Soccer being a team sport, player ratings have the inherent flaw of isolating an individual out of eleven interconnected pieces. In this case, it was eleven pieces who struggled to find consistency in connecting well.
Union
Philadelphia Union
Match report: Fire 1-1 Union
Veljko Paunovic returned to the starting lineup and netted a fine opener, but the Union never took control of the match and a Pavel Pardo equalizer doomed Philadelphia to a single point in Chicago.
Preview: Philadelphia Union at Chicago Fire
The Union look to rebound quickly from disappointment, while Chicago’s focus is elsewhere. Not a good idea for a last place team. It has all the makings of a Union romp, but can Danny Mwanga and Sebastien Le Toux finish their chances?
Player ratings & analysis: Union 1-2 Rapids
The Ruiz announcement distracted attention from the Union’s first home loss of the season. Time for some analysis and player ratings
Stat chat: Union v Rapids
A look at the Union’s numbers in the loss to Colorado. Plus, how the Union have done when their opponent scores first, the numbers for when Le Toux and Mwanga have started together in 2011 and a look at the Union’s season averages for home and away games.
Time for change
Nakazawa and Mapp struggled mightily against Colorado, Mwanga and Le Toux can’t find the back of the net and the Union’s lack of width bites them in the ass yet again. What else is new? Oh yeah, Carlos Ruiz is gone.