Sebastien Le Toux had a pretty simple explanation for the Philadelphia Union’s 3-2 loss to Sporting Kansas City on Sunday.
“It’s just the same story for us,” the dejected Union winger said.
Indeed it is.
Like a broken record playing the same awful song over and over again, the winless Union were once again doomed by rough defending on set pieces and a late-game collapse, leading to their third straight loss to drop to 0-3-2 on the year.
“This is a tough place to come,” head coach Jim Curtin told reporters after the game. “We talked a lot about restarts being a big part of this game and, sure enough, for both teams they were. Attacking-wise, I thought we did well on them. Defending, we were not good enough closing out the game.
“Guys are disappointed. I thought they put in a great effort but it comes up short and we leave here with nothing.”
All three SKC goals came on restarts, with highly scrutinized goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi coming way off his line and falling to let Dom Dwyer score on what was essentially an open net on a first half corner kick.
The next two happened much later, with the Union giving away a 2-1 lead in stoppage time with Jalil Anibaba tying it up following a restart scramble and Krisztian Nemeth providing the winner off a corner kick.
The Union also gave up a set piece goal that Mbolhi misplayed in last week’s 1-0 loss to the Chicago Fire and allowed both a restart goal and a late equalizer at Real Salt Lake three weeks ago.
“In the run of play, I don’t think they created much,” Curtin said. “I don’t think they had many shots in the actual run of play. Everything was throw-ins and free kicks. That was the only time we were tested on the day. I thought we were organized but we came up very short in the 1-v-1 battles in the box. Whether it’s grabbing a hold of guy, getting a little push, whatever it might be, we obviously gave up three goals today on restarts and I’m not happy about that.”
The Union, who have been shut out three times this season, did do some damage on their own set pieces to get the offense in gear. Le Toux set up two goals with terrific service and Fernando Aristeguieta tallied his third of the season with a powerful header in the box.
But the Union failed to open up a 3-1 lead during a wild late-game sequence in which Aristeguieta was chased down on a breakaway, Le Toux hit the post and Michael Lahoud missed a sitter on the rebound.
SKC made them pay for that, and also took advantage of rookie Raymond Lee, who was victimized on both stoppage-time goals and only came in after starting left back Fabinho got injured.
“That’s a tough spot for a rookie to go into,” Curtin said. “He did an OK job but, in the end, we leave here with nothing. So we’re not happy.”
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.
