Philly Sports Jabronis
CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union tied LA Galaxy 2-2 Wednesday night at Talen Energy Stadium in front of 17,985 fans. With the result, the Union are tied for second in the Eastern Conference with Toronto FC and remain unbeaten at home this season.
In a first half characterized by back-and-forth play between both teams that saw a total of 12 shots, the Union had the advantage, outshooting Galaxy 9-3. Vincent Nogueira gave the Union an early lead scoring in the fourth minute, but LA’s Robbie Rodgers equalized just 11 minutes later in the 15th minute.
Nogueira found the back of the net after Fabinho played a long pass to Union forward C.J. Sapong, but the LA defense partially cleared the ball only for it land at the feet of Nogueira. Beating two Galaxy defenders, Nogueira gave the Union the early advantage.
LA equalized when Rogers sent a powerful shot into the top right hand corner of Andre Blake’s goal. From the right side of the field, Giovanni dos Santos found Rogers from inside 18 whose shot made the score 1-1.
In similar fashion to the Union’s start in the first half, LA Galaxy scored shortly after the referee’s whistle in the second. In the 47th minute, Mike Magee gave LA a 2-1 advantage with a rocket sent to the top right corner of the goal from the left-hand side of the 18-yard box.
After several chances in front of goal, the Union equalized in the 63rd minute from Keegan Rosenberry’s first professional goal. The No. 3 overall 2016 MLS SuperDraft pick capitalized on a corner kick from Tranquillo Barnetta. After Dan Kennedy saved Chris Pontius’ header from the corner, Rosenberry snatched the rebound and leveled the scoreboard.
The Union will return to action on Saturday, May 14 on the road against Montreal Impact at 5 p.m. The game will be televised on The Comcast Network.
MATCH RECAP
Philadelphia Union 2, LA Galaxy 2
Talen Energy Stadium
Chester, Pa.
POST MATCH AUDIO
Union head coach Jim Curtin
Union defender Keegan Rosenberry
LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena
SCORING SUMMARY
PHI – Vincent Nogueira 4′ WATCH
LA – Robbie Rogers (Giovanni Dos Santos, Robbie Keane) 15’ WATCH
LA – Mike Magee (Steven Gerrard, Giovanni Dos Sanots) 47’ WATCH
PHI – Keegan Rosenberry 63’ WATCH
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
LA – Robbie Rogers (Yellow) 70’
LA – Dan Kennedy (Yellow) 82’
PHILADELPHIA UNION STARTING XI
Andre Blake; Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Josh Yaro, Keegan Rosenberry; Brian Carroll ©, Vincent Nogueira; Chris Pontius (Fabian Herbers 86’), Tranquillo Barnetta (Roland Alberg 88’), Sebastien Le Toux (Ilsinho 69’); C.J. Sapong.
Substitutes not used: John McCarthy, Warren Creavalle, Ken Tribbett, Ray Gaddis.
LA GALAXY STARTING XI
Dan Kennedy; Ashley Cole, Robbie Rogers, Leonardo, Jelle Van Damme (Daniel Steres 76’); Baggio Husidic, Steven Gerrard (Jeff Larentowicz 73’), Giovani Dos Santos, Mike Magee (Sebastien Lletget 89’); Robbie Keane ©, Gyasi Zardes
Substitutes not used: Brian Rowe, A.J. DeLaGarza, Dave Romney, Emmanuel Boateng.
OFFICIALS
Sorin Stoica (referee), Jeff Muschik (assistant), Danny Thornberry (assistant), Marcos de Oliveira (fourth).
ATTENDANCE
17,985
TEAM NOTES
The Union now have a 1-6-2 all-time record against LA Galaxy and 0-2-2 record at home.
Vincent Nogueira scored his first goal for the Union this season, having last scored on July 11, 2015 against Portland Timbers in which the Frenchman notched a brace. Nogueira has scored a total of eight goals in his MLS career.
Keegan Rosenberry scored his first professional goal, capitalizing on a corner kick in the 63rd minute.
Dating back to 2015, the Union have now gone seven games undefeated at home. The franchise all-time record is 10 games. The Union also broke a franchise record for consecutive home wins with five.
The home side out-shot the Galaxy 22-4 and had the majority of possession with 51 percent of the ball.
Philadelphia Union return to Talen Energy Stadium on Friday, May 20 to face DC United at 7 p.m.
