The World Cup break was definitely good to the Philadelphia Union.
After a 17-day interlude allowed the team to gel and get itself together before the restart of the 2010 MLS season, the Union came out and earned an impressive victory over the Seattle Sounders in the opening match at PPL Park.
The MLS newcomers followed up that win with another good result on Saturday night, as they hit the road and grabbed a point from Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center in a 1-1 draw.
WATCH:FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Despite Chivas’ poor form as of late, getting something from the match was a huge plus for captain Danny Califf, who believes his club is going in the right direction.
“I think we were trying to ride the emotion that we had at the home opener, but it’s difficult to carry that emotion 3,000 miles and it was a tough night,” said Califf after the match. “I feel like we played well in spurts and then we didn’t play well in long stretches as well. Overall, it was tough to carry over that energy but we managed a result and that’s a good thing, and we can use that going forward.”
Managing a draw is one thing, but Califf feels that his team is fully capable of getting all three points and should no longer be happy with just one-point results.
“I don’t think we’re satisfied with one point on the road anymore,” Califf said. “I think we’re a better team than that, and I think we’re a better team than we showed tonight. Sometimes, you go on the road and you can take a point when you don’t play your best, and I think tonight is one of those nights.”
The team played so well in their home opener against Seattle last week that some of their energy may not have returned from such a thrilling victory. Regardless of where they are physically and how many points they took from the match, Califf thinks they can certainly do better.
“There’s a lot of room for improvement,” Califf said. “I think if the performance last week was a benchmark; then, I think we played 75 to 80 percent of that tonight.”
If home form is anything to go by, the Union are in for some solid matches. Undefeated in front of the Philadelphia fans going (2-0-1), they will play the next four at PPL Park, a run that the team will try to extend to six of seven.
For Califf & Company, the time to get results is now.
