Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Union out for revenge in home opener
CHESTER >> The subject of rivalries tends to be a sore one around Talen Energy Stadium. Most involved with the Philadelphia Union are of the belief that fostering rivalries requires high-stakes games and balanced results; with three playoff games and a grand total of zero wins, both are in short supply.
So no, renewing acquaintance Saturday with the team that ousted the Union from their first playoff berth in five years does not signal a burgeoning rivalry.
But revenge against Toronto FC? That’s a different matter.
“I think it’s in all of our minds,” defender Richie Marquez said Thursday. “I think it started from the day we reported. I kind of like it, knowing that we’re going to play them so close into the season, especially after the loss in the postseason that we had, so for me it’s a little bit of a revenge game, and I know a lot of players are thinking the same thing.”
Toronto FC pays a visit Saturday (4:30 p.m., CSN) some four months after ending the Union’s 2016 season, the Reds’ first step toward a heartbreaking penalty-kick defeat in the MLS Cup final to Seattle. While the Union aren’t viewing the game as a chance to establish level footing with Toronto, they aren’t exactly in the mood to forgive and forget.
“There’s something there, obviously they ended our season,” manager Jim Curtin said. “But it’s a new year.”
The new season brings a similar Toronto side, one that like the Union began the campaign with a scoreless draw in a Western Conference building (at Real Salt Lake).
Greg Vanney’s team retains many of the principles that guided its playoff run. He’ll still deploy the 3-5-2, predicated on the steadiness of its defense and energetic wing backs (though Steven Beitashour could miss out after undergoing concussion testing). Jozy Altidore leads the line, while Sebastian Giovinco, dubbed repeatedly by Curtin as “probably the best attacker in our league,” is the principal impetus.
The obvious deficit that Curtin highlights in the rivalry talk — as with many purported grudges his predecessors stoked absent much justification — comes on the Union side. It’s not a rivalry until both sides score meaningful wins, and even in season No. 8, the Union remain largely bereft of those.
That’s why the talk centers on attending to their own improvement, rather than Toronto’s inf luence.
“We’re striving for our own legacies, our own trophies and we’re just going to focus on ourselves,” Marquez said. “Obviously we’re going to take every opponent with respect, but we’re not going to fear anyone. I think this team believes that we can play with any team in this league.”
The Union received an early confidence boost with last week’s draw in Vancouver, hardly a whirlwind success but a favorable start. Keeping a clean sheet and winning the possession battle away from home are two specific aspects that portend good things.
As a result, Curtin seems likely to field an unchanged XI Saturday. Ilsinho, who was penciled in against Vancouver before a late hamstring strain, is fighting to crack the lineup ahead of Fabian Herbers. But Curtin was encouraged by contributions from the fringe inclusions like Derrick Jones and Jay Simpson to warrant another chance.
With some positives in the bank, the Union are looking to build, regardless who is on the other side of the field.
“I think it’s momentum, a lot of momentum of the unity of the team and we’re all really clicking,” Marquez said. “The chemistry is high, so it’s a lot of just working and staying together more than anything and perfecting the little things.”