Union's goal is to cut down goals against
The Union sit on top of Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference and are unbeaten in nine of their last 10 MLS games, but a recent trend of allowing goals can't be ignored.
The Union sit on top of Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference and are unbeaten in nine of their last 10 MLS games, but a recent trend of allowing goals can't be ignored.
And it hasn't.
The Union (7-4-5, 26 points) have allowed eight goals in their last three MLS games, following a 4-3 win Wednesday over the visiting Chicago Fire. And that doesn't count the two goals they surrendered in a 3-2 U.S. Open Cup win on June 15 against the Harrisburg City Islanders.
So counting that game, it's been four straight games in which they have allowed two or more goals.
They hope to tighten up defensively when the Union host the Vancouver Whitecaps (6-7-3, 21 points) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Talen Energy Stadium.
"We don't want to develop that trend where it is OK to give up goals," Union keeper Andre Blake said. "It could be just a team slump where the ball is not bouncing our way, but we can't have it continue."
The Union allowed three or more goals in consecutive games for the first time this year. They also allowed three last Saturday in a 3-2 loss to New York City FC at Yankee Stadium.
Blake, who had been among the top three MLS keepers for most of the season in goals-against average, has dropped to a tie for ninth with a 1.33 average.
He can't be directly blamed for many of the goals. Against Chicago, the Fire scored on a breakaway in the second minute and then off two second-half corner kicks.
"It wasn't a situation where teams put 15 to 20 passes together and picked us apart," Union coach Jim Curtin said of the Chicago game. "That would lead to more concern. But, that said, the two corner-kick goals were preventable."
The Union saw rookie center back Josh Yaro return Wednesday. He had been out since suffering a shoulder injury May 25. With fellow center back Ken Tribbett receiving a first-half yellow card, Curtin inserted Yaro in the second half, not wanting to take a chance of Tribbett's getting a second yellow.
Curtin said he has decided which one will start, but he wasn't willing to share that information Friday.
As for Blake, the game against NYC FC was his first one back with the Union after competing for Jamaica in Copa America.
"Copa was a good experience, and now getting back with the guys is a great feeling," Blake said. "It's now time to figure out what is going on, and we have to get back to not giving up goals."
@sjnard