Sometimes a big performance is easy to see, and sometimes its more subtle.
Last Saturday, Philadelphia Union got one of each against Columbus Crew, and both David Accam and Ale Bedoya were rewarded for their efforts with a spot on the MLS Team of the Week, presented by Audi. Accam scored two goals and had a hand in a third as part of his best game in a Union shirt. After both strikes, Accam raised his arms to the sky as emotions overcame him, and after the match the striker revealed that his father had passed away the previous week. Throughout the match, Accam was active up and down the left flank and was constantly a threat to the Crew defense when the Union created turnovers high up the pitch.
In contrast to his teammate, Bedoya had a quietly effective game in the Union's first win of the season. Manning the role he took up in 2018 next to Haris Medunjanin, Bedoya had to drop in front of the defense without the ball and join attacks when Philly pushed forward.
This was a difficult role for any player to fill when the Union were playing a 4-2-3-1 system every week. To suddenly return to it midseason? That requires a top soccer IQ. Luckily, Bedoya has that, and he came through with a performance worthy of a captain. Six attacking half recoveries (12 total) helped Philly disrupt the Crew's buildup play and allowed the Union to take home their first clean sheet of the season.
Congratulations to the captain and David Accam on their sensational showings as they led Philly to a huge home win!
