Alejandro Bedoya scored his first goal of the season as Philadelphia Union drew the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night.
Bedoya's goal saw a new club record established early in the first half as he became the 17th different goalcorer for the Union in league play. Bedoya's goal came in the 15th minute as he was the first to react to a Jakob Glesnes cross into the box that wasn't fully cleared and instead desposited into the back of the net.
While Tai Baribo and Jakob Glesnes are headed to Austin for next week's MLS All-Star Game, Philadelphia Union returns to action with another Western Conference foe as they host the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, July 26th. Tickets for the match at Subaru Park can be purchased online by clicking here.
How The Match Unfolded
Lineup notes
Head Coach Bradley Carnell used a never-before-seen lineup in Houston, significantly rotating his group for a much different lineup than the group the one that secured back-to-back matches at home.
19 yr Homegrown Andrew Rick returned to goal for the first time since June 25th against Chicago Fire, protecting the net behind a backline featuring Nathan Harriel and Jakob Glesnes at centerback, plus Frankie Westfield and Olivier Mbaizo on the outside.
In the midfield, Jovan Lukic, Jesus Bueno, team captain Alejandro Bedoya, and Jeremy Rafanello made the start, while Mikael Uhre and Bruno Damiani were paired up top.
3', Early chance | In his first start since suffering an injury on May 31st in Dallas, Uhre earned the first chance of the match, mishitting the ball in the box for a slow shot.
7', Rick stop | Houston's Dorsey took a powerful shot from the right side, but Rick punched it away for his first stop of the night.
15', Union goal! | Bedoya put Philly on the scoreboard first, finishing an impressive pass from Jakob Glesnes to the back left post.
20', Another Rick Save | Rick made another impressive leap in the 20th minute, keeping his team ahead when he stretched to stop a promising shot from Sebastian Kowalczyk.
26', Costly yellow for Harriel | Nathan Harriel earned a yellow in the 26th minute, putting him card accumulation which leaves him ineligible for the team's Saturday match against Colorado Rapids.
20', Another Rick Save | Rick made another impressive leap in the 20th minute, keeping his team ahead when he stretched to stop a promising shot from Sebastian Kowalczyk.
26', Costly yellow for Harriel | Nathan Harriel earned a yellow in the 26th minute, putting him card accumulation which leaves him ineligible for the team's Saturday match against Colorado Rapids.
45+', Houston equalizes during lengthy added time | 45 minutes wasn't enough for the opening frame with seven minutes added due to a hydration break as well as a lengthy VAR check that saw a potential free kick chance overturned into a drop ball as Jeremy Rafanello possessed the ball before a foul occured. Moments later another free kick chance came for the Dynamo with McGlynn ripping a shot that crashed off the elbow Jesus Bueno. McGlynn stepped up for the PK and converted with a left-footed shot opposite from the direction that Rick dove.
Halftime, Reinforcements enter for the Union | With a plethora of options to turn to, Head Coach Bradley Carnell used the break to bring in three regular starters with Olwethu Makhanya, Danley and Tai Baribo entering ahead of the second half's kick off in place of Glesnes, Lukic and Uhre.
58', Another change for the Union | Philly brought on more defensive prowess with Kai Wagner entering in place of Mbaizo just before the hour mark.
65', Damiani chance | With the game knotted at a goal each, the Boys in Blue sought to grab the lead once more with a headed chance from Damiani going just wide of the Houston net.
76', Houston hit the bar | The homeside followed up with a scoring chance of their own as Ondřej Lingr whipped centerally a cross to Griffin Dorsey that crashed off the crossbar and kept the match level at 1-1.
88', VAR intervenes again | Just like at the end of the first half, there was another lengthy stoppage as a potential penalty was looked at by the referee and his video assistant. After originally pointing to the spot due to Damiani being taken down, it was deteremined that the Union had commited a foul in the build up, thus negating the original call.
90+', Westfield sent off | Philadelphia Union finished the contest with 10 men as Frankie Westfield was shown a straight red card during second half stoppage time.
