Philly Sports Jabronis
Report From Philadelphia Union
Chester, Pa – Philadelphia Union defeated Sporting Kansas City 2-0 Saturday night at Talen Energy Stadium. The victory is the eighth at home in 2016, setting a club record for wins in a season. The match ends a stretch of three matches in seven days where the Union went 2-1. Philadelphia improved to 11-9-7 on the season, third best in the Eastern Conference. The Union are back in action next Saturday when they travel to take on Eastern Conference foe Chicago Fire.
Philadelphia had their chances early, starting with the magnificent footwork of former Swiss National player Tranquillo Barnetta in the ninth minute. After fighting through the Sporting defense, Barnetta was able to make something out of nothing by dribbling to his right weaving in the box before settling just outside the box sending a shot towards the net. Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Alec Kann was able to extend his body and punch the attempt away from net.
130 seconds later, the Union had their second opportunity of the match when Fabinho sent a ball into the box for a streaking C.J. Sapong. The cross went just past the sliding Sapong and match remained scoreless. In the 20th minute Sporting’s Roger Espinoza and Jimmy Medranda were each issued a yellow card. The contest would remain scoreless after the first 45 minutes of play.
The match took its turn in the 59th minute when Medranda was issued a second yellow card for taking down MLS All-Star Keegan Rosenberry, and Sporting was forced to play a man down. Sporting had their best opportunity to break the scoreless tie in the 65th minute when Dwyer was left alone with Andre Blake, but sent his shot wide of the net.
Fabinho earned his career-high tying assist in the 67th minute when Alberg gave the Union a 1-0 lead with a spectacular goal. Alberg was able to gather the ball and deliver a perfect strike just outside the box into the top corner of the net. Three of Alberg’s nine goals this season have come as a substitution.
In the 87th minute Sporting went down two men after Espinoza received a straight red. Moments later Barnetta was able to put the finishing touches on the evening earning his fourth goal of the season in stoppage time. Sporting mounted a comeback effort in the dying moments of the match to spoil the shutout, but Blake stood tall earning his sixth shutout of the season to complete the 2-0 victory.
Philadelphia will look to tie a franchise record and earn their third consecutive victory overall and on the road when they travel to Chicago to take on the Fire at Toyota Park. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and will be televised on The Comcast Network.
MATCH RECAP
Philadelphia Union 2, Sporting Kansas City 0
Talen Energy Stadium
Chester, Pa
FINAL MATCH STATS
Shots: 12-10 Union
Shots on Target: 8-2 Union
Possession: 53.8-46.2 Union
Passing Accuracy: 80-70 Union
Fouls: 17-11 Union
Corners: 4-4
Duels won: 51-48 Sporting
Tackles won: 14-10 Sporting
SCORING SUMMARY
PHI — Roland Alberg 9 (Fabinho 4) 67’
PHI — Tranquillo Barnetta 4 (Roland Alberg 3) 90’+2
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
SKC — Roger Espinoza (yellow) 20’
SKC — Jimmy Medranda (yellow) 20’
PHI — Warren Creavalle (yellow) 51’
SKC — Jimmy Medranda (ejection, second yellow) 59’
SKC — Roger Espinoza (red) 87’
PHI — Alejandro Bedoya (yellow) 90’+3’
PHILADELPHIA UNION STARTING XI
Andre Blake; Keegan Rosenberry, Joshua Yaro, Richie Marquez, Fabinho; Alejandro Bedoya, Warren Creavalle, Fabian Herbers (Roland Alberg 65), Tranquillo Barnetta ©, Chris Pontius (Charlie Davies 79); C.J. Sapong
Subs Not Used: John McCarthy, Raymon Gaddis, Ken Tribbett, Leo Fernandes, Walter Restrepo
SPORTING KANSAS CITY STARTING XI
Alec Kann; Saad Abdul-Salaam, Ike Opara, Matt Besler, Jimmy Medranda; Benny Feilhaber (Brad Davis 77), Soni Mustivar (Diego Rubio 91+), Roger Espinoza ©; Jacob Peterson (Ever Alvarado 61), Dom Dwyer, Graham Zusi
Subs Not Used: Jon Kempin, Paulo Nagamura, Emmanuel Appiah, Connor Hallisey
OFFICIALS
Juan Guzman (referee), CJ Morgante (assistant), Jason White (assistant), Mark Kadlecik (fourth)
ATTENDANCE
17,911
TEAM NOTES
- Philadelphia set a club record eight wins at home in a season. The previous record was seven set four times.
- The Union’s eight wins at home are second most in the Eastern Conference.
- Philadelphia has scored more goals (47) than any other club in MLS.
- Roland Alberg has recorded nine goals in his last 12 appearances.
- Fabinho tied a career high three assists in a season tonight.
- Andre Blake has won eight matches at Talen Energy Stadium, six of those have been shutouts.
- Keegan Rosenberry played in his 27th consecutive match. He is the only player this season in MLS to play every minute.
- Richie Marquez has now started in 26 consecutive matches.
