Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Blake comes up big in shutout of Miami
CHESTER » The Eagles are winless after threeweeks and tied the lowly Cincinnati Bengals Sunday.
The Phillies finished their corona virusshortened season with losses in seven of their final eight games and failed to qualify for a postseason that rewarded under- performing teams such as themselves.
October is right around the corner andthe pro sports scene in Philadelphia is a miserable hellscape ... but at least there’s the Union.
Chester’s soccer club picked up another three points Sunday night at Subaru Park, earning a 3- 0 victory against Inter Miami. They did so in a steady, driving rain and without captain Alejandro Bedoya, who was suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Goalie Andre Blake was sensation al en route to his sixth shut out of the season. The Union improved to 8-4-2, just two points behind first- place Columbus in the Eastern Conference.
Blake was designated team captain in place of Bedoya.
“Tonight, to keep it at 1- 0 at the time, he made a big save,” Union coach Jim Curtin said. “We gave him the captain’s armband for a reason. Themost important thing when you do wear the band is to communicate. Great leadership from Andre, he made some big saves and preserved the three points for us tonight.”
Sunday’s performance was far more encouraging than last Wednesday’s 0- 0 draw at Cincinnati.
“We talked about a response to the performance in Cincinnati, which was very good defensively but was lacking in the attacking part of the field, in our passing and in our build- up,” Curtin said. “The players, I thought, really stepped up. It’s a great example in sports, in our game, I said it to the guys before we went out on the field, 11 players that are cohesive and together and have belief and are fighting for each other can beat any group of individual talented players. Miami has a very good team and a lot of talent in their group. I thought the exercise tonight was one where the Philadelphia Union plays the way that the next man steps up, when we’re missing our captain Bedoya, and I thought we got a lot of big performances from our guys.”
One player who fit Curtin’s description was Anthony starting a game. When Fontana, who filled you start, you’re going the Starting XI vacancy to get a lot more time. and delivered in a big So, I did my best hydrating, way. The homegrown eating my bananas midfielder sparked the and doing all this stuff Union attack by firing to prevent cramps,” he the first shot onnet inthe said. “Unfortunately, I opening minutes. Fontana cramped up, but I’m fine unleashed a rocket and there’s no injuries or past Miami goalie Luis anything like that. From Robles in the 25th minute now on, maybe I have to to put Union on top, drink even more.” 1- 0. “As you saw tonight,
“I love the feeling. Even he’s a very lethal finisher,” though there’s no crowd, Curtin said. “He you still feel that energy,” did a great job of arranging Fontana said. “It was my his body, to turn and first start sincemy debut tomove forward. The kid in MLS ( in 2018), so there continues to produce for were some nerves before us and everybody is contributing the game but, shoot, I’m in that locker happy. I feel like we responded room.” really well. Alejandro Fontana was removed obviously is a big after cramping up in the part of our team and I 60th minute. However, know he trusts us to go the fresh legs proved beneficial out and get the job done. for the Union. Personally, hewas giving Ilsinho came off the me a little bit of advice. bench for Fontana and When one player steps scored almost immediately out, everybody else steps when he slid in the up.” box and converted a pass
Fontana was thrilled from Kacper Przybylko. to start at home and scoring “Ilsinho is still the a goal was a bonus. same incredible weapon He didn’t see the pitch in and I’mreally happy that the Union’s prior match he got the goal tonight,” last Wednesday. Curtin said. “We’ve asked
“Obviously it’s always himto do a lot of different different when coming things off the for us bench this versus year: play as a second striker, play as a winger, play as a 10 like he did tonight. Every time he steps up and does a great job. It was a good team goal from Ilsinhowho, talent- wise, is still a great player for us andhe dida great job impacting the game.”
Brenden Aaronson tallied his fourth goal of the season in stoppage time, and was the second Homegrown player to find the back of the net on the night.
“It’s awesome,” Fontana said. “Every time us Homegrowns step onto the field, we always want to make an impact. As of late, we’ve just been killing it. It all comes down to all the work we’re putting in and we just have to keep it up, simple as that.”
TheUnionallowedMiami to hang around for a little while. Miami had three corner kicks in the first 15 minutes of the second half, then Blake made an outstanding save on a shot from Ben Sweat in the 62nd. Jose Martinez went down with a shoulder on the play. He stayed on, but played in noticeable discomfort.