The Philadelphia Union had a late night, for the fans on the east coast of course, date with the perfect, at home at PayPal Park, San Jose Earthquakes. While both teams were coming in looking to preserve their unbeaten streaks, the Union with 9 in a row and the San Jose Earthquakes with their undefeated streak at home, one was potentially going to lose their streak and tonight, it just so happened to be the Union.
The Union early on tried to get things going, but the San Jose Earthquakes did not let that happen. Instead, they decided to show the Union who’s house they were in and got one early from a great run by Cade Cowell. Cowell was able to hold up in the box and find a wide-open Jeremy Ebobissi outside the 18. It seemed like the Union just had a bad break down as two defenders went to Cowell. Ebobissi struck from outside the box and was able to put it past an outstretched Andre Blake to give the Quakes the early lead.
The Union slowly began to find their stride and in the 16th minute, Damion Lowe gets the Union on the board with his first in a Union kit. After some hustle and pressure from the front 3 of the Union, they were awarded a corner kick. Set pieces can be important in a game where it feels like you can’t get things going your way. Lowe is able to find the kick for a header and tied the game for the Union.
Damion Lowe did end up leaving the game after grabbing his right hamstring. Lowe did say in the locker room after their last match at Subaru Park against Montreal CF that he felt good and was ready to go. Hoping it was nothing serious and just Head Coach Jim Curtin being cautious.
There wasn’t much else in this half as the game went to a standoff between both teams when they came at a crossroads. Julian Carranza almost kept his scorching hot boot engulfed in flames with what could have been the easiest finish of the season. As the buildup went and the attack developed, Bueno was able to get a beautiful through ball. Bueno found the trailing Carranza who had an empty net basically and skied it over the net.
The 2nd half started, and it just felt like the pitch began to become tilted. San Jose was getting chance after chance and finally, at the 57th minute, Miguel Trauco just lasered one past Andre Blake from outside the box. It was an absolute laser of a shot. Right before they scored, you could feel the Union beginning to break.
The Union had some good chances but couldn’t get any penetration outside of a few crosses. When they created their chances, Earthquakes goalie, Daniel, had the answer to whatever the Union threw his way. If the Union played this well in a loss, imagine what they can do when the ball ends up going their way.
The Union will be off until their next match on June 21st in Orlando looking to get 3 points back and revenge after Orlando broke their unbeaten streak at Subaru Park and took 3 points of their own.
Match Summary
Shots
PHI-19
SJ-10
Shots on Goal
PHI- 9
SJ- 2
Saves
PHI- 0
SJ- 6
Possession
PHI- 52.2%
SJ- 47.8%
Discipline
N/A
Goals
8′ SJ- Ebobisse; assist Cowell
17′ PHI- Lowe; assist Wagner
57′ SJ- Trauco; assist Gruezo