VS. DATE / TIME: Saturday, April 12, 2014 4:00 PM EDT MATCH PREVIEW: MLS Golazo! VENUE: PPL Park Chester, PA Tickets GAMETIME FORECAST: Sunny Temp: 65 Feels Like: 70 TELEVISION BROADCAST: ABC – WPVI 6 (Local) COMCAST: Channel 806 HD, 6 SD Verizon FiOS: Channel 506 HD, 6 SD CURRENT MLS STANDINGS MLS INJURY REPORT MLS DISCIPLINE REPORT LAST MEETING: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 Rio Tinto Stadium / Sandy, UT Real Salt Lake 2 – Philadelphia Union 2 Game Recap and Highlights MLS Matchcenter
I've tried to be positive up to this point, but I have to go with a loss in this one. I think RSL is going to have a field day with the Union defense, regardless of who lines up. Berry is the only one I have any confidence in at this point (I believe @ericlfd stated Williams reinjured himself) and who knows if he even starts.
The way the team has been playing, they'll find a way to either turn a win into a tie, or much worse play a tie into a loss. Trying hard to stay positive, but they just keeping tearing at my soul. I'm hoping for a course changing win, but feeling a heartbreaking home loss coming. At least it's Dollar Dog night, so perhaps the food induced coma that many will suffer will help to dull the pain if the result is less than what we are hoping for. Two additional notes.... the long range forecast is calling for beautiful tailgate weather, 65 and sunny! Also, for those of you who might prefer a different flavor to your telecast, the game is going to be nationally broadcast on Univision Deportes... GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! at least once, lol.
Not being negative, just realistic .... RSL is gonna tear our team apart. But, hey, it's dollar dog day, amiright?
Real Salt Lake is a real soccer team. They hold possession, they pass and move, they have guys who can beat defenders off the dribble, they tactically move as a unit with purpose, they spread the ball around, they can finish, and they have a quality goalkeeper. On the other side, the Union have three new midfielders. But, that's all I can say. All that said, I'm going to be optimistic that it's at home; perhaps the boys can pull themselves up by their proverbial bootstraps and pull out a draw.
0-0 tie. Several opportunities, but none converted. Frustrated to the brink of madness, Nogueira just walks off the field at about the 43rd minute and retires, never to be seen again. Edu transfers to Leicester during the 67th minute. Keon returns to the starting lineup.
The poll should ask HOW MUCH the Union lose by, as opposed to what the result will be. The result is a foregone conclusion.
After seeing how we manage to "hang in there" against teams that we really should be beating, I'm thinking Salt Lake hangs 2 or 3 goals on us. If Wheeler is starting then I'm thinking that number goes up to damned near double digits and I walk out of the game instead of having to sit there and watch it.
Being that the Union have yet to beat RSL, the odds are stacked against Hack but the teams have 3 straight ties at PPL. In 2010 and 2011, Union tied at PPL and lost at RSL. In 2012, Union tied at PPL yet again. In 2013, RSL, at home, scored a short-handed PK on the last play of the game (Union giving up a PK to end the game - sound familiar?) to tie it.
If we had a better coach who could rally the troops, I'd pick a win. But we do not, so its a loss. Simple Hack mathmatics.
This game is the test. Results haven't been going the teams way. Does the coach rally the troops and have them come out and play like they have been set on fire, or do they get out coached and have the midfield taken over by beckerman and co. This result could crush the team or set them up to go out on a winning streak.
I have this weird feeling that the Union are going to scrape a win here. Last year they had a strange talent for getting results when they were overmatched. Maybe a penalty, maybe a red card, I just have a feeling something weird is going to happen and it'll relieve some of the pressure on the team. Is RSL still going to be without Plata? They played SKC last week with a skeleton crew. I'd love to go to this game -- haven't been to one yet this year, and I love watching RSL, but alas, Casa calls.
I wish I could mock ourselves for being overly pessimistic in the poll, but after the last couple weeks, I have no idea how we win or even tie. We could start by benching Wheeler...
Isn't pretty much everyone back to full fitness? Berry traveled but didn't play, but Williams got time, right? Does Wenger get the start?
It's been mentioned in one of the threads that Williams might have reinjured himself and Berry was not at full fitness despite Hack's statements to the contrary. Maybe it's time for the Union's newest CB, Andrew Wenger.
Great! Now I'm going to have to listen to the "hardcore" fans in section 140 try and chant "Beat the traffic" even though half the river end is emptying out! As for as result, solid loss here. Hoping we just keep it close.
Draw.... we'll have a remarkable 2-0 lead, and give up 2 goals late in the game... one in the 75th and one at 90+.