With two of the highest scoring trios in Major League Soccer squaring off, FC Dallas came out ahead with a 1-0 win over Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night.
Even after the sun went down, the Texas heat remained high as the Union kicked off in Frisco in 90+ degree temperatures. But the heat didn’t keep the Boys in Blue from deploying their aggressive defensive style, and they had FC Dallas on the back foot from the opening whistle. While the pressure typically saw turnovers created at the top of the Union’s 4-4-2 diamond, homegrown Nathan Harriel turned defense into offense with a key tackle in the fifth minute.
The right back came inside to steal a dribble from Edwin Cerrillo and quickly got the ball to Daniel Gazdag in the middle of the pitch. The Union midfielder sprayed a pass wide to Alejandro Bedoya that ended with Philly getting the game’s first corner of the night. The ensuing set piece saw the home side attempt a clearance but Jose Martinez timed his counter press well and the ball recycled in for another chance. Jack Elliott sent a pass out wide to Bedoya and the captain quickly shot a hard cross back to the center back who had a rip from inside the FC Dallas box that was denied only by a defender in front of goal.
The Union continued to keep FC Dallas at bay but the Western Conference foe showed its ability to make something out of nothing in the 17th minute when Paul Arriola collected a long ball over the top but sent a shot wide of the far post. Back in possession, the Union nearly bagged another golazo from Julian Carranza as the Argentinian forward ripped a curling shot from 30 yards out that forced a tough save from goalkeeper Maarten Paes.
Paes was called into action just seconds after the big denial of Carranza as he was forced into a diving stop after the Union’s press nearly created an own goal on a headed back pass.
Despite the Union having most of the chances in the first half, it was FC Dallas that opened the scoring in the first half with a quick combination from their pair of U.S. Men’s National Team stars, Arriola and Jesus Ferreira. Arriola collected a pass down the sideline that spread the Union’s defensive shell. With Elliott racing over to cut down the passing lane, the forward cut it inside to Jesus Ferreira who was patient with some crafty footwork before giving FC Dallas the 1-0 lead.
The Union generated the first chance of the second half with two-time MLS All-Star Kai Wagner as he got into the box but saw a right-footed shot spray wide. Seconds later it was Dallas nearly doubling its lead as Arriola saw a header just miss wide of the Union net.
Mikael Uhre was called into action slightly sooner than he imagined as he came on after Cory Burke exited with a knock. The Danish forward nearly had another goal on his scoreline in the 56th minute after collecting a pass from Leon Flach and blasting a low shot that was saved by the keeper.
Head Coach Jim Curtin turned to a pair of offensively minded changes to the lineup with Olivier Mbaizo and Jack McGlynn entering shortly before the hour mark. McGlynn was quickly into the action, having a go on target on a free kick just outside the box that forced a low save by the keeper.
As the clock ticked down, the Union ramped up the pressure with Jakob Glesnes getting into the box but a tight angle making a flick difficult to convert in the 84th minute. With just minutes to spare the Union went full offense with Paxten Aaronson and Chris Donovan coming into the contest. Uhre set up a free kick opportunity in the 89th after suffering a foul. Wagner sent in a cross from 28 yards out that the Dallas defense cleared away.
The match saw an additional seven added before the final whistle. FC Dallas turned to its bench for defensive reinforcements to force the Union into an aerial attack in the box. The Union kept their composure switching the attack with a run from Paxten Aaronson that earned a pair of corner kicks but the Boys in Blue couldn’t find a crack in the Dallas filled box.
Philadelphia Union wrap up their three-games-in-eight-days stretch on the East coast with a rivalry showdown against D.C. United on Saturday, August 20th.
Kick off from the nation's capitol is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action locally on PHL17 as well as on the free match stream for fans within the Philadelphia DMA at PhiladelphiaUnion.com.
