Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake was named to Major League Soccer’s Team of the Matchday bench for Matchday 13, the league announced on Thursday afternoon.
The Union goalkeeper was honored prior to the rivalry showdown against D.C. United to recognize his achievement as the club's all-time leader in starts which he took the mantle from Ray Gaddis back on April 22nd.
During the match, Blake was key to getting the shutout with three big first half saves. In the seventh minute Blake notched his first stop, diving to his left to deny Mateusz Klich’s right-footed curler from the edge of the box. After a giveaway by the Union just 30 yards from Philly’s goal line, the ball popped at the feet of D.C.’s captain Russell Canouse who ripped a shot quickly to force a reaction stop.
Blake was on his toes again just past the half hour mark with yet another reaction stop that showed some Subaru Park magic with a pinball play that stayed out. Again with Benteke on the ball, the forward sprung out onto the left flank and cut a pass to the back post. Wagner reacted to deny the ball from reaching its target, going to ground. The left back’s block went right to the boots of Theodore Ku-Dipietro who fired a shot at the door stop but right to the Jamaican keeper.
Blake and the rest of the Boys in Blue are back in action this weekend with another MLS Rivalry Week battle against the New England Revolution. Kick off from Subaru Park is set for 7:30 p.m. ET with the action only on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
