Stadium name change doesn’t seep energy from Union

CHESTER » It had been 310 days, not that anybody was counting, since the Philadelphia Union last played a game in Chester. It had been so long, even the stadium’s name had changed, not to mention the world around it.

Kacper Przybylko wasn’t part of that game last October, due to a foot injury. And while that’s well and truly behind the Union striker, he made up for lost time with a sensational performance Tuesday night.

Przybylko scored the game’s only goal and was outstanding at both ends of the field as the Union’s first game at Subaru Park ended the same way as its final Talen Energy Stadium affair: A win over the New York Red Bulls, this time by a 1-0 score.

The win continues a sixmatch unbeaten streak (30-3). It’s the Union’s fourth clean sheet in 10 matches in all competitions.

Przybylko was the difference for the Union (3-1-3, 12 points). He netted a deft finish in the 31st minute, ghosting off the shoulder of ballwatching center back Aaron Long and meeting Ray Gaddis’ perfect cross with a onetime shot. Andrew Wooten, who started for this first time this season, earned the secondary assist, helping draw out the backline with a smart interchange with Gaddis on the right.

“I’m always hungry so today was finally the day I scored again,” Przybylko said. “I am so happy with it. It was a fantastic cross by Ray.”

The goal is Przybylko’s second of the season, after 15 last season before the foot injury brought 2019 to a premature end. The assist is Gaddis’s first and just his 10th in a franchise-best 213th regular season game.

It’s a testament to Przybylko’s rabid desire to score that despite getting the all-important marker, he started his press conference with a note of gratitude for coaches and teammates for keeping the faith in him after all of five games without a goal, a miniscule drought. Manager Jim Curtin sees that on a daily basis, and it’s why he sees the defensive contributions from the striker are so vital, for Przybylko’s psyche and for the team.

“I think in some ways, Kacper puts too much pressure on himself to score and feel like he’s not really helping the team if he’s not scoring,” manager Jim Curtin said. “I see all the other things he does, defending set pieces, setting the line defensively, even working back late in the game when Sergio is going forward, that 60yard run covering for him. Excellent game from him. I thought he scored a great goal, a great team goal.”

Przybylko could’ve made it two on the stroke of halftime off a corner kick that bounced in the box three times before finding his right foot on the edge of the six-yard box. But Red Bulls goalie Ryan Meara dove to smother the shot.

Przybylko moments earlier had used his awareness in the box to keep the Red Bulls (3-3-1, 10 points) off the board, saving a shot off the line. Sean Davis’ corner in the 45th swerved to the far post, where center back Tim Parker headed back across the grain. But Przybylko, stationed at the post, swiped it away to safety. He had a similarly massive clearance deep in second-half stoppage time on one of a series of dangerous free kicks by the Red Bulls.

If the Union had doubled their lead in the second half, it would’ve been because of Przybylko’s intervention. A Przybylko back heel put the ball on a plate for sub Sergio Santos in the 67th minute. He had an entire net to shoot at but chose Meara’s breadbasket. A minute later, Brenden Aaronson unhooked the defense and slipped in Przybylko. But he tried to chip Meara from outside the box, sailing it over the bar.

Santos had a golden look in the 79th off a Wagner cross but couldn’t quite contort his body to angle his effort on target.

The Red Bulls’ attrition started to yield chances after the hour mark. Mark McKenzie made a rare mistake, but Andre Blake bailed him out by beating down a shot by substitute forward Tom Barlow. A pair of desperation clearances by Jakob Glesnes alleviated trouble in the 72nd and 73rd minutes before he left with cramping. It was Jose Martinez’s turn six minutes later after he and McKenzie sacrificed their bodies for shot blocks. Blake made three saves on the day.

“I can say with confidence that we have the best center back group in this league,” Curtin said. “I thought Jakob was excellent, his reading of the play, his intelligent plays he makes. … I thought Mark again was excellent, a couple of clearances and blocks. And then with Jack (Elliott), it’s difficult to come in off the bench and close out the game as a center back.”