Union Draw Dallas, Freddy Adu Has To Be Somehow Included in This Title

• by Conor O'Grady
• August 14th, 2011
• News
• 3 Comments

The celebrated return of Freddy Adu to MLS made for a heady atmosphere at PPL, but couldn’t offset the struggles and deficiencies that have kept the Blue and Gold from realizing their full potential.  Some fortunate penalties (and an MLS ref actually willing to call them in Philly’s favor) kept our boys afloat as a strong FC Dallas outplayed a valiant but unrefined U.

Dallas Draws First Blood

Philadelphia came out swinging, and with a pre-electrified crowd behind them, looked to bully Dallas early on.  The notion of Adu as a playmaker who could bring the corpse of Le Toux’s goal-scoring back to life gained credence almost immediately, as Freddy nearly put Seba through for an opener.  Coupled with a string of corners inside of the first 10 minutes, Dallas goalie Kevin Hartman was working for his paycheck from the git-go.

The momentum was sadly not to last, as an FML moment from the normally fantastic Carlos Valdes changed the game in the 16th.  Valdes moved to clear a bouncing ball from the semi-circle, completely bungling the kick and delivering the ball straight into the lap of Dallas’ Maicon Santos, who had only to pop it past a Faryd Mondragon who’d inexplicably come way off his line.

Le Toux’s efforts towards closing the deficit were as valorous as usual.  His tenacity managed to piss off Dallas defender George John, who just hates it when opposing players run after the ball instead of letting him have it.  His ridiculous cheap shot in the 24th floored Seba, but earned himself a yellow card and the Frenchman a free kick.  Kevin Hartman just managed to push the shot away to preserve the lead.

Seba Takes One Back

Le Toux would have his goal in the 33rd, if not in the run of play.  Jack McInerney sent Justin Mapp streaking goalward with a lovely floating pass that left Dallas’ Ugo Ihemelu unable to to conceive of any alternative to committing a blatant foul on Mapp inside the box.  Seba was the obvious choice to settle the score; he blasted one low and left past the outstretched hands of Hartman to bring the U level.

But those who tried to beat the halftime crowd to the loo by heading out at the 45 minute mark heard a terrible sound as they shook off the last drops- the sound of Brek Shea taking back the lead.

Once again, Mondragon may have been a little too proactive in charging away from his line when Santos unleashed Marvin Chavez with a laser-like through ball.  Chavez nutmegged the captain, and for a moment it looked as if the gods were smiling on Chester as the shot bounced off the post.  Unfortunately Shea was there to follow up, his rooster-ass colored hair flapping in the wind as he chipped into goal.

Subs to the Rescue

The second half saw the inevitable introduction of the super-subs, as Danny Mwanga was brought on for Adu in the 62nd, and Roger Torres took over for Jack McInerney in the 73rd.  One couldn’t quite distinguish between the cheers meant for Adu and those meant for Mwanga as they traded places, but all could agree that Freddy had put in a good if unremarkable shift.  For all the hype surrounding Adu’s debut, and the fine effort he put in before his substitution, the crowd clamored for what the Union needed- its Congolese ace in the hole.

With Keon Daniel in for Mapp, the dynamic trio of subs picked up the pace.  Despite the late rally, the Union’s chances continued to come up just short.  In the 80th, Dallas found themselves down a man when George John earned himself a trip to the showers with yet another ludicrous foul, this time on Mwanga.

Philly Takes One Back

John made sure to embarrass himself further with an infantile display of prolonged protest, but not nearly as much as his teammates did when Gabe Farfan was taken down in the box for the Union’s second PK of the evening.  Jackson Goncalves, having foolishly attempted some sort of back heel thing, lost control of the ball.  Farfan pounced on it, and Jackson took him down.  Referee Geoff Gamble pointed to the spot (which, granted, he has a reputation for doing a lot), and it was a long time before the boys from Dallas stopped bitching long enough to let Seba smash the equalizer past Hartman.

The remaining minutes were a race to the back of Hartman’s net, with the Union knocking hard on Dallas’ door.  Danny Mwanga nearly killed the embattled ‘keeper with a point-blank blast, but Hartman kept it out.  The resulting stoppage-time corner found Keon Daniel, whose header was barely and incredibly pushed away by Hartman to preserve the draw.