Union lose at home to Real Salt Lake
With 12 games left in this Major League Soccer season it might be too early for the Union to begin to panic, but the team's recent play has to cause legitimate concern.
With 12 games left in this Major League Soccer season it might be too early for the Union to begin to panic, but the team's recent play has to cause legitimate concern.
The Union are now 1-4-1 in their last six MLS games following Sunday's 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake (RSL) before 18,091 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester.
The Union (8-8-6, 30 points) are four points ahead of Orlando, which holds the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference. (The top six will make the playoffs.)
The Union squandered a 1-0 halftime lead while falling to 7-2-3 at home.
In addition, the Union continued their frustration by remaining winless against Real Salt Lake with a 0-3-6 mark.
And finally, RSL (9-6-7) snapped a six-game winless streak, when it had gone 0-2-4 and scored just three goals.
The Union like to play at a fast pace, but this one may have gotten a little too quick.
"We have played too many end-to-end games now," Union coach Jim Curtin said.
Union forward C.J. Sapong set up the game's first goal when he was taken down in the penalty area by Aaron Maund. Sapong received a pass from Chris Pontius and shielded Maund from the ball before being taken down.
Roland Alberg converted the penalty kick in the 44th minute, hesitating and then depositing it in the lower left corner.
It was the eighth penalty kick of the season for the Union, a franchise high. The previous high was 2014 when the Union was 7 for 7.
Alberg is 4 for 4 on penalty kicks.
RSL forward Joao Plata tied the score on an outstanding shot from just outside the box in the 48th minute. Taking a quick touch from Demar Phillips from the left side, Plata sent a curler into the upper right corner.
RSL then took a 2-1 lead in the 54th minute on Javier Morales' perfectly placed chip from just inside the box that appeared to deflect slightly off Union midfielder Warren Creavalle and into the net.
"Two beautiful goals, kudos to those guys," Union keeper Andre Blake said.
Coming off a 5-1 loss to Montreal, the Union played better, but they gave a creative RSL team too much space to operate.
"We can be an inch closer, block a ball a little bit better, deny space a little more," Union midfielder Brian Carroll said.
In the 90th minute, the Union were thwarted by two outstanding saves by keeper Nick Rimando. The first came on a blast by Carroll, and then Rimando blocked a quick rebound by Ken Tribbett. This was his 180th win, tying Kevin Hartman for the most in MLS history and keeping his team unbeaten against the Union.
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