Why Union's Rosenberry has redemption in mind
This year the Union haven't taken defender Keegan Rosenberry off the field and the rookie from Georgetown can't wait to return to action to atone for a difficult performance on Saturday.
This year the Union haven't taken defender Keegan Rosenberry off the field and the rookie from Georgetown can't wait to return to action to atone for a difficult performance on Saturday.
Rosenberry, the only MLS field player to play every minute of his team's games this year, was responsible for allowing both goals in Saturday's 2-1 Major League Soccer loss at Portland
On the first goal, Rosenberry failed to cleanly trap a ball, then had it stolen by Darren Mattocks, who fed teammate Diego Valeri in front of the goal.
On the second goal, Mattocks blocked a Rosenberry pass and then sped toward the goal, taking several dribbles with Rosenberry defending, before sending a shot toward the far post that was tipped in by Fanendo Adi.
From a player who earned an MLS all-star berth in his inaugural season, Saturday was a rare off-game for Rosenberry.
And now he's looking to Saturday when the Union (11-11-8, 41 points) visit Toronto FC (13-8-8, 47 points).
"I think anytime in any sport if you have had a bad performance or even your team has, you look forward to correcting it," Rosenberry said.
Rosenberry added that as a defender, he has to have a short memory.
"It is a learning experience," he said. "That is what happens when you are a young player, it comes early and hopefully not often."
Now Rosenberry and the Union face a Toronto team that is in first place in the Eastern Conference, with one of the hottest players around, forward Jozy Altidore, who has scored seven goals in his last seven games, including one in a 3-1 win over the host Union on Aug. 20.
Toronto's Sebastian Giovinco, the reigning MLS MVP who has 16 goals in 26 games, but has missed the last two with a quadriceps and adductor injury, is questionable, according to a team official.
The Union are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, where the top six make the playoffs. They hold a seven-point lead over the two teams just below sixth, D.C. United and Orlando. Both have a game in hand on the Union, but they also play each other on Saturday. (Union fans would likely root for a draw).
The Union are 0-2-1 in their last three games and have allowed six goals in this span. So the Union and Rosenberry will look to bounce back against a talented Toronto team.
"He been a guy whether playing against top players in a big game against the (Los Angeles) Galaxy for example, or a team not as good, he tends to have pretty consistent performances," coach Jim Curtin said of Rosenberry. "This one we saw was outlier and it was really two plays to be honest."
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