Union show strong at home against Fire

Chris Pontius and CJ Sapong celebrating Pontius opening his scoring account (Photo credit Charlotte Thomas)

The Philadelphia Union came away 3-1 victors in its first match against the newly established juggernaut that is the Chicago Fire. While 2017 has been a disappointing season for Philadelphia, it has been exactly the opposite for Chicago, who turned its fortunes around with a glut of strong acquisitions. The notably absent Bastian Schweinsteiger was perhaps the biggest for Chicago, missing the match because of an injury to his calf. But his newly arrived companion, Dax McCarty, has done just as strong a job in the midfield, and put in another great shift, despite the result, for Chicago.

At home, the Union has looked a top side, taking down some worthy oppositions in lopsided matches. The away matches are always a difficulty for MLS sides, and perhaps Chicago will perform to its high potential in a couple of weeks when Philadelphia travels to the midwest for the return leg.

The Union were boosted by 2 goals form Chris Pontius, who had failed to make the score-sheet in any match in 2017 thus far. The final goal from CJ Sapong put the final nail in the coffin, letting the Union relax, without worrying about losing another lead at home.

With his goal, CJ Sapong has tied the all-time Union single-season record, previously held by Union legend Sebastien Le Toux with 14 goals. With 4 games left in the season, most would expect Sapong to break the record, and put a highlight on what could otherwise be a disappointing season, especially given how positive the Union’s play has been in 2017.

Fafa Picault trying to contain the wily Dax McCarty (Photo Credit Charlotte Thomas)

Here is the recap of the goals from that match:

Chris Pontius opened the scoring on the night, and his account on the season. Notching his first goal in 2017 after bagging 12 in 2016. Off of a corner kick, the Union had men forward, packing the box with blue shirts. The Fire cleared the initial cross, but only as far as Warren Creavalle, who played the ball wide to Keegan Rosenberry with a one-touch pass. Rosenberry did what he does best, Cruyffing his cross, and cutting back to his left foot, all-the-while leaving his defender streaming past the ball. His left-footed cross went to the near post, where the Fire were woefully outgunned. Pontius dove down to meet the ball with his head, sending his shot past the keeper and give the Union an early lead in the 9th minute.

The Fire missed a great chance in 26th minute, when David Accam found himself inexplicably in on goal. A 50/50 play around the center circle resulted in a loose ball for De Leeuw. He played a great first-timed pass across the field to Accam, who had ran the channel, exploiting the Union’s aggressive defensive line. Accam took his shot from 18 yards out, but mistimed his shot. The ball bounced up off of Accam’s first touch, and while it sat nicely in the air, Accam failed to get on top of his shot, launching it high and wide of the goal.

Chris Pontius notched his second goal, both on the night and on the season in the 55th minute. The Union began the attack with a long ball out of the back from Andre Blake. CJ Sapong won the header, flicking the ball to Alejandro Bedoya, thus creating a 3v3 scenario. Bedoya played to his left to find Fafa Picault, who cut inside and hit a shot on his right foot. The save was simple enough for Matt Lampson in goal, but the keeper put the ball back into the danger area, and Pontius reacted first, springing onto the loose ball and smashing it into an open net.

The Union took the control of the game, and three points in the 64th minute through the leading man, CJ Sapong. The play opened up in front of the Fire backline, and it was Bedoya who created the space once again. He ran at the backline, playing Picault into a wide area, timing the pass perfectly. Picault played a peach of a cross into the box for Sapong, who had a difficult job at the near post, redirected the ball on net. Against a strong Fire team, the 3-0 lead was exactly what the Union needed to ensure 3 points, especially after drawing in stoppage time against Atlanta and San Jose in recent matches.

The Fire nabbed a consolation goal in the 67th minute, just a few minutes after the Union tripled the lead. A ball played into the box from Matt Polster connected with Nemanja Nikolic in the box. It was the danger-man for Chicago who created the confusion for Philadelphia, and his flick at the near post landed expertly for Luis Solignac, who then had time to settle the ball and finish the Fire’s only goal of the match.