Philly Sports Jabronis
Report From Philadelphia Union
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Philadelphia Union lost to Chicago Fire, 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Toyota Park. The Union outshot Chicago 17-10, but were unable to find a breakthrough goal after a dominating first half performance. Kennedy Igboananike put the Fire up in the 51st minute, four minutes after Warren Creavalle was sent off with a red card. The Union return to action Friday, March 8 against Orlando City SC.
With the wind at their backs, the Union were in control in the first half, outshooting Chicago 13-2. C.J. Sapong hit the crossbar and the left upright in a span of 12 minutes and Roland Alberg had a few chances himself, as the two combined for 11 attempted shots. Elsewhere, Tranquillo Barnetta made his 2016 debut, subbing on for Alberg in the 66th minute.
The Union will return to action against Orlando City SC in a nationally televised match on Univision Deportes. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. kick from Talen Energy Stadium
MATCH RECAP
Chicago Fire 1, Philadelphia Union 0,
Toyota Park
Bridgeview, Ill.
POST MATCH VIDEO
POST MATCH AUDIO
Union head coach Jim Curtin
Union midfielder Chris Pontius
Union midfielder Warren Creavalle
SCORING SUMMARY
CHI – Kennedy Igboananike (Michael Harrington) 51’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
PHI – Warren Creavalle (yellow) 13’
CHI – Rodrigo Ramos (yellow) 31’
PHI – Warren Creavalle (red) 47’
CHI – Matt Polster (yellow) 72’
PHILADELPHIA UNION STARTING XI
Andre Blake; Fabinho (Fabian Herbers 78’), Richie Marquez, Ken Tribbett, Keegan Rosenberry; Brian Carroll ©, Warren Creavalle; Chris Pontius (Sebastien Le Toux 66’), Roland Alberg (Tranquillo Barnetta 66’), Ilsinho; C.J. Sapong.
Substitutes not used: Matt Jones, Ray Gaddis, Anderson, Vincent Nogueira.
CHICAGO FIRE STARTING XI
Matt Lampson; Michael Harrington, Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, Rodrigo Ramos; Kennedy Igboananike, Matt Polster, Michael Stephens, Arturo Alvarez (John Goossens 62’) Razvan Cocic (Nick LaBrocca 87′); Gilberto.
Substitutes not used: Patrick McLain, Brandon Vincent, Joao Meira, Alex Morrell, Joey Calistri.
OFFICIALS
Silviu Petrescu (referee), Philippe Brière (assistant), Gianni Facchini (assistant), Kevin Terry Jr. (fourth).
ATTENDANCE
12,073
UNION QUOTE SHEET
Head Coach Jim Curtin
Opening statement:
“Obviously a typical spring day in Chicago. Crazy weather, difficult conditions. Have to assess the first half because it was so crazy with the wind and snow and different things. I thought the last 15 minutes of the first half we pushed the game a bit. Started the second half very well but unfortunately it’s the ‘year of the red card’ across the league. Not a good way for games to go but these are the initiatives that came in. You’re seeing almost every game now there’s a team playing short-handed. Have to be disciplined. I thought we started again [well], just hit the bar; had a little momentum and then we went into a silly tackle. From there I was happy with my guys, they still continued to fight, push the game. They had a couple chances down at the end but to go away empty handed with no points is disappointing.”
On being disappointed not scoring with the amount of shots created:
“You know, it was a day where, again, it’s going to be tough to create chances but I still thought we managed to hit the bar twice, hit the post. I thought we could have got a goal. It might be a fair result to get a draw but at the same time, give credit to Chicago and Coach Paunovic for his first victory. They worked hard. It wasn’t a beautiful day of soccer by any means but how could it be the conditions. Happy with what they created. Again the guys worked hard, down a man for a good chunk of the game and we were still able to compete and create chances. Again, we leave empty-handed and that’s disappointing.”
On whether the red card was justified:
“You know, Warren… [Creavalle], again we are trying to read the stats sheet and figure out if he gave a straight red; I know he was obviously on a yellow card. We talked about Warren being careful and not leaving his feet so, it was a little bit silly in that area of the field. I think he should just let him turn there and live to fight another day kind of thing. But he goes in this time but I haven’t seen the replay so I won’t really comment on it. I think it looks like they gave a straight red. Again, disappointing in that regard. I thought Polster dodged a bullet in the first half-they should have gave him a yellow. I think they gave it to the wrong guy, and that would have come back to help us. But again, these are the decisions that are made and live with. There will be good calls and there will be not so good calls, and we have to live with it.”
On hitting the crossbar and post and not finishing:
“I thought Ilsinho was dangerous on the day. It’s not surprising to me to watch him perform like this because we see it every day in training. It’s going to be an eye-opener to the league when he gets one versus one with the skill he has to break a guy down and wrong foot a defender. It’s special. Disappointing for him not to get on the end of a goal but our guys are gutted because they put a lot into the game and had a little bit of momentum and then all of a sudden having a sending off obviously changes the game.”
On the defenders’ performance:
“I thought it was shaky in the beginning. We have three young guys across the back with Fabinho maybe the experienced one on the left. But they’ve done a good job limiting chances. Chicago has some dangerous attackers but I thought we did a good job with them. We started a little disjointed at the beginning. I think everybody in the first 15 or 20 minutes was getting used to the conditions, the wind and that kind of thing. I thought our whole back line competed well and we didn’t give up a ton of chances. Credit to Chicago because they took their one chance and buried it.”
Philadelphia Union Midfielder Warren Creavalle
On the match:
“The conditions were difficult but they were difficult for both clubs. Our team was prepared tonight but I believe we were the better team today. And the end, I feel we were unfortunate enough not to show it, in large part in going down a man on my part. I feel like we were unfortunate in that regard.”
On what to take away from today’s game:
“Yes, that every game isn’t going to be pretty and we have to find ways to grind out ugly ones and deal with these kinds of situations.”
On facing Orlando next:
“I just think we need a positive response from today’s match. We dropped our first game and we were able to bounce back well in Columbus and we are looking to do the same thing going forward, especially playing at home.”
On being surprised he was red carded for his tackle in the 47th minute:
“I was a bit surprised. I ended pulling out a bit but he went down…it’s been clear that the referees are making an initiative to kind of crack down on those kind of plays. Surprised, but not too much.”
On the red card being a learning experience:
“Absolutely, I just have to be more disciplined.”
Philadelphia Union Midfielder Chris Pontius
On what he saw from the team today:
“I liked the fight to the end. We created chances. It didn’t go our way with balls bouncing off the post and stuff tonight. We create that number of chances on any night; you’re bound to have some go in. Overall it was a sloppy game but we should come away with at least one point.”
On not coming away with a point after a good start to the season:
“There’s always disappointment in a loss. We want to be top of the East, and I think the guys know that. The only good thing about this is that we have a short week with a game on Friday and get back on the field and get back to work.”
On using the short week to their advantage:
“We’re at home; we’ve been on the road for three of our first four games and looking forward to getting back in front of the home crowd.”
On seeing the team battle even playing with 10 men:
“We created chances. At that point you know you’re going to give up some chances but you do what you can to limit them. But I also know that you have to push somehow with a man down, create some chances for yourself. We did that but unfortunately it just didn’t go our way tonight.”
On Coach Curtin being aggressive with the substitutions in the second half:
“At that point you’re going for a tie or a win so sitting back…we are down 1-0 at that point. Sitting back does no good for us.”
TEAM NOTES
- The Union fell to 5-6-5 all-time against the Fire. The two teams were also deadlocked at 19 goals apiece, with Chicago now moving ahead 20-19.
- The match was Brian Carroll’s 348th of his MLS career. Only five players have ever reached that feat in the league’s history. Kyle Beckerman is the all-time leader, currently at 382.
- Tranquillo Barnetta made his 2016 season debut. He played in 11 matches last year.
- C.J. Sapong attempted 6 shots, breaking his previous club-high of 4. His career high is 10 while with Sporting Kansas City in 2012.
- Roland Alberg also attempted a career-high 5 shots.
- The red card was the second in Warren Creavalle’s career. He had one in 2015 while with Toronto FC.
