Union limping into playoff meeting with Red Bulls
CHESTER, PA. >> Jim Curtin was in his first answer of the postgame press conference when he got reflective.
Sunday’s 2-1 loss against New York City was not the note on which he wanted to go into a two-week, prepostseason break. But the other things that Curtin’s Union side carry into playoffs — the franchise record for wins and points in a season, tying the 2011 season for a third-place standings finish — those are new for the franchise.
So while he expected cynical barbs from the fanbase after a second straight loss to end the regular season, he’s also got a salient counterpoint to present.
“I still see a team that is different,” Curtin said. “I see a team that put a lot into the nine months, set us up to have the highest point total and I’m going to stand up for the players. … I think there’s been a lot of special moments, a lot of work put in on the field and a lot of growth and improvement from players.”
On paper, the similarities to last season are eerie. The Union lost the final two games of 2018, at home against the Red Bulls and at New York City FC, the latter sliding them from third to sixth in the standings. They returned to Yankee Stadium three days later and were trounced by NYCFC, 3-1.
This year, the Union (1611-7, 55 points) enter the postseason off a loss in Columbus and a loss to NYC. Though they’ll have to wait two weeks for their playoff matchup, a home game against New York Red Bulls Oct. 20, the situations bear some resemblance on paper.
But how do they see those supposed similarities?
“I would say it’s a new year, so we start the year with a clean slate,” defender Mark McKenzie said. “I don’t think we carry anything from last year to this year. We’re pissed off now, and we have to really look at what we did wrong in this game and sharpen up and we have a Red Bull team who we just played a couple of weeks ago.”
“The only difference is we play at home because last year we played away,” midfielder Haris Medunjanin said. “What is bothering me is we have a good season and then we finish like this. For me, the thing is you should enjoy playing against a first-place team.”
For the players, the next two weeks will be about balancing that feeling. The Union are a better team in 2019 than ever before, as 16 wins and 55 points indicate. They had a chance at the top spot in the Eastern Conference into the final two weeks of the season. They’ve rarely played like the “same old Union” that Curtin referenced, even if Sunday’s first half hour showed glimpses. They were sloppy in their press, lackluster in going forward and were opened up in the 7th minute by Ronald Matarrita and the 22nd by Ismael Tajouri-Shradi.
With the ball, the Union lacked the clinical finishing they’ve shown most of the year. Part of that was adjusting without Kacper Przybylko, ruled out in warmups with a foot injury, and Alejandro Bedoya, expected to be out with a quad strain.
All season, the Union have played as though they aren’t that “same old Union.” But Sunday, their timidity against the Eastern Conference champs didn’t reflect that.
“It makes no sense that we are thinking that we can beat everybody,” Medunjanin said. “It’s impossible when you don’t give 100 percent every game, then anybody can beat you away or home. That’s the lesson for these two weeks. To fight for each other, to be disciplined and when you do that, you can beat any team at home.”
At first glance, the Red Bulls seem a difficult matchup. The Union allowed four goals to New York in two meetings, including a come-from-behind 3-2 game at Talen where they trailed 2-0 at the half. Though they are sixth in the East, the Red Bulls have played better after a slow start.
Though one win in five games to end the season isn’t great, the Union have won five of their last 10. They’ve proven an ability to beat quality teams this season, even if Sunday didn’t show it.
“It’s been a great year,” McKenzie said. “We set some records, but at the same time, we have a bigger picture in mind, and that’s to bring a trophy to Philly. The only way to do that is to win games. Now we’re going to a win-orgo-home situation, and we host a game. Our focus has to turn to that and put this game behind us and keep it moving.”