After enduring a 3-1 home loss last weekend, the Union inflicted one on Houston Wednesday night in BBVA Compass Stadium. The match was quite even until a red card just before the hour mark gave Philly the opening they needed to collect a vital three points.
Volume play
The Union want their midfielders to get on the ball as often as possible and to continue trusting their ability to make plays even when passes don’t come off early in a match. Borek Dockal did this to perfection on Wednesday. The only two passes the Czech man connected in the box turned into goals, but he never wavered in the belief that his next final ball would be his best yet. Both of Dockal’s assists created one-on-one’s with the goalie, and Philly’s finishing did not let them down.
VAR calls go the Union’s way
The Video Assistant Referee called for a review of Ale Bedoya’s 33rd minute goal and called down to referee Joseph Dickerson in the 59th minute when Tomas Martinez stepped hard on the upper portion of Auston Trusty’s ankle. Dickerson handed Martinez his walking orders after watching a replay of the incident, and although Houston would twice threaten, Philly was able to comfortably hold their lead once Alberth Elis was withdrawn for Memo Rodriguez.
After the ejection, Houston played a 4-4-1 formation but could no longer press the Union’s buildup play. This let Borek Dockal find deep pockets of space, and he exploited one of these to create the game-winning goal ten minutes after Martinez was gone.
Herbers’ triumphant return
It has been nearly four months since Fabian Herbers played MLS minutes, but the winger has been pouring in goals at the USL level. Inserted as a winger on Wednesday, his movement was difficult for Houston to track, and an excellent late run by the Creighton product set up Fafa Picault’s penalty kick.
Philly has been in search of wing production since Ilsinho’s injury, and Herbers’ work set up a goal that could be enormously important for Picault’s confidence in the back stretch of the season.
The Union won’t play this weekend, but Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Anthony Fontana, and Matt Real will be in action in the Homegrown Game in Atlanta. Philly is back in action on August 4th when they travel to Portland at 11PM EST.
