Philadelphia Union woes continue with 2-1 loss to the Fire

The Philadelphia Union keep digging a deeper hole for themselves, losing for the fifth straight time on Saturday to the Chicago Fire at home in a match where the game felt further out of reach in the second half than the scoreline suggests.

Coming off a respectable 1-1 draw to Club America in their Champions Cup exit in Mexico, the Union looked like the better team in the early stages of the match on Saturday afternoon but it was the Gregg Berhalter-coached Fire that struck first in the third minute of stoppage time when Hugo Cuypers headed in an Andrew Gutman cross from the left flank.

Stunned after conceding first for the fifth straight game – and for the fourth time in the first half – the Union took advantage of a lengthy chunk of stoppage time added for a head injury to Philip Zinckernagel to find an equalizer.

Milan Iloski was the beneficiary of a flick from Alejandro Bedoya off a long throw from Frankie Westfield into the box and Iloski was able to loop a header in to tie the game 1-1 in the 7th minute of stoppage time. Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady initially took a step forward on the play and was unable to keep the ball from going in.

Where the Union have been better in the second half than the first this season, the second half did not build on the late heroics of the first. Instead, the Union looked flat and likely tired from the midweek travel to Mexico City.

After finding a goal on one of their few clear chances in the first half, the Fire attack created multiple opportunities in the second, including the game-winning goal produced in the 58th minute by Jonathan Bamba. Sloppy play in the Union attack created the opportunity for the Fire going the other way and a ball played in by Robin Lod to Cuypers set up a cross that Bamba volleyed past Andre Blake at the back post.

The Union had opportunities in the final half hour to level the score but it was Chicago that looked the likelier to tack on with Maren Haile-Selassie just missing wide in the 63rd minute and Lod hitting the crossbar in the 83rd minute. Iloski had a couple of looks and Nathan Harriel nearly connected from close range but the xG battle won by Chicago 2.8-0.8 was indicative of the way the second half and the season so far has gone for the reigning Supporters’ Shield winners who five weeks in at the international break are the only team in MLS without a point.

You have to go all the way back to the inaugural season for a comparison to the futility of the Union’s start. The Union lost five of their first six games but at least could hang their hat on the 3-2 win in the home opener at the Linc thanks to a Sébastien Le Toux hat trick. This team has to replay highlights of their 12-0 thrashing over two legs against Defence Force FC to find a pulse.

Saturday’s latest disappointment – on Kids Day of all days – closes the book on March. They’ll open April with a visit to Charlotte FC on April 4 in a building they’ve never won in.

Highlights

Lineups

Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake, Nathan Harriel, Olwethu Makhanya, Philippe Ndinga ( Ben Bender 76’), Frankie Westfield, Alejandro Bedoya ( Indiana Vassilev 62’), Jesus Bueno (Jovan Lukic 45’ ), Milan Iloski, Danley Jean Jacques (Jeremy Rafanello 66’ ), Cavan Sullivan (Malik Jakupovic 62’ ), Bruno Damiani.

Substitutes not used: Andrew Rick, Geiner Martinez, Japhet Sery Larsen, Stas Korzeniowski.

Chicago Fire FC: Chris Brady, Leonardo Barroso, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Andrew Gutman ( Viktor Radojević 45’), Joel Waterman, Anton Saletros, Robin Lod ( Jason Shokalook 89’), Dje D’Avilla, Jonathan Bamba ( Johnny Dean 89’), Hugo Cuypers, Philip Zinckernagel (Maren Haile-Selassie 31’ ).

Substitutes not used: Mauricio Pineda, Sergio Oregel Jr., Jeffrey Gal, Puso Dithejane, Jack Sandmeyer.

TEAM NOTES

-Forward Milan Ilsoki scored his first MLS goal of the season.
-Forward Malik Jakupovic made his MLS debut for the Union. His short-term agreement for tonight’s match marks his fourth of the season.
-Homegrown midfielder Cavan Sullivan made his first MLS start of the season.

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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