Philly Sports Jabronis
Report from Philadelphia Union
CHESTER, Pa. – Richie Marquez scored his first career MLS goal in stoppage time to lift Philadelphia Union over D.C. United, 1-0, to kick off Heineken Rivalry Week Friday in front of 17,365 fans. With the result, the Union returned to the top of the Eastern Conference and remain undefeated at home this season.
From the start of the match, the Union quickly created chances. In the seventh minute, C.J. Sapong found Tranquillo Barnetta at the top of the 18, where the Swiss international took a shot but was deflected out of bounds for a corner kick. In the 26th minute, Barnetta again found himself in a scoring opportunity in front of the D.C. goal, but this time the ball went over the cross bar.
Barnetta was not finished creating chances for the Union. In the 28th minute, Fabinho nutmegged United’s Patrick Nyarko and was fouled in the process, earning a free kick on the left hand side of the field. Barnetta took the free kick with the shot getting agonizingly close to finding the back of the net, but the far post denied the scoring opportunity. In the first half alone, Barnetta was responsible for three of the Union’s six shots.
Fabinho also served as a playmaker in the Union’s chances on goal in the first half. In the 36th minute, the defender dribbled through the midfield and shot at Travis Worra’s goal causing the D.C. United keeper to make a diving save.
The Union saw the best of the first half, with more shots (6-5), greater possession (55 percent – 45 percent) and better passing accuracy (74 percent – 63 percent) than D.C. United.
The Union continued to create chances in the second half. In the 51st minute, Sebastien Le Toux found himself wide open in front of D.C. United’s goal but took one too many touches enabling Worra to regroup and save the Frenchman’s shot.
D.C. United also saw chances on goal. In the 62nd minute, Andre Blake made a remarkable save to deny Alvaro Saborio’s bicycle kick shot.
In the 77th minute, Sapong also caused Worra to make a diving save to deny his shot from the top of the 18.
After 11 shots from the Union, Marquez earned the home side three points with his first MLS goal. Sebastien Le Toux passed the ball across the goalmouth in the 90+1 minute. Marquez made a sliding shot to capitalize on the opportunity.
The Union will return to action on Wednesday, June 1 against Columbus Crew SC at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on The Comcast Network.
MATCH RECAP
Philadelphia Union 1, D.C. United 0
Talen Energy Stadium
Chester, Pa.
FINAL MATCH STATS
Shots: 14-11 D.C. United
Shots on Target: 4-2 Union
Possession: 51- 49 Union
Passing Accuracy: 71- 67 Union
Fouls: 12-17 D.C. United
Corners: 7 – 4 Union
POST MATCH AUDIO
Union head coach Jim Curtin
Union midfielder Chris Pontius
Union defender Richie Marquez
SCORING SUMMARY
PHI – Richie Marquez (Sebastien Le Toux 90+1)’ WATCH
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
DC – Patrick Nyarko (Yellow) 45’
DC – Steve Birnbaum (Yellow) 53’
PHI – Tranquillo Barnetta (Yellow) 80’
PHI — Ray Gaddis (Yellow) 82’
PHI — Richie Marquez (Yellow) 90+2′
PHILADELPHIA UNION STARTING XI
Andre Blake; Fabinho (Ray Gaddis 70’), Richie Marquez, Josh Yaro, Keegan Rosenberry; Brian Carroll ©, Warren Creavalle (Roland Alberg 87’); Chris Pontius (Fabian Herbers 64’), Tranquillo Barnetta, Sebastien Le Toux; C.J. Sapong.
Substitutes not used: Matt Jones, Ken Tribbett, Leo Fernandes, Walter Restrepo
D.C. UNITED STARTING XI
Travis Worra, Steve Birnbaum, Bobby Boswell ©, Taylor Kemp, Sean Franklin, Marcelo Sarvas, Nick DeLeon, Lamar Neagle (Jared Jeffery 80’), Patrick Nyarko, Luciano Acosta (Julian Buescher 61’), Álvaro Saborio (Fabian Espindola 77’)
Substitutes not used: Rob Vincent, Tally Hall, Luke Mishu, Kofi Opare
OFFICIALS
Jaime Herrera (referee), Adam Garner (assistant), Claudio Badea (assistant), Juan Guzman (fourth).
ATTENDANCE
17,364
TEAM NOTES
- The Union now have a 6-7-3 all-time record against D.C. United and 5-3-0 record at home.
- The Union last defeated D.C. United at home on May 17, 2015 with an injury time goal from Zach Pfeffer in the 90+ minute.
- Richie Marquez scored his first MLS goal in his professional career. Marquez previously scored for the Union in a friendly against AFC Bournemouth on July 14, 2015.
- Sebastien Le Toux earned his third assist of the season and 48th in his career. Le Toux now leads the team for assists this season.
- The Union’s top three 2016 MLS SuperDraft picks have seen vital minutes with the Union this season. Keegan Rosenberry (No. 3) has started all 11 games for the Union, Joshua Yaro (No. 2) made his sixth consecutive start tonight and Fabian Herbers (No. 6) has appeared in 10 games.
- Dating back to 2015, the Union have now gone eight games undefeated at home. The franchise all-time record is 10 games.
- Philadelphia Union return to Talen Energy Stadium on Friday, May 20 to face D.C. United at 7 p.m.
