Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union Communications

A highly rotated Union squad took the field tonight, hoping to ride a two-game winning streak into tonight’s match against Houston. A win would have kept the Union on top of the Eastern Conference, but they will have to be content with one point, and sharing the second place with Nashville. It was the Union’s third game in a week and–with 12 minutes of added time in the first half and 11 minutes in the second–it is one of the longest matches of the season. For any team. There were exciting passages of play, a goal by Alejandro Bedoya, some good goalkeeping from Andrew Rick, and the first time Jack McGlynn played against his former club. It was also at times a sloppy, chippy, start-and-stop affair, which ended with a sending off, for Frankie Westfield in the dying moments of the game. In the end, Bradley Carnell seemed content with the week’s results, if not happy, to have taken two of three games, and to remain unbeaten.

First Half

The match got off to a very chippy start, with Houston content to slow down the game by fouling. During the first ten minutes, neither team was able to establish any kind of rhythm. At one point, referee Rosendo Mendoza could be seen gesturing with his hands, telling both sides to calm down before things got out of hand. It didn’t help. Thereafter, the Union did begin to put some passes together and to get behind the Dynamo defense. In the 15th minute, Mbaizo took a quick throw-in from near the right corner flag, which found Jakob Glesnes who guided a superb, bending cross into the six yard box. Dorsey, the Houston defender, mishandled it and tried to chest it back to the goalkeeper. Alejandro Bedoya pounced on the opportunity, slamming it home for the first goal of the game. Officially, the goal is registered as “unassisted,” but Glesnes served the ball up on a plate.

The physical play continued and the yellow cards accumulated. Mbaizo got a yellow in the 17th minute, and Harriel saw yellow in the 26th. Houston began putting passes together that opened up chances. One Houston strike hit the post, and in the 30th minute, Andrew Rick came up big with an inspiring double save that was chalked off for offside. In the 33rd minute Mickael Uhre collected a yellow card, and in the 39th minute Franco Escobar received a yellow, Houston’s first. Just before first half stoppage time, the call on the field Rafanello was judged to have committed a foul just outside the box in a dangerous area. VAR annulled the foul, and therefore the free kick that Jack McGlynn was lining up, was annulled.

But in the 9th minute of first half stoppage time, Jesus Bueno was judged to have committed a handball in the box on a free kick. Jack McGlynn took the penalty kick, sending Rick the wrong way and leveling the score at 1-1.

Second Half

Olwethu Makhanya, Danley Jean Jacques, and Tai Baribo were all subbed in to begin the second half. Kai Wagner came in for Mbaizo in the 58th minute, and Indiana Vassilev substituted for the goalscorer Bedoya in the 73rd. The chances came, particularly through Danley’s runs, and precise passes. When Wagner came on, it looked like the Union would get the go-ahead goal and take all three points. But on two separate scoring opportunities, two Union players got in each other’s way and the chances were lost. The Union looked to have a penalty kick given in the dying minutes, but VAR annulled the call due to a foul in the earlier stage of play. Frankie Westfield retaliated after a foul and was sent off. The Union hung on for their share points.

Three Points

• Converting chances. The Union had a number of chances, but could not put the game out of reach. Damiani is really struggling, and it’s difficult to see who his best strike partnership is, and twice in this match our own players proved to be effective defenders. Inadvertently.
• Concentration for 90 minutes. Not conceding goals late in games, holding onto leads, pressing advantage when a man up, and not committing red card offenses. It might be the relative, overall youth of the club.
• Alejandro Bedoya. He continues to lead by example and to provide energy and experience to the team. Apple TV called Jack McGlynn the Man of the Match, but Bedoya’s goal was scored in open play.

Lineups
Philadelphia Union: Andrew Rick; Jakob Glesnes (Olwethu Makhanya 45’), Nathan Harriel, Olivier Mbaizo (Kai Wagner 58’), Alejandro Bedoya (Indiana Vassilev 73’), Jesus Bueno, Jovan Lukic (Danley Jean Jacques 45’), Jeremy Rafanello (Quinn Sullivan 90’), Bruno Damiani, Mikael Uhre (Tai Baribo 45’).

Substitutes not used: Andre Blake; Cavan Sullivan, Chris Donovan.

Houston Dynamo FC: Jonathan Bond ; Ethan Bartlow , Pablo Ortíz, Franco Escobar ( Felipe Andrade 69’), Griffin Dorsey (Erik Dueña 90+10’), Artur , Jack McGlynn, Júnior Urso, Ezequiel Ponce ( Duane Holmes 37’), Ondrej Lingr (Gabriel Segal 90’), Sebastian Kowalczyk ( Lawrence Ennali 69’).

Substitutes not used: Jimmy Maurer , Amine Bassi , Obafemi Awodesu, Toyosi Olusanya.

GOALS/ASSISTS
PHI – Alejandro Bedoya (unassisted) 15’
HOU – Jack McGlynn (PK) 45 + 10’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
PHI – Olivier Mbaizo (caution) 17’
PHI – Nathan Harriel (caution) 26’
PHI – Mikael Uhre (caution) 34’
HOU – Franco Escobar (caution) 38’
HOU – Griffin Dorsey (caution) 46’
HOU – Ondrej Lingr (caution) 49’
PHI – Frankie Westfield (caution) 74’
PHI – Frankie Westfield (ejected) 90+9’

Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Assistant Referees: Adam Wienckowski, Meghan Mullen
Fourth Official: Alyssa Pennington
VAR: Elijio Arreguin
AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
Weather: 89 degrees and mostly sunny.

TEAM NOTES
Four Homegrowns started for the Union, tying for the most to start a league match this season.

Homegrown goalkeeper Andrew Rick made his 10th start of the season.

Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya tied Cory Burke for seventh most goals in club history (25).

Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya scored his first MLS goal of the season, becoming the 17th different player to score an MLS goal for the Union this season.