Non-call cost Union victory

by Eric Schwartz

Saturday August 14, 2010 

Non-call cost Union victory thumbnail

CHESTER, PA – Even after battling back from a deficit it was hard for the Philadelphia Union to leave PPL Park in anyway satisfied.

The Union saw two goals called back due to offside calls and controversial non-call when Sebastien Le Toux appeared to be taken down in the box in stoppage time and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids Saturday afternoon.  The tie was Philadelphia’s second straight, but it also extended its winless streak to five games.

Two minutes into stoppage time Le Toux took a pass and beat two defenders before being contacted and going down in the box. The whistle was never blown as a chorus of boos rained down from the 17,749 fans in attendance.

“If 18,000 people see it then how come three or four officials can’t?” said Union coach Peter Nowak. “ …  “Le Toux is the last guy who to dive and look for a call like that.”

Not surprisingly, Rapids coach Gary Smith saw things a bit differently.

“I thought (Le Toux) might have gone down trying to buy one given the time of the game,” said Smith.

The boos grew even louder a minute after the non-call when Union defender Michael Orozco Fiscal beat Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens, only to have the goal disallowed to an offside call.

The tie was just the latest letdown for a team that has been competitive throughout its inaugural campaign, but is yet to record its first shutout.

“I feel like it’s a broken record,” said Union captain Danny Califf. “We don’t give up much, but they get one and we battle to the end. I think we’ve shown character during the year in that we don’t give up. Things don’t always go our way, but we always fight and always work and I think we are unlucky to be denied in the end.”

The Union (4-10-5) trailed 1-0 in the 74th minute when forward Danny Mwanga found the equalizer.  Mwanga took a cross from Le Toux, beat his defender and slid a shot between the legs of Pickens. The play was set up by a long feed from captain Danny Califf, who sent a pass 60 yards to Le Toux, who was streaking down the near sideline.

“(Mwanga) doesn’t have to have five or six chances a game, when he gets one he’s going to bury it,” said Nowak.

The goal was the Mwanga’s seventh.

“I’m one of the forwards so I have to come out play the best I can play and help the team get going,” said Mwanga.

The Union had the batter of the possession and the chances in the first half, but were unable to anything on the scoreboard against Colorado (7-5-7).

Union Forward Alejandro Moreno appeared to put the Philadelphia ahead 16 minutes in when he one-timed a cross into the left corner of the net, but the offside’s flag went up canceling the tally. Moments later Moreno had another chance but his shot from 18 yards out sailed over the crossbar. Moreno also struck the crossbar in the 31st minute.

After surviving the first half the Rapids came out with better tempo to start the second and got on the board when Jeff Larentowicz scored in the 59th minute. Union keeper Chris Seitz punched out a cross but the ball went directly to Larentowicz just outside the 18. Larentowicz took a touch before sending a rocket into the far right corner of the net.

Larentowicz was making a homecoming of sorts, as the midfielder went to high school at Chestnut Hill Academy, located in northern Philadelphia.

“It was great, I had a lot of friends and family that came out to see me,” said Larentowicz. “Just to play in front of them was a treat, but to score a goal was something really special.”

Feeling ever snake-bitten, Philadelphia will have a week off before returning to the pitch next Sunday in the Nation’s capital when it takes on D.C. United.

  • Share this on Facebook
  • Post this to MySpace
  • Tweet This!
  • Share this on Technorati
  • Share this on del.icio.us
  • Digg this!
  • Share this on Reddit
  • Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon
  • Buzz up!
  • Blog this on Blogger
Filed Under Phillies

Comments

Got something to say?