Photo by Earl Gardner
After
seeing the Union allow Toronto FC to earn points for the first time in
10 matches this past Saturday, we won't pretend that last night's 3-0
win in Lamar Hunt US Open Cup play wasn't a relief, even if it came
against a minor league team. It wasn't out of the question that they
might lose to the Rochester Rhinos of the USL Pro League… not with the
way they played just a few days earlier in Canada.
Josue Martinez got the U on the board early, scoring
in the fifth minute, and Freddy Adu made it 2-0 after a long weather
delay. Adu also converted a PK in the second half, giving the Union a
3-0 lead that would stand.
More on the match, some meaty links, and a fun video below.
Don't
know much, if anything, about the US Open Cup? Philly Soccer Page has
previously run (and updated for this year) a great primer on it. Worth a
read whether you're into soccer or just a Philly sports history buff.
[Philly Soccer Page]
Due perhaps to a combination of factors including a
non-league match against an unknown opponent, the threat of bad weather
that ultimately came, and the Union's disastrous season to date, less
than 4,200 fans were announced to be in attendance, though Chris Vito of
the Daily Times thought there might be only 1,000 there at the start.
Yikes.
Even better news than the win, Vito also reports
that Roger Torres expects to return to the field in time for the Union's
June 9th friendly against affiliate club Reading United. The
inconsistent offense could use a boost from the talented playmaker, who
has been on the shelf since early April after knee surgery. It's been a
long six weeks… [DelcoTimes]
Speaking of the offensive inconsistency, Kerith
Gabriel looks at the Union's feast or famine attack, which was in Feast
Mode last night. [Daily News]
PSP also has a nice summary of the action from last
night, which is where we first saw Earl Gardner's great picture of what
we assume was a passing apocalypse.
Union affiliate Harrisburg City Islanders beat the
New England Revolution last night, and the LA Galaxy also lost in Open
Cup play. Next up for the Union is DC United on June 5 (in Maryland).
Jonathan Tannenwald has more on the Harrisburg win.
The US Women's National Team played China at PPL Park this past weekend, winning
the Olympic tune-up, 4-1. The following video (from 2010) has nothing to do with that, but it's kind of hilarious. Via the Sons of Ben on Facebook:
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