4 Goal Thriller In Chester

The Philadelphia Union and Charlotte draw after a hard-fought battle.  Head coach Ryan Richter knew this match would be difficult.  Charlotte came into Subaru Park with pace up front thanks to Allan Saint-Maximin, Idan Toklomati, and Rodolfo Aloko.  Aloko and Toklomati posed a handful of problems for Union defenders, but Philadelphia’s Milan Iloski and Bruno Damiani each grabbed a goal.  The Union continues to sit in sixth place with 46 points as they got one point for their 2-2 draw.

The defense from Philadelphia was a tale of two halves.  In the first half, the Union’s shape was tight and organized, allowing minimal chances and no space on the ball for Charlotte.  Things were looking good as the Union had a 1-0 lead going into the break, but Charlotte quickly found a goal in the 47th minute, leveling the game at one.  From then on, the Union allowed more chances for Charlotte to create possession.  As Charlotte created more chances, they took the lead in the 62nd minute with a header from Toklomati.  If the Union wants to continue their surge towards the top four, they need to tighten up defensively.

On the opposite side of the field, the Union’s attack was good.  With Richter’s tactics, the Union effectively moved the ball from side to side, causing Charlotte to open up.  Since the Union was dangerous on the attack, it was no surprise that Milan Iloski and Bruno Damiani got on the scoresheet again.  Another positive to take away from this result was seeing the partnership of Lukic and Danley Jean Jaques in the midfield.

Jovan Lukic and Danley Jean Jaques were two crucial players.  Known for their work rate and defensive contributions, Lukic and Danley helped build attacks by getting the ball forward while also slowing down a pacey Charlotte team in transition.  These two are a problem for opponents if they see the field together going forward. 

Union fans should be satisfied that the boys in blue got a point, but certainly have every right to feel some sort of discomfort, as their performance was uncharacteristic at the start of the second half.  Philadelphia looks to prepare for their next home match against a New England side that has solidified a postseason spot.

PHOTO CREDIT

Kevin Barrett Phillysoccerpage.net