The One Where The Union Barely Advance Against Saprissa
What just happenned?
Hi all!
What a wet and soggy night it was at Subaru Park. Fortunately, the Union took care of business after earning a very difficult win in Costa Rica, in "La Cueva," one of the most hostile environments in CONCACAF.
Here is how the Union and Saprissa lined up for the battle:
What ensued, no one could have predicted. The Union were pushed to the limit, and credit to Saprissa for putting the team in this situation. However, much credit needs to be given to the Costa Rican fans. Despite the game being a home game for the Union, the Ticos made it anything but that.
They were sprinkled around the stadium, but their cohesive spirit overshadowed anything that the Sons of Ben and the home fans could muster.
I am not going to recap what happened – plenty of others have done that for you and frankly, we all know it was a mess.
Instead, let's fast forward to after the match. Jim Curtin was not happy with the performance and made it very clear that the team has plenty to clean up.
Here is what Curtin shared:
"Anytime we concede three goals at home, we are never going to be happy with how we defended... The easiest way to sum it up is that our group has a big heart, big character, and big guts. But all of us, small brains in this game. We made it really hard for ourselves when we did not have to. It is not a lack of effort, but we are certainly conceding too many goals at home, which is uncharacteristic of us. You have to give credit to the opponent.
Saprissa came here with real fight, real commitment, real intensity. In the pregame talk, we talked about the two things this game needed: intensity, number one, if we match their intensity, I think our soccer can take over. And we needed discipline. And we had, I would say, neither at the start... Certainly not our best night, our whole team, defensively."
With Saprissa's Champions Cup dream over, they now shift their focus to the remaining 13 games of their Clausura season.
After the wild match against Philadelphia, I asked head coach Vladimir Quesada about how he, as a leader, and the team as a whole, can use the miraculous comeback that pushed the Union to the brink despite having an away goal lead and playing in Chester.
Here is what Quesada shared:
"That is a great point. This has to serve for us as a benchmark. We are three-time champions in our domestic league. This tournament (CCC) has cost us, but I think that the last three or four matches, including both legs against Philadelphia, are a wonderful sign of what is to come and a great showing of what our players can do.
The overall experience of tonight now has to be used to propel us in our domestic tournament, and that has to commence this coming Sunday when we face another wonderful opponent. We need to understand that if we can play at this level internationally, we need to replicate the performance in our league."
The Union face off against Pachuca in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The Mexican side, as of the writing of this post, sits in second place in the "Clausura" tournament.
However, as exciting as the Champions Cup is, the Union now prepare to play against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park, with lingering questions about the status of Andre Blake.
Other pieces of news:
Richter to the La Salle Hall of Athletes
Ryan Richter, assistant coach for the Union, was selected for induction into the La Salle Hall of Athletes Class of 2024.
Richter, an alumnus of the class of 2010, was an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team selection as a freshman on the men's soccer team after scoring five goals and registering two assists. Two years later, he earned NSCAA All-Region and Philadelphia Soccer Six Player of the Year accolades after compiling seven goals and seven assists.
Richter rounded out his standout career in style, earning Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year and A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year honors after scoring a team-high 14 goals.
Richter was drafted by the Union 5th overall in the 2011 draft. He retired in 2017 after playing for the Charleston Battery, Toronto FC, Bethlehem Steel, and New York Cosmos.
Following his retirement, Richter became a coach with the renowned Philadelphia Union Academy, and in 2022, he was elevated to the assistant coach role once Pat Noonan departed for FC Cincinnati.
Congratulations, Ryan.
Richard Odada Comments - What is his future with the Union?
While speaking with Pulse Sports, a Kenyan news outlet, current Union loanee Richard Odada opened up about his experience in Philadelphia:
"Everyone wants to play, and at the end of the day, you have to respect the coach’s decision. Your job is just to train hard and try to make an impression.
It was not a good experience because you wake up, train hard, and at the end of the day, you do not make a difference.
Growing up as a player, the dream was to play regularly. Playing in the Next Pro was like featuring in friendly matches because I felt I was good enough to play higher.
Sometimes they would bench me but never play me, and it never made sense, which is why I decided to look for another option that would build me as a player because I do not want to have regrets and make excuses, which is why I went to AaB on loan as they were offering me regular senior football.”
When asked if he would consider staying in Denmark on a permanent basis, Odada shared:
“Whatever will happen will happen. I will work as hard as I can and leave the rest to God.”
The Kenyan international joined the Union organization in August 2022, making 8 appearances for Union 2. In August 2023, the player joined Aalborg of the Danish league on loan.
The Philadelphia Union coaching tree continues to grow
Fernando Aristeguieta, a former Union player with 22 appearances and five goals under his name for Philadelphia, has been elevated to interim head coach of Mexican side Puebla.
The Venezuelan made 35 appearances and scored 10 goals for Puebla.
Aristeguieta, who announced his playing retirement last fall, had been coaching the Puebla Reserves and their Academy.
Puebla sits in 17th place in Liga MX after eight matches played and has a -13 goal differential.
Congratulations, Fernando, on the interim role.
How did the stand-in referees do?
Week #1 of the MLS season is in the books, which also means that the stand-in referees have completed their first round as arbiters of the law.
Unfortunately, not without some controversy. Look no further than last night's match between the LA Galaxy and Messi's Inter Miami CF.
With two minutes and added time left, LA Galaxy's Marco Delgado was given his second yellow and ultimately sent off for the foul seen below.
Messi and his friends took advantage of the bad call and scored in the 90+2 minute, allowing them to salvage a point.
Week two of the season kicks off on Saturday, March 2, when Columbus visits Minnesota at 2 pm EST.
How did you feel about the officiating during week #1?
Video Courtesy: Apple and CONCACAF
great stuff and props to covering Saprissa's gaffer's post game interview. Love the photos of their fans too, this is the beautiful game! Revs supporter here but also now i big fan of yours.