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Whitecaps’ Morales spoils Union’s comeback in draw

Pedro Morales

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By RYAN TOLMICH

When the Philadelphia Union scored their third goal in eight minutes to take a 3-2 lead, it looked as if a spirited Union come back would end with a season-defining win over the Vancouver Whitecaps.

However, the Whitecaps’ Pedro Morales had something to say about the result before all was said and done.

Morales’ late penalty kick goal proved to be enough for the Whitecaps to escape with a 3-3 draw, spoiling a comeback that saw the Union score three unanswered second half goals.

It was a dominant opening half for the Whitecaps, who found themselves up 2-0 at halftime mostly through the work of Erik Hurtado, who scored the game’s opener before assisting on the team’s second scored by Nicolas Mezquida.

However, the Union came out firing in the second half, leading to their comeback, which began in the 63rd minute with a Connor Casey diving header. The Union equalized five minutes later through substitute Sebastian Le Toux, who tied the game at two on a perfectly placed cross from Vincent Noguiera. Just three minutes later, it was 3-2 Union as Casey picked up his brace with a right-footed curler from just outside the box.

The Union could only hold on to the lead for ten minutes until Whitecaps forward Darren Mattocks was taken down in the box by an onrushing Zac MacMath. The Union goalkeeper was given a yellow on the play before Morales buried the penalty kick to MacMath’s left.

It was a dominant effort and comeback for the Union, despite falling short with the overall result. The Union outshot their opposition 29-6 while earning 10 corners to just two for the Whitecaps.

The Union will look to build on the result after the World Cup break when they take on the New England Revolution on June 28. Meanwhile, the Whitecaps return to action just two days earlier when they take on the Montreal Impact.

Here are the match highlights:

Comments

  1. Ok Philly, we finally are starting to get some points. Can we please start playing better defense and becoming the team that everyone expected us to be at the beginning of the season?

    Reply
  2. MLS is fast becoming a league where players can demonstrate a variety of skills

    With quite a few teams..the speed of play and on the ball decision making are fantastic…

    THIS may be the biggest factor in growing this thing into the monster many want it to be…
    Carl Robinson has implemented a style on the offensive end that is asthetically pleasing to the two groups that definetly matter the most:

    The fans and the players on the field…

    The opportunity to play in a skill-based open offensive system could further attract the type of player that puts fans in seats…

    Combine this with the development of the Shipps and the Yedlins of the world and Mr Garber’s going to have a pretty good product to showcase

    Reply

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