Ilsinho’s tallies two assists in Union win
CHESTER » The Union accomplished a previously insurmountable franchise feat Sunday evening.
For the first time in the club’s 10-year history, the Union won a sixth straight home game with a 2-1 decision over the Montreal Impact.
And for the first time in months, fans were able to celebrate the Union’s dominance at Subaru Park. A minimum number of spectators — about 15 percent stadium capacity — were on hand to watch the Union improve to 10-3-4 and 6-0-0 in Chester. The Union are in second place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind front-runner Toronto FC.
“Our record at home, I’d imagine it’s the best it’s ever been because it couldn’t be any better, so we’re happy with where we’re at,” coach Jim Curtin said. “We want this building to have the fans start to trickle back in. I thought they gave a real additional boost to the players. We missed them a great deal and I just wish at the right time, with everybody’s health and safety in mind, once this place is full again hopefully for the playoffs, it’s going to be a real special atmosphere for sure. This team deserves a full stadium with the way that we’ve played at home, the wins that we’ve put together, the point total that we have ... we’re up in the high 60s in terms of points. I can’t say enough good things about the way the players play and to have the fans back tonight was awesome.”
The Union scored first when Ilsinho hit a running Jamiro Monteiro in stride in the 39th minute for his first goal since June 2019. Monteiro was left alone inside the box and unleashed a shot past Montreal goalkeeper Clement Diop. The goal marked the 12th time the Union have scored first in17 games this season, and they have lost only once in those matches.
“I just want to score more goals and more assists and be more aggressive
on the goal,” Monteiro said. “Illsinho is very good on one-on-one and he made a play inside and I saw the space and he was also giving direction, like, somebody to go in that space. So, I looked back if somebody was going on the moment ... and I saw the space and I was alone for the goal so that makes me shoot it.”
Making only his second start of the season, designated player Ilsinho assisted on Union’s second goal, as well, sending a cross to a streaking Sergio Santos. Santos stumbled to the ground, but not before he tapped the ball in to make it 2-0. The Brazilian forward gave the Union attack a pair of fresh legs after subbing in for a bangedup Warren Creavalle to begin the second half.
Ilsinho continues to deliver big moments for the club.
“If you think about the last game (a 3-0 win at Cincinnati), obviously Ilsinho gave us some real juice, some real life. And with the way Montreal builds, you know, basically off of goal kicks out of their own six-yard box, we thought it would be important to play with the front three to try to disrupt them,” Curtin said. “Illsinho gives us that quality, like you saw on the goals that he set up
tonight. His ability to stay calm and in pressure situations to make a final pass is something that we felt we needed to unlock a pretty good defense in Montreal that is really disciplined and organized.”
The Union got another sterling performance from goalkeeper Andre Blake, who made a pair of acrobatic saves right out of halftime to preserve the 1-0 advantage. Earlier in the night, Blake boinked the backofhis headon the goalpost while leaping to make a save, but he was noworse for wear. Blake denied one of Montreal’s best scoring chances when he got a hand on a Victor Wanyama shot in the 48th minute.
Montreal (6-9-2), which sits in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, kept coming at the Union. Amar Sejdic fired a shot past Blake in the 65th minute for his first MLS goal. Philadelphia’s defenders were caught sleeping on the play, failing to make a play on the ball while giving Sejdic a clear lane to strike. In the 79thminute, the Impact were unable to capitalize on a penalty kick by Romell Quioto, who shot high and wide of the cage.
“We always believe that we can keep the shutout,” said Blake, who faced 11 shots on goal. “We’re going to create chances so
we’re always going to have a chance to win the game. All the guys are committed. Jim always says that all 11 guys defend and all 11 guys attack and I think the guys are all bought in, and, you know, it’s been working for us, so we just got to keep going.”
The fans provided the Union with some added energy en route to clinching their sixth straight home victory.
“It’s always important to have the best fans in the league inside the stadium cheering us on,” Blake said. “It wasn’t a lot tonight, but they were loud and clear. We heard them the entire 90 minutes and could not have been more happy to have them back and we’re just happy that we were able to give them a win tonight so they should be going home happy.”
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NOTES » The Union have outscored opponents at home this season, 15-3. ... Outside back Olivier Mbaizo was removed in the second half after an apparent injury. He was replaced by Matt Real. ... Curtin is presently the second-longest tenured coach in MLS after D.C. United’s Ben Olsen was relieved of his duties last week. ... The Union play at D.C. Wednesday night.