Photo: Ron Soliman
The Philadelphia Union welcomed “sister city” team Eintracht Frankfurt for a Saturday evening friendly at Subaru Park. The match finished 2-2, with Bruno Damiani and Chris Donovan scoring for the Union. The Union started the match with a near-full complement of starters. Union Academy product Paxten Aaronson started the second half for Frankfurt, and Union head coach Bradley Carnell nearly emptied his bench as twenty Union players took to the pitch.
Here are the ratings.
Player Ratings
GK Andre Blake – 6
The goal scored on Blake was hardly his fault. Made a fully stretched out save in the 12th minute and had a very good series of saves in the 27th minute, but some of his distributions, were, uh, not great.
LB Kai Wagner – 6
While he is an MLS stalwart, Frankfurt had no problem getting behind Wagner at times. His offensive prowess was also thwarted against the Bundesliga side, though it was his assist that led to Bruno Damiani’s goal.
CB Jakob Glesnes – 6
Not a bad half from the Norwegian; he was not directly at fault for the goal conceded while he was on the pitch.
CB Nathan Harriel – 5
Caught out of place more than once (once again starting out of position). Harriel looked out of sorts at times.
RB Frankie Westfield – 4
Westfield was beaten at the back post on a Frankfurt corner, and the ball was flicked on for Johnathan Burkhardt to easily score the opener.
DM Danley Jean-Jacques – 6
A decent half from the Haitian international.
DM Jesus Bueno – 6
The Venezuelan started this match and showed he can hold his own against higher level sides – at least in a friendly.
AM Quinn Sullivan – 7
Perhaps the brightest spot of the Union’s first half, as he consistently hassled Frankfurt and rocketed a long-range shot of the post.
AM Indiana Vassilev – 5
No less involved in play than Sullivan; was just not willing to take the chances that Sullivan did.
FWD Bruno Damiani – 7
Left wide open in the middle of the 6-year box, Damiani made no mistake on a corner from Wagner, heading home the first tying goal.
FWD Mikael Uhre – 4
Uhre needed to do better with the chances afforded to him. After a quick restart, he shot just wide with much of the goal open for a better placed ball.
Substitutes:
(46’) Andrew Rick – 5
Was not called upon to make as many saves as Blake and looked indecisive at times.
(46’) Olwethu Makhanya – 6
Played well in his half on the pitch.
(46′) Olivier Mbaizo – 5
Where was Mbaizo on Frankfurt’s second goal?
(46’) Jovan Lukić – 4
A relatively quiet night from Lukić, who made too many poor passes and gave away the ball too easily.
(46′) Alejandro Bedoya – 7
A fine half from Bedoya, who, with a nice flick of the ball, started Donovan on his way to the second tying goal.
(46’) Jeremy Rafanello – 5
Held his own offensively, but was beaten down the left on Frankfurt’s second goal.
(46′) Chris Donovan – 8
He hustled and hustled. And then he made a perfect run when Bedoya started a break the other way. And it wasn’t a gimme – Donovan had to beat the keeper and outrun defenders trying to get back to pass nicely into an open net. Was later instrumental in what was almost a Frankfurt own goal.
(67’) Eddy Davis – 6
Showed nice pace out there.
(67’) Neil Pierre – 5
He is tall but raw. Expect more time from Pierre in friendlies and cups next year.
(68’) Sal Olivas – 5
Did the Donovan job of hustling to run to out the clock.
(79’) Oliver Semmle n/a
(79’) Isaiah Leflore n/a
Geiger Counter
?? – 7
A decently called game. Perhaps let a few yellow cards go, but no one was injured thankfully.
Player of the Match – Chris Donovan
Is a floodgate about to open? Doubtful. But Donovan played his usual game of hustling and running behind defensive lines, and it paid off with a great goal and some other offensive chances.
What’s Next…
The Union continue their homestand on Saturday, August 9th, when they host Toronto FC (7:30 p.m. ET/ Apple TV).
I thought Carnell did a good job managing minutes. The 4 starters who went more than 45 minutes where Uhre and Bueno who are both just back from injury and could use the extra time for conditioning and Harriel and Westfield who each had the previous week off due to suspension so didn’t need the extra rest as much as some of the others.
Union website is showing Iloski transfer is official. Signed through 2027 with an option for 2028.
Awesome.
There you see how much you know. Donovan for once does what he should always do and you give him man of the match. Any offensive player with some talent would have scored that goal. I hope for you that you’re better at lawyering.
Let me get this straight. Despite Chris spending the time and effort to put this together, you think it’s appropriate to personally criticize him twice. And then despite having 20 other players to choose from, you can’t even offer an alternative as to who you think should be man of the match?
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Personally, I agree with Chris. Donovan was man of the match.
If you regularly read PSP, you’d know I am a harsh critic of Donovan. But give him his due. Who else played better? I could have chosen Damiani, but Donovan scored when in the past a Union third or fourth stringer would have botched that.
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And I’m an awesome lawyer. So there.
Chris, I also agree with your ratings and player of the match selection.