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ALL ACCESS SOCCER GAME OF THE WEEK
Philadelphia came into today’s match in the heels of an impressive victory on the road at Columbus. Welcome to Philly Chris Pontius who netted two goals in that match. Additionally, their man between the pipes Andre Blake has been called up to represent Jamaica on the National Team. New England came into the contest 0-0-2 and has played better than their record would indicate. They played to a draw last week against a DC UNITED squad looking to find their identity with all their 2016 roster changes. Today’s contest played out early similar to the weather. It was a mixed bag with both teams playing sloppily and struggling to keep possession. In the 12th minute, Philly had the first true threat of the game, only to see their transition fast break fall apart with an errant pass at the top of the 18. The Union continued to grind it out and found the back of the net in the 18th minute when CJ Sapong scored the game opener. Minutes later, the Union escaped a scare when keeper Andre Blake went down awkwardly saving a shot and stayed on the turf for a few minutes. Blake was dazed but continued in the match. The feeling out style of play continued. Philly’s Fabinho was issued a yellow card in the 25th minute for an over aggressive blind sided tackle. In the 34th minute it was CJ Sapong again with the goal on the assist by Warren Creavalle. The aggressive play continued and the Revolution’s Je-Vaughn Watson was issued a straight red on his ferocious tackle on Roland Algberg. Watson went into the tackle with both cleats in the air. New England was able to hold the scoring at 2-0 to the half.
The second half started much like the first half only New England had the additional struggle of playing a man down. Philly fan favorite Sebastien Le Toux entered that game in the 57th minute, replacing Roland Algberg. The sub was made during another Rev’s yellow card being issued to Chris Tierney. In the 63rd minute, Juan Agudelo entered the match for the Rev’s, replacing Diego Fagundez. Rev’s second sub for Teal Bunbery was Femi Holinger-Janzen. The aggressive play continued. Ilsinho was subbed for the Union in the 77th minute. Philly was awarded a PK in the 79th minute which Le Toux drove off of the keeper, something he doesn’t do very often. A minute later, Philly’s keeper Blake was once again taken off his feet but recovered for the second time in the match. Scott Caldwell was replaced by Zachary Herivaux in the 86th minute for New England. Fabian Herbers replaced CJ Sapong who left to a roaring ovation for his 2 goal performance in the 90th minute. Herbers received a feed from Le Toux that he rifled of keeper Bobby Shuttleworth. Seconds later, Herbers once again had a scoring chance which was deflected out of bounds. Four minutes of stoppage time was added and Sebastien Le Toux scored after settling a cross in the box by Leo Fernandes. That sealed the deal for Philly 3-0
