“It’s up to us”
After the Union came up short in front of goal, Jim Curtin’s message was that the entire team needed to keep pushing to create chances. “It’s up to us,” the Union head coach said. “We struggle to score. It’s not for lack of chances.”
“We win as a team, we lose as a team,” Curtin continued. “We have to find a way to stick together.”
The Union may be glad to have a quick turnaround in Chicago on Wednesday since it will offer a chance to show they can heed the coach’s words.
Don’t stop believing
“It was a night that I chose CJ to start, there were going to be fingers pointed at him after the game if we didn’t [score],” Curtin admitted. Sapong were kept off the scoreboard even though they created 11 first half shots, and it marks the fifth time in six starts the Union striker has failed to record a shot on goal.
“He held the ball up okay, he maybe could have started some runs a little earlier when Fafa [Picault] got to the endline,” Curtin assessed. “But overall, an okay night for CJ. At the moment, he’s having a tough time scoring, so that’s what he’s going to be judged on.”
“Fair or unfair,” the coach concluded, “That’s the life of a striker. But still a guy that I believe in.”
The right was alright
Keegan Rosenberry had seven recoveries and two shots on the night as he put in a strong two-way shift. This allowed the right side of the Union to pressure Atlanta and create quick combinations that drew defenders out of position and made space for Borek Dockal and Ale Bedoya to switch play or drop the ball behind the Atlanta defensive shape.
“[Rosenberry] really gave us some good opportunities on the night on that right hand side with Ilsinho,” Curtin said. “The right side of the field did a good job, created good chances, but it just wasn’t a night where things went in for us.”
