Union Plays to Another Draw in Disney Classic

Report From PhiladelphiaUnion.com

Philadelphia Union played a scoreless draw Saturday afternoon against Toronto FC in the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

In a matchup between two of Major League Soccer’s biggest stars in Philadelphia’s Maurice Edu and Toronto FC’s Michael Bradley, it was a collective team front on both sides that battled to a scoreless draw. For the Union, it was a stingy defensive presence and solid goalkeeping from Zac MacMath, who made a diving save in the 61st minute on Toronto’s Andrew Weideman after a through ball from Bradley put him in the clear.

In the waning moments of the match, the Union also had a couple of great chances from second half substitute Leo Fernandes. Both arrived in the 89th minute, as Fernandes found two clear chances in front of goal against TFC goalkeeping newcomer Julio Cesar, but Cesar was up to the task on both.

“Just like in most of these preseason games you see some very good things, and those moments you have to be able to build on and be able to sustain those positives over longer periods of time,” Union manager John Hackworth said postgame. “Clearly, we have some things we still need to improve on but I thought today we created enough chances to easily put one or two in the back of the net today.”

TFC was never able to fully break down the Union collective, while on the flip side quick passing and movement from the likes of offseason acquisitions Cristian Maidana and Vincent Noguiera provided the Union with its own chances on frame. The final stat sheet showed eight shots, three that forced saves from Cesar.

Defensively, Union newcomer Austin Berry debuted in the 65th minute and played in the back alongside Amobi Okugo. Along with Okugo, Berry helped keep shape and dictated the movements of the back line. But it was MacMath who looked strong in this one and was a vocal presence – a true sign of his continual maturity, says Hackworth.

“For me, I listen to the little things that he is saying to defenders, the team and the way he’s communicating and I think that’s a sign of maturity and growth on his part,” Hackworth said of his keeper. “He kept us in the game today and that was good. I was impressed with his performance.”

The Union will play its final match this Saturday in the Disney Classic before flying back to Philadelphia later that night to prepare for next Saturday’s season opener in Portland (10:30 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet). For the players, it’s about using this final week to tweak.

BOX SCORE

Philadelphia Union 0, Toronto FC 0

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1:00 p.m.

ESPN Wide World of Sports, Orlando, Fla.

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

TFC: Morgan (caution) 55’

PHI: Okugo (caution) 63’

PHI: Carroll (caution) 71’

UNION STARTING 11

MacMath, Fabinho, Wheeler (Berry 65’), Okugo, Williams (Gaddis 19’), Carroll, Edu, Maidana (Cruz 67’), Nogueira, Le Toux (Fernandes 74’), McInerney

TORONTO FC STARTING 11

Cesar, Morrow (Morgan 45’), Henry, Caldwell, Hagglund, Rey (Aparicio 84’), Osorio, Bradley, Jackson (Bekker 80’), DeRosario (Lambe 70’), Weideman