CHESTER, Pa. – The book can officially be closed on Rais Mbolhi’s first season in MLS.
The Philadelphia Union goalkeeper, signed in late July after an impressive World Cup performance for Algeria, will miss his third straight game when Philly concludes the year with a road match against the Columbus Crew on Sunday (4 pm ET, UniMas/MLS Live).
Per a team official, Mbolhi is currently in France, where his wife is close to giving birth to the couple’s first child. Before going there, he led Algeria to two Africa Cup of Nations qualifying wins against Malawi (on Oct. 11 and Oct. 15), opening the door for Zac MacMath to finish the season in net despite previously being relegated to a backup role.
“Zac will start in goal,” Union interim manager Jim Curtin said during his weekly press conference Wednesday. “He’s been good lately – sharp in practice. And I thought he had a good performance against Kansas City [in Saturday’s 2-1 win].”
Playing the final stretch of games for the Union has come as a nice surprise for MacMath, who was admittedly disappointed when he was told Mbolhi would supplant him as a starter.
But because of an early visa issue and his commitment to the Algerian national team, Mbolhi has only played four MLS games since getting signed three months ago – as many as he’s played in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
“I didn’t expect to play much at all really when the whole thing went down,” MacMath said. “To have the opportunity to play these games out with a bunch of guys I started the season with – and started my career with – it’s been really good to be out there.”
Despite a rocky first few months in MLS – Mbolhi made seven saves in his four starts, as well as a crucial mistake in stoppage time of Philly’s 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire on Oct. 2 – the Union appear committed to the Algerian, who was signed to a long-term deal.
In a recent interview with MLSsoccer.com, Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz said “it’s unfair to judge a goalkeeper that has represented his country many times based on one gaffe,” adding that he’s “looking forward to him playing for us for many years.”
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That, of course, puts MacMath’s future with the club in serious doubt. But MacMath – who’s been Union’s starter for almost all of the last three seasons – has deflected most questions about the future and said he’ll try not to think about it until after Sunday’s season finale.
“Everyone’s still playing,” MacMath said. “Not a lot of decisions have been made. It just happens with time. Unfortunately, you just have to wait and see how it all plays out.”
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.
