CHESTER — Technically, the MLS records will show that Tuesday the Philadelphia Union and Seattle Sounders resumed their March 9 match in the 6th minute.
The Union didn’t manage to show up until the 40th or so.
By that point, the Sounders, mired in the dregs of the Western Conference and having endured 90 minutes in D.C. on the weekend, had blistered the Union for three goals on self-inflicted catastrophes, enough to withstand the Union awakening for a too-little, too-late 3-2 loss.
Raul Ruidiaz and Obed Vargas did the damage in the first. Ruidiaz scored twice, the first off a calamitous backpass from Jose Martinez in the 13th minute, the second a cheeky Panenka from the spot in the 37th after Vargas had been hauled down by Olivier Mbaizo. In between, Vargas curled a shot from the top of the 18-yard box in the left channel for his first professional goal.
Jack McGlynn, one of three halftime subs, and Daniel Gazdag scored in the 56th and 57th minutes, respectively, the latter Gazdag’s 57th goal in all competitions to set the club record. Gazdag scored in the 66th only to have it waved off for offside, and Julian Carranza struck the bar in the 85th with a header. Despite controlling the second half, a third goal never materialized, meaning the last remaining unbeaten in MLS has now dropped two straight games at home.
Both teams were allowed to make changes given current player ability from where the game was halted due to torrential rain on March 9.
The Union had three players in the original Matchday 3 starting XI injured: Damion Lowe (ankle) was replaced by Jakob Glesnes, and Andre Blake (knee) by Oliver Semmle, both of whom were on the bench, neither of which counted as the use of a sub or a substitution window. Markus Anderson, out with a knee injury, was replaced by Tai Baribo, used on the bench for the original game, then Carranza was subbed on, one of the Union’s five available changes.
Seattle’s Xavier Arreaga, who started at center back, has since been traded. Yeimar Gomes Andrade came on for him, while two players were added to the Sounders bench.
It took mere minutes for the first calamity to befall the Union. Martinez’s lackadaisical back pass made it about half of the way to Glesnes in the 13th. Ruidiaz pounced and, with Semmle off his line, passed home a 45-yard goal.
Vargas’ was nicer, curling inside to his right foot to find the far side netting past a flailing Semmle in the 22nd.
Vargas hit the deck in the penalty box in the 34th, Mbaizo continuing the meltdown by lunging in and getting just the young American midfielder.
Ruidiaz stroked home the penalty. He had a chance at his hat trick in the 48th, only for Semmle to deny a side volley ticketed upper 90. Semmle palmed a Jackson Ragen header off the post in the 72nd to keep comeback hopes alive.
The Union ended up with 15 shots, including six on target. Sounders backup Andrew Thomas made four saves, including one in Carranza in stoppage time.
Source: Berkshire mont
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