Photo Courtesy Philadelphia Union

The Union crashed and burned out of the US Open Cup at the hands of Nashville SC by losing track of Sam Surridge in the box on three separate occasions.
Bradley Carnell’s rotated lineup over the weekend appeared to be all for nothing, as his Union side failed to look remotely like what we’ve come to see over the course of the season until the first substitutes entered in the 64th minute. Maybe it was the trip between Vancouver and Nashville without going home, maybe being handed the largest defeat in club history days before was too dejecting a hump to get over, but one thing is for certain: the Union’s biggest lapse of the season could not have come at a worse time. 

Starting XI:

Andrew Rick – 6

He could not have done more on the Nashville goals. For the second time in four days, he was let down by the defenders in front of him. Five saves, including a beautiful parry on a Mukhtar free kick, see him earn an alright score despite the result. I am partial to a goalkeeper my age who is clearly doing what he can to fill the shoes of the club legend. 

Kai Wagner – 5

Wagner was able to involve himself more once Quinn Sullivan entered the pitch, but his yellow card foul in the corner created the opportunity for Nashville’s second goal. 

Olwethu Makhanya – 3

After making the initial clearance on the free kick, Makhanya fell asleep and let Surridge put away the rebound after Rick’s save on the second goal, and he let Surridge right past him to complete the Englishman’s hat-trick. While he may not have had his outright “Makhanya moment”, as I’ve begun to call them, he continues to turn off at just the right time for opponents to take advantage.

Jakob Glesnes – 3

Glesnes lost Surridge during the long throw that led to Nashville’s first-half goal. He often crept up the field and left Makhanya to handle breakaways on his own. 

Frankie Westfield – 5

The homegrown had an okay night. His yellow card foul on Ahmed Qasem was necessary to stop that attack. 

Danley Jean Jacques – 5

The Haitian did what he could to move the ball through midfield in possession, but could have been more prolific in his attacking efforts.

Jovan Lukic – 5

Lukic looked slightly more defensively solid than Danley, albeit not much better.

Milan Iloski – 4

Was frustratingly uninvolved in the press, and earned a yellow for elbowing Edvard Tagseth in the eyebrow. 

Indiana Vassilev – 5

Credited with the assist on Quinn’s goal, but was halfhearted in his pressing efforts before the first substitutions.

Bruno Damiani – 3.0

The club-record signing’s lone contributions to the match were three fouls that could have been ejections on the wrong night, and trying to stop the second goal by putting his hand up and making contact with the ball, which could have been a second yellow on its own.

Tai Baribo – 5

Missed two chances that could have gotten the Union back into the game. He seemed disjointed in passing sequences throughout the match. 

Substitutes:

(64’) Mikael Uhre – 6

Could have been more clinical with his chances, but anything is better than errant fouls. 

(64’) Quinn Sullivan – 7

His entering the match gave the team much-needed life, and his outside-the-box strike cut the deficit in half. He played all over the pitch to keep the Union in it. 

(86’) Sal Olivas – N/A

(86’) Jeremy Rafanello – N/A

Geiger Counter 

Victor Rivas– 4

Rivas kept a tight grip on the match throughout, issuing five cards to Union players. He let Damiani get away with a few questionable offenses, but fouls that could have been called the other way ultimately handed Nashville their best chances. Also, letting Tagseth reenter the pitch after receiving treatment without notifying the rest of the players on the pitch was egregious. 

Player of the Match – Sam Surridge

The MLS Golden Boot leader capitalized on Union defensive lapses to earn himself a hat trick and send his club to their second-ever cup final in club history. 

What’s Next….

The Union return to MLS play on Saturday afternoon against the New England Revolution at Subaru Park.