Philly Sports Jabronis
Reports From Philadelphia Union
Union and Vincent Nogueira Mutually Terminate Contract
CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union and Vincent Nogueira have agreed to mutually terminate the midfielder’s contract, the club announced today. Due to personal health issues, Nogueira will return to France.
“We want to thank Vincent for his contributions to the club over the last two years and we wish him the best, both personally and professionally,” Union Sporting Director Earnie Stewart said. “At this time, it was our desire to enable him to be with his family at home in France.”
Nogueira, 28, appeared in 64 games and started 58 since joining the Union on Jan. 30, 2014. He scored nine goals and added three assists. A native of Bescanon, France, Nogueira joined from FC Sochaux.
“I want to thank Philadelphia Union for their understanding of my situation and wish my teammates well going forward,” Nogueira said.
The Union return to MLS action against NYCFC on Saturday, June 18. Kick-off from Yankee Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be televised on The Comcast Network.
TRANSACTION: Philadelphia Union and Vincent Nogueira mutually agree to terminate contract on June 16, 2016.
Union Comeback Falls Shorts in New York City
THE BRONX, N.Y. – Philadelphia Union fell 3-2 to New York City FC Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium in front of 27,456 fans. Roland Alberg converted a penalty kick for his first career MLS goal, and the Union crawled to within one following an own goal, but they ultimately fell, snapping the club’s eight-game unbeaten streak. The Union return home for a two-game stretch next week, starting with Chicago Fire on Wednesday, June 22.
New York City opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Frank Lampard tapped a loose ball past a helpless Andre Blake. Thomas McNamara and R.J. Allen picked up assists on the play, as McNamara’s attempted shot trickled into the box where Lampard was stationed.
A few minutes later, Lampard almost had another goal as David Villa attempted a shot from midfield that had beaten Blake, who was off his line. Villa’s shot drilled off the bar and fell back to Lampard about 15 yards away. But Blake was able to recover in time to stop the ensuing rebound.
Still, Villa got his goal shortly thereafter in the 21st minute. On a counterattack, rookie Jack Harrison raced down the middle of the field before laying the ball off for the Spaniard who easily beat Blake for a 2-0 lead.
Down 2-0 and out-possessed 61-39 at halftime, Jim Curtin opted to bring on Alberg for Warren Creavalle at the break. But it was NYCFC extending the lead in the 50th minute with Andrea Pirlo’s first career MLS goal, coming off a free kick on the edge of the 18-yard box.
In the 55th minute, Fabian Herbers won a foul inside the box, resulting in the Union’s third penalty kick attempt of the season. Alberg calmly slotted it to Josh Saunders’ left.
With the Union starting to pile on pressure late in the second half, NYCFC’s Jason Hernandez picked up his second yellow card in the 85th minute. The Union pressure continued, leading to a corner kick in 88th minute. With the ball played in by Barnetta, Carroll headed a ball off an NYC defender and past Saunders to cut the lead to one.
The best shot at an equalizer probably came on the last play, into the fifth minute of stoppage time on a corner that was ultimately cleared. The Union return to action against Chicago Fire on Wednesday, June 22 at Talen Energy Stadium.
MATCH RECAP
New York City FC 3, Philadelphia Union 2
Yankee Stadium
The Bronx, Pa.
POST MATCH AUDIO
Union midfielder Roland Alberg
FINAL MATCH STATS
Shots: 14-10 NYCFC
Shots on Target: 6-4 NYCFC
Possession: 50.2 – 49.8 Union
Passing Accuracy: 78-76 Union
Fouls: 18-16 NYCFC
Corners: 6-0 Union
Duels won: 50-47 NYCFC
Tackles won: 17-7 NYCFC
SCORING SUMMARY
NYC – Frank Lampard (Thomas McNamara, R.J. Allen) 8’
NYC – David Villa (Jack Harrison) 21’
NYC – Andrea Pirlo 50’
PHI – Roland Alberg 55’
PHI – Frederic Brillant (own goal) 88’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
PHI – Tranquillo Barnetta (yellow) 31’
NYC – Frank Lampard (yellow) 43’
NYC – R.J. Allen (yellow) 45’
PHI – Ray Gaddis (yellow) 49’
NYC – Jason Hernandez (yellow) 54’
NYC – Jason Hernandez (yellow/red) 85’
NYC – Ronald Mataritta (yellow) 90+5’
PHILADELPHIA UNION STARTING XI
Andre Blake; Ray Gaddis, Richie Marquez, Ken Tribbett, Keegan Rosenberry; Warren Creavalle (Roland Alberg, HT), Brian Carroll ©; Chris Pontius (Ilsinho, 53’), Tranquillo Barnetta, Fabian Herbers (Walter Restrepo 77’).
Substitutes not used: John McCarthy, Fabinho, Anderson, Leo Fernandes.
NEW YORK CITY FC STARTING XI
Josh Saunders; Ronald Matarrita, Jason Hernandez, Frederic Brilliant, R.J. Allen; Andrea Pirlo, Andoni Iraola, Frank Lampard (Mikey Lopez 75’); Thomas McNamara (Ethan White 64’), Jack Harrison (Kwadwo Poku 81’), David Villa.
Substitutes not used: Eirik Johansen, Steven Mendoza, Jefferson Mena, Tony Taylor.
OFFICIALS
Silviu Petrescu (referee), Gianni Facchini (assistant referee), Andrew Bigelow (assistant referee), Jose Carlos Rivero (fourth).
ATTENDANCE
27,456
TEAM NOTES
- The loss halted the Union’s eight-game unbeaten streak, which had tied a franchise record. It’s the club’s first loss since April 16, 2016 against Seattle Sounders FC.
- The Union are now 2-2-1 all-time against New York City FC.
- Roland Alberg scored his first career Union goal in the 55th minute by converting a penalty kick. Fabian Herbers won the call.
- The Union are now 21-for-25 all-time on penalty kicks and 1-for-3 in 2016.
- Fabian Herbers started his first-ever MLS game. Herbers had been used 13 times as a substitute this season and had also started for the Union during the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
- Three of the top six draft picks in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft started on Saturday. For the Union, Keegan Rosenberry (No. 3) and Fabian Herbers (No. 6). For NYCFC, Jack Harrison (No. 1).
- Andrea Pirlo’s free kick goal in the 50th minute was his first career MLS goal.
- Walter Restrepo made his MLS debut, coming on as a substitute for Fabian Herbers in the 77th minute.
