For the first time in franchise history, the boys in blue have lost four straight matches at home. Let’s wrap on all the sights and sounds of the match:
Yield First…Again
In eight of their last 12 games, the Union conceded the first goal of the match. It’s been an all too familiar sight this season for Philadelphia. At length, we’ve heard both Jim Curtin and his players alike stress the importance of not chasing the game and yet, the Union continue to do so with regularity this year.
“The margins are tight,” Curtin said during his postgame availability. “Right now, we have to find a way to fight through this. It hurts right now, but the only people that can get us out of it will be us.”
Curtin minced no words about his club’s performance, describing some of the errors his club made as “uncharacteristic” and bluntly, “stupid” in this match. That said, the Union have been in a majority of these games during this recent slide, but
“We’ve had chances to turn around games, but we have to make them” defender Kai Wagner said. “A lot of teams are making them in the moment, it feels like every week we have the goal of week against us.”
This current run does have a snowball feel to it for Philly. In fact, the Union and Curtin held a townhall so to speak in the locker-room during half time, allowing some players the opportunity to speak up and correct course themselves. More on that below.
Carranza Walks the Walk
In the 48th minute, Julian Carranza drilled a free kick into the top of the net to cut the Union deficit to one. The set piece was set up nicely by Jack McGlynn, who put the ball on a tee for Carranza as well. At the time, the tally just looked like another nice goal from one of the Union’s young strikers. In reality, it was Julian walking the walk after speaking up in an attempt to rally his teammates after another unacceptable half of soccer.
“I was really impressed about what he had to say,” Curtin said. “It was all accurate, the truth, and was long. Good to see from a kid that plays with passion and wants to win every tackle. Proud of him for speaking in the way he did.”
Of course, the finer details of Carranza’s speech were kept in the locker-room. Nevertheless, a 23-year-old player taking the opportunity to address his teammates should have gotten everyone’s attention.
“I just feel like Jim has already said everything,” Carranza said. “I started saying what I believe would take us out of this situation. I took the role there and I think it went well. Then, we opened the second half and pushed forward and tried to do better for the team.”
In a contract year for Carranza, adding the term “leader” to his resume wouldn’t hurt his reputation, whether that be in parlaying that into a extension or a sale elsewhere. However, the 23-year-old is only worried about the here and now and getting back to this team being competitive.
“I’m not taking the role of a leader,” Carranza said. “I want to win. I’m not here to just go out there and see what happens. I felt like I had to.”
We’re Going Streaking!
Just when you think you’ve seen it all. The first half had about a two and half minute delay due to a racoon making it’s way onto the pitch. Which, of course, is the most action we saw in Philadelphia during the first half of this match. He (she?) was eventually detained. And don’t worry, no racoons were harmed in the process.
They Said It
Jim on Curtin on the club’s losing skid: “It’s the first losing streak we’ve had in roughly six years. It’s unique to all of us. We’re going to learn about ourselves internally in the coming weeks.”
Kai Wagner on his foul that led to NYFC’s second goal: “It was just frustration from the whole first half. It was unacceptable how we played. It’s unacceptable to foul in the 45th minute.”
Julian Carranza on the team’s mentality: “We need to know that we can through this if were all together. If there’s some players that aren’t sure if they want this, then we need to have a talk to be in the same boat and to push forward. When were all together, we can be one of the best team’s in this league.”
On Deck
The boys in blue will head to New England to take on the Revolution on Saturday. The match begins at 7:30 and is broadcasted on Apple TV.
