In overcoming adversity, Curtin sees definite progress
Jim Curtin’s postgame assessment Wednesday night in Columbus cut along three obvious lines.
First, he had no shortage of praise for his rookie contingent, the triumvirate of top-six picks starting together for just the second time this season, with rookies Keegan Rosenberry and Fabian Herbers accounting for both markers in the 2-1 win over the Crew.
Second, he lauded his team’s resilience in capturing a second win at Mapfre Stadium in 2016, capping a three-game sweep of the Crew, the first time the Union have ever pulled such a feat in MLS.
And finally, Curtin applauded his team’s penchant for perseverance after a Crew goal in the 73rd minute that barely — if at all — crossed the line, with Rosenberry netting the game-winner before the broadcast had returned from replays.
On all three fronts, the Union (10-9-7, 37 points) are showing demonstrable progress past.
The Union’s recent history, particularly against Eastern Conference foes, has been perplexing. In last year’s generally forgettable campaign, for instance, six of the Union’s 10 MLS wins came against playoff teams, including both MLS Cup finalists. Half their wins in 2014’s derelict season were against playoff teams, including three in all competitions against Eastern champs New England.
This season, the Union are taking care of business against teams below them in the standings, and the dominance of Columbus is the archetype. Against teams currently sitting sixth through 10th in the East, the Union are 9-1-2. That compares to 1-3-2 against the East’s top four (against which half of the Union’s eight remaining games occur), and a miserable 0-5-3 against Western foes.
“We talked about mentality,” Curtin said. “To beat a team three times in a year is very difficult, especially a good team that (coach) Gregg from the (Berhalter) has, that’s been playing pretty well in the recent weeks and is tough to deal with in this building. I think defensively, we worked our tails off and closed things down and dodged a few bullets.”
The Union also didn’t hang their heads when a corner kick descended into chaos in the 73rd minute. A ball that caromed off the head of Crew midfielder Tony Tchani, the hands of goalie Andre Blake, the crossbar and both of forward Adam Jahn’s legs crossed the line (allegedly) millimeters before Warren Creavalle’s clearance and was registered on the scoreboard over the Union’s vociferous objections.
Rosenberry made it academic 61 seconds later when sub Roland Alberg and Alejandro Bedoya pieced together a nifty 1-2, and Bedoya played in Rosenberry on a superb diagonal run across the face of a defender for the rookie to bury his second goal of the season.
With that, the Union have outscored opponents 8-2 in the 10 minutes after conceding a goal this year.
“There are so many times this year whenever we’re tested as a team and our responses to controversy, to tough plays, to things that don’t go our way — calls, results, goals, whatever it is,” Rosenberry said. “And we’ve responded well, I think.”
“There’s no quit in them,” Curtin said. “Even after we didn’t concede a real goal, they battled back and got a second, which shows the character of the group.”
The standings reflect that, too. Two consecutive away wins have moved the Union into a tie with the Red Bulls for third in the East, slipping behind their northern rivals on goal differential. They’re nine points clear of seventh-place Orlando City, finally distancing from the red line.
Wednesday was the Union’s final midweek game (they are 3-0-2 in such contests), and they have winnable fixtures ahead with Sporting Kansas City (11-115, 38 points) coming to town Saturday and a trip to ninth-place Chicago looming next week.
That opens a window to consolidate playoff placing with an eye toward hosting a postseason game as a top-four team.
“I’m proud of the group,” Curtin said. “I think our fans have something to be proud of, that this team is resilient. It’s a true Philadelphia-type team, blue collar, tough, doesn’t let adversity get in the way. I guess in the words of Rasheed Wallace, the ball doesn’t lie — you guys won’t get that in Columbus — but the ball does not lie.”