Just one season after the Philadelphia Union hoisted the Supporters’ Shield as Major League Soccer’s best regular season team, the Blue and Gold have started year two under Bradley Carnell with 5 consecutive losses in league play and three straight defeats at Subaru Park.
It was a 2-1 loss on Kid’s Day to Gregg Berhalter and the Chicago Fire that had families leaving the stands early and had players in the locker room visibly frustrated with the current state of the team. The loss marks the club’s first at home to the Chicago Fire since August of 2013.
Kid’s Day featured 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan in his first MLS start of the season. Andre Blake made his return between the posts after being given the night off against Club América midweek. Frankie Westfield, Nate Harriel, Olwethu Makhanya, and new signing Philippe Ndinga made up the backline for the U.
Jesús Bueno and Danley Jean-Jacques held down the midfield, with veteran Ale Bedoya and Cavan Sullivan playing underneath the two strikers. Bruno Damiani and Milan Iloski led the attacking line for the Blue and Gold, who have struggled to find the back of the net so far this season.
In stoppage time of the opening half, it was Chicago Fire’s record-signing Hugo Cuypers who broke the deadlock and gave the visitors the lead just before the break. A deflected pass by Jesús Bueno inadvertently sent Chicago’s Andrew Gutman down Union’s right side and in behind Frankie Westfield.
Gutman pranced down the flank, whipped in a left-footed cross to the top of the six-yard box, and found the head of Hugo Cuypers making a run between Olwethu Makhanya and Philippe Ndinga for an unchallenged header, which he placed in the back of the net.
It was Cuypers’ fourth goal in four MLS matches so far this season, and was the first assist of the campaign for Andrew Gutman.
With Chicago now in the lead and the Union conceding the opening goal for the sixth consecutive game across all competitions, the energy in the building was stagnant, a real “here we go again” type of vibe.
But just before the half-time whistle, the Union found their way back into the game by way of a Milan Iloski header that would change the conversation in the locker room at the break.
Frankie Westfield sent a long throw-in towards the middle of the penalty area, which was headed towards the top of the six-yard box by Ale Bedoya. Milan Iloski, who had yet to score so far this season, out-jumped Chicago defender Joel Waterman and sent a looping header on net and over the outstretched arm of Chris Brady to level the score.
With the game level at 58 minutes, it was a poor touch from new signing Philippe Ndinga that sent Chicago the other way, looking to retake the lead. Hugo Cuypers, already with a goal on the night, patiently waited for his teammates to join the attack before playing the ball out wide for Robin Lod.
Lod received the ball along the flank, entered into the penalty box, and sent a left-footed cross to the back post, where Jonathan Bamba was waiting behind Frankie Westfield to re-direct the pass with a first touch volley that he placed into the near corner of the net to give the Fire the lead and eventually, their first win at Subaru Park in 13 seasons.
Through five MLS games so far this season, the Philadelphia Union have yet to score multiple goals in a match, and you won’t win many games doing that. It’s not for a lack of chances created, though - the Union are getting looks in front of the net and have collected the 11th highest Expected Goals total through five games - but that finishing touch that made them so dangerous to play against last year continues to evade them.
To make matters worse, the Union were once again without new record-signing striker Ezekiel Alladoh for the second consecutive game for what Bradley Carnell described as “Personal Matters”. Alladoh, who Carnell says is spending some time away from the team to deal with those personal matters, was in attendance at Subaru Park on Saturday night, wearing street clothes and inside the locker room following the loss.
It’s been a less-than-desired start to life in Philadelphia for the 20-year-old forward who has yet to find the back of the net in MLS play. After already missing Matchday two from receiving a Red Card in his MLS debut against DC United on opening night, the striker has now missed out on Leg two of the Champions Cup Round of 16 and Matchday five of the MLS season. Three games where your record-signing isn’t even in the squad is a bit of a concern when it comes to Ezekiel Alladoh and the Philadelphia Union.
Union forward, Milan Iloski scored off of this header just before halftime vs Chicago Fire
Image Provided / Philadelphia Union
It was two longtime Philadelphia Union leaders who addressed the media in the locker room following the Union’s fifth straight loss to start the MLS season, and both Andre Blake and Ale Bedoya shared similar sentiments, saying this is one of the most difficult stretches in their time here in Philadelphia.
Andre Blake started his conversation with the media with a defeated look on his face.
“I don't know what to say, tough times night now, very, very tough times. We just have to keep going, we have to find ways to find motivation.” - Philadelphia Union Goalkeeper, Andre Blake
Blake would end his media availability reiterating how difficult a stretch this has been, saying it’s a struggle he’s never faced in his career before
“This is a different kind of struggle…I’ve never had this in my life. I don’t know what to say about that.” - Philadelphia Union Goalkeeper, Andre Blake
Philly Sports Network asked Ale Bedoya, one of the Union’s longest-standing leaders in the locker room, what challenges he faces in trying to keep the morale in the team high with so many new and young players on the squad
“If I say what I really want to say, Jimmy, I’m going to get in trouble. We definitely have to take a hard look at ourselves from top down. But my job as captain, leader in the group, is to make sure the group stays together. It’s so easy for our group, especially young folks or new guys, to go in silos and do their own thing - we have to remain together right now, the team is only as strong as its weakest link.” - Philadelphia Union midfielder, Alejandro Bedoya
Not all hope is lost, though, at least not yet. While the conversation certainly isn’t about repeating as Supporters’ Shield winners, Bradley Carnell and some of the leaders on this team still feel confident about qualifying for MLS Cup Playoffs at the end of the regular season.
“I told the group, this stretch of five games - throw it out the window…It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. So we’re going to separate the men from the boys, see who is really up for that challenge to make sure we right the ship and get into the playoffs.” - Philadelphia Union midfielder, Alejandro Bedoya
