Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Curtin expects ‘good response’ after another road debacle
The statement was so clear Friday night that it needed no more elucidation than what was supplied by the less than two minutes of post-match media availability.
“Yeah, obviously beat by a better team tonight,” was Jim Curtin’s assessment of the Philadelphia Union’s 3-0 loss with to Toronto FC. And with that, he could’ve retreated into the Ontario night and started gameplanning for a trip to Columbus.
It was clear that, even with the hosts staving off a CONCACAF Champions League hangover, the Union stood little chance. Even with Toronto lacking Jozy Alditore, Drew Moor, Nick Hagglund, Justin Morrow, Chris Mavinga and Eriq Zavaleta due to injuries, the Union were still steamrolled.
That perhaps wasn’t in doubt. Toronto FC (2-4-1, 7 points) is the same roster that last year set an MLS points record, won the MLS Cup and gave Mexican power Chivas de Guadalajara all it could handle in losing the CCL final in penalty kicks 10 days ago, a momentous achievement for MLS in stating its legitimacy in the shadow of Liga MX. Even battered by injuries, Toronto could still field Michael Bradley (albeit in central defense), soccer wizard Sebastian Giovinco and Spaniard Victor Vazquez.
The Union are, well, the Union, despite sporadic and heretofore unsuccessful attempts to transcend that dour designation. And in living up (or down?) to all the baggage that history brings, they were outshot 16-5 and shut out for the fifth time in eight matches. They were out-passed, outpossessed, out-played.
Much of that, to anyone recently paying attention, could’ve been foreseen. More astounding is how brick after incompetent brick has been fitted together to erect a monument to mediocrity. The comprehensive ineptitude that the Union (2-42, 8 points) have shown on the road defies description. Friday’s loss means they have just one win in 24 road games dating to 2016. They are 1-15-8 in that stretch, earning just 11 of a possible 72 points.
Even more damning: Were you to make a list of the Union’s 10 most recent road victories, Chivas USA would make the list. That’s Chivas, which shut down operations at the end of 2014.
The rest of the details are merely deck chairs on the Titanic. Alejandro Bedoya hit a header in the 10th minute that Alex Bono nudged off the woodwork. David Accam was invisible again, not taking a single shot and extending his personal scoreless streak to 15 games, including the playoffs. Twelve have been starts, eight with the Union.
The two most prominent highlights — Ilsinho going 90 minutes for just the sixth time in 58 Union matches, and Marcus Epps making a slightly noteworthy season debut — are indictments in themselves.
The well of optimism isn’t dry yet, though, with trips to Columbus and Montreal forthcoming for the Union to do the only thing they can to get out of their road morass — actually just go win a game.
“I know we will have a good response against Columbus,” Curtin said.”… A good opponent but one where we can go on the road and get points. At the end of the day we have two more road games. We’re going to chase both of them. It’s been a struggle on the road, it’s no secret, but at the same time, the margins are tiny in this league. We had a few chances tonight. You have to be able to take your opportunities on the road because chances will be few and far between.
“We look forward now to Columbus and Montreal, two places where it’s Eastern Conference opponents. They’re big games, they’re six-point games. It’s still early but now we have some urgency to bring back points.”