Philadelphia Union
Union blow early lead, settle for draw with Austin FC
An early goal from the Philadelphia Union was canceled out three minutes later as two teams on an upswing after poor starts to the season settled for a 1-1 draw in the heat in Austin on Saturday night.
Cavan Sullivan, back in the lineup after his red card against Inter Miami last weekend was rescinded, opened the scoring in the 18th minute when he headed home a chance off a corner kick. Sullivan’s opener came just minutes after Andre Blake made a diving save to deny Myrto Uzuni in a save-to-goal sequence so common over Blake’s long career with the team. Milan Iloski started the goal-scoring play with a short corner that was played back to Iloski from Kai Wagner and whipped across the goal to Nathan Harriel, who headed the ball back across the goal to Sullivan for the finish.
It was only Sullivan’s second MLS goal but his 9th goal contribution this season.
As it was on Wednesday night in Chester against Inter Miami, the Union’s early lead didn’t last long. Three minutes later, Brendan Hines-Ike got on the end of a whipped in corner from Joseph Rosales and headed it in to tie the game.
The quick burst of activity on both ends would end up being the only two goals of the night but both teams had chances to add to the goal tally, the hosts with a slight edge in that category outshooting the Union 13-10 (5-3 shots on goal). Austin had the advantage in expected goals at 2.1 to 1.6 and both teams had shots hit woodwork (Jon Gallagher on the rebound Blake save in the first half) and Danley Jean Jacques in the second half after a slip pass from Cavan.
Substitute Brandon Vazquez had two chances to find glory for the hosts at Q2 Stadium while Quinn Sullivan had a team high two shots on target after coming off the bench.
The story through much of the second half was the play of each team’s center back with Neil Pierre stepping up in his finest defensive performance for the first team while Oleksandr Svatok was winning duels and snuffing out chances going the other way.
The shared point put the Union one more closer to the playoff line as they are now just three points out of playoff contention with their sixth straight game unbeaten under interim head coach Ryan Richter.
Up next, the Union will travel to Harrison, N.J. next Saturday to take on the New York Red Bulls.
