The Vancouver Whitecaps travelled to Philadelphia to take on the Union in their final match before the MLS World Cup break. The Caps have been on terrific form of late and looked to continue that at PPL Park against a Philadelphia side that has had a mediocre start to the 2014 season with a record of 3-7-5. Vancouver have never scored a goal or won a match in Chester, Pennsylvania and took care of one of those tasks in what was a back and forth match that saw each team dominate a half. It could be said both sides earned a disappointing lone point in a 3-3 draw.
Vancouver received first half goals from Erik Hurtado, and Nicolas Mezquida to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. Philadelphia responded with a trio of unanswered goals in the second half to take a lead. Conor Casey had a brace sandwiched in between a Sebastien Le Toux goal. Pedro Morales rescued the Caps with a late penalty marker in the 81'. An injured Jay DeMerit left the match in the first half, and both sides played a heavy thrilling back and forth 90' minutes.
Carl Robinson made three changes to his starting eleven. Nicolas Mezquida made his first career MLS start, Russell Teibert found his way back into the lineup, and Johnny Leveron came in for Andy O'Brien who was supposed to be rested. Kekuta Manneh, and Sebastian Fernandez both started last Sunday in Portland, but found themselves on the bench to start this match. Darren Mattocks and his yet to be healed hamstring also started on the bench. The Caps went with a 4-2-3-1 formation with the in form Erik Hurtado as the long striker. Coming into this match Hurtado had scored in four-straight matches in all competitions.
Union gaffer John Hackworth started with a 4-3-3 formation with Conor Casey, Daniel Cruz, and Zach Pfeffer as his three forwards. Former Vancouver Whitecaps striker Sebastien Le Toux started this match on the bench. Philadelphia's hottest player of late has been Casey. The Dover, New Hampshire native, scored a brace in the Union's 3-0 win over Chivas USA on Saturday, May 31.
The Opening 45
The Philadelphia Union started this match with a flurry of activity in the Whitecaps half of the pitch. A pair of corners threatened the Caps in the early going, but the Union could not score a goal. With his huge frame, striker Conor Casey was causing a lot of problems for Jay DeMerit and the Vancouver back line. David Ousted was sharp in net as Philadelphia looked to get an aerial presence going.
Vancouver would open the scoring in the 18' minute thanks to a wonderful display of passing on the right flank. Russell Teibert played a terrific through ball to Nigel Reo-Coker, and the Englishman delivered a beautiful cross into the Philadelphia box. Erik Hurtado was able to get behind Raymon Gaddis to head the ball past a helpless Zack MacMath. Hurtado has now scored in five straight matches in all competitions and he is one of the most in form players in MLS.
A few moments after the Whitecaps took a 1-0 lead they had to make an unscheduled substitution in the 24'. Jay DeMerit went up in the air to challenge Conor Casey and he came down on awkwardly on his left leg. DeMerit was putting no weight on his left leg as he was helped to the Whitecaps dressing room. Carl Robinson brought on Andy O'Brien to take the skipper's place in the back four. Nigel Reo-Coker took over the captains armband.
Erik Hutado looked to set up Pedro Morales in the 32' when he sent a ball all the way across the Philadelphia box. Nobody intercepted the pass, and an on rushing Pedro Morales looked to have a great scoring opportunity. MacMath came out of his net, and Gaddis came over to help his keeper. Morales took a shot that went off the right forearm of Gaddis. He clamoured for a penalty, however referee Jose Carlos Rivero wasn't interested in awarding one.
The Philadelphia Union had a fantastic opportunity to tie the game 1-1 in the 37' thanks to a free kick. Cristian Maidana took the set piece from outside the Vancouver box and David Ousted juggled and eventually saved the shot on target as he was falling to the ground. Union skipper Amobi Okugo was screening Ousted, and the Danish keeper had a moment of difficulty before making the save.
The Caps started to take over the match in the second half of the opening forty-five. The Union defenders were no match for the speedy Hurtado, or the cleaver and creative passing from Morales and Teibert. Vancouver was given far too much time and space as John Hackworth's side was often caught on the counter attack by the visitors. Vancouver would add to their goal total in the 41' thanks to another fine display of passing.
Erik Hurtado was cutting into the right side of the pitch and he played the ball into an unmarked Nicolas Mezquida. The Uruguayan had enough time to make a sandwich, have a nap, and go golfing before firing home his shot past Zac MacMath. The Union keeper was once again left with zero defensive support and the Whitecaps midfielder took full advantage for his second career MLS goal.
Philadelphia held a 54-46 possession advantage, and a 4-0 advantage on corners in the first half. Vancouver had 3 shots on target to the Union's 1. The most important stat had Vancouver going into the break with a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia Union thanks to some brilliant passing and fine finishing.
The Second Half
Before the second half kicked off Carl Robinson spoke to a sideline reporter about Jay DeMerit's injury and suggested that it could be an injury to his left-sided achilles. DeMerit ruptured the same achilles in March of 2013 and missed most of the season. It's too early to speculate on the severity of Jay DeMerit's injury, but if it's serious he would be huge loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Philadelphia picked up their play and managed to hit the left post with a bit on confusion in the Whitecaps box. Vincent Nogueira sent in a ball in the that got caught in between the legs of Andy O'Brien. The ball hit the post, and was eventually cleared out of danger before any of the Union players could connect.
The Whitecaps took their first corner in the 55' and almost connected on what would have been an MLS goal of the week worthy candidate. Pedro Morales took the left corner, and left-back Jordan Harvey came out of nowhere to head the ball slightly over the bar. The most capped MLS player on the Whitecaps roster was left unmarked as his header came up short on what would have been a beautiful header from a corner.
Conor Casey got his team on the score sheet in the 63' with a diving header. Cristian Maidana was able to get around Nigel Reo-Coker, and Matias Laba was late getting over to help. The Argentine playmaker sent in a cross that Casey was to score on as he was falling to the ground. He beat out his defender Andy O'Brien, and the ball went in off the left post and past David Ousted.
The Union weren't done scoring as they quickly tied the match at 2-2 in the 68'. Former Whitecaps striker Sebastien Le Toux, who had come on in the 65' minute haunted his former side with a sublime strike. Vincent Nogueria came down the left flank and crossed the ball to a wide open Le Toux. Johnny Leveron was caught in the middle, and Le Toux had all the time and space in the world to blast the ball past David Ousted.
The Philadelphia goals kept on coming as Vancouver would quickly blow a second half 2-0 and trail 3-2 thanks to a plucky second half bevy of goals from John Hackworth's team. Conor Casey completed his brace in the 71' when he curled in the ball to the left of David Ousted. The Whitecaps were left flat-footed, and shell-shocked. Maidana was the playmaker once again as defensive question marks arose thanks to some shambolic second half Vancouver defending.
Just when it looked as if the Whitecaps would go into the MLS World Cup break with a demoralizing loss to Philadelphia, they evened up the match in the 81'. Pedro Morales lobbed the ball up for second half substitute Darren Mattocks and he was off to the races. The speedy Jamaican was taken out feet first by Union keeper Zac MacMath. The St. Petersburg, Florida native, was given a yellow card and Jose Carlos Rivero pointed to the spot for a penalty. Pedro Morales stepped up and scored his third penalty in this last two matches to tie the game at 3-3.
Both teams had a half that they would most likely like to forget. The Caps looked like the MLS cream of the crop in the first half before imploding in the second half thanks to a dominating, and unrelenting attack from the Union. On the other side of the pitch Philadelphia had a dreadful first half, and did not look ready to play. Conor Casey helped his side comeback and score three-second half goals. This was a see-saw match that both teams did not deserve all three points.
Man of the Match
David Ousted
David Ousted was tested early and often. He had no help in the second half as Union kept coming with wave after wave of attacks. Philadelphia had 9 shots on target, and most of those came in the second forty-five. Ousted had to be sharp, and adjust to a changing and chaotic back-four that lost Jay DeMerit in the first half. He did well to earn the Whitecaps a point after Philadelphia looked for a 4-3 goal after the Morales penalty.
Honourable mention
Conor Casey has now scored four goals in his last two matches. If Erik Hurtado is the most in form MLS player in the western conference, than Casey is the most in form player in the eastern conference. He gave the Whitecaps defenders fits for all 90' minutes he was on the pitch. Vancouver could not contain him in the air or on the ground. His height was too much of a problem for the Caps. Casey was the best Union player in this match and he came up huge when he and his teammates could have gone into hibernation after a poor first half. Casey came to play, and he helped secure one point.
Vancouver Whitecaps Line-up
David Ousted; David Ousted; Nigel Reo-Coker, Jay DeMerit(C), Johnny Leverón, Jordan Harvey; Gershon Koffie, Matias Laba; Nicolas Mezquida, Pedro Morales, Russell Teibert; Erik Hurtado. (4-2-3-1)
Philadelphia Union Starting XI:
Stefan Frei; Zac MacMath, Raymon Gaddis, Sheanon Williams, Amobi Okugo(C), Fabinho, Maurice Edu, Vincent Nogueira, Cristian Maidana; Zach Pfeffer, Conor Casey, Daniel Cruz. (4-3-3)
Notes: The Vancouver Whitecaps players will be given a seven-day break as the MLS World Cup interval rolls into place next week. Jay DeMerit will head to Connecticut to work with ESPN as a studio guest analyst for the FIFA World Cup.
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