, it’s been a remarkable first half of the season.
+1
excellent point. Let’s breath, and come back ready for more in the 2nd half.