Three games ago, spirits were high around the Philadelphia Union.
For good reason, too. They had won four out of their last five games, storming to the top of the Eastern Conference, earning widespread plaudits along the way, facing a three-game home stand.
But failing to win any of those three games at Talen Energy Stadium has given the team a different vibe, not least of which because they outshot and out-possessed their opponents in each of those games. After a 1-1 draw with Western Conference cellar-dwellers Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, the Union understand something needs to change.
"I told you last game you ain’t gonna win [expletive] if you can’t finish," Alejandro Bedoya said after the game. "You can’t score goals. We have our chances, but we let a team in the game and they punish you. Just one critical opportunity they had. It’s frustrating, but back to the training ground. Working on our service, working on our runs in the box, working on finishing because we’re missing."
Now, the Union turn focus to facing Minnesota United, who also played a midweek match, on Sunday (4 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, DAZN in Canada).
"Man… [I'm] pissed as all hell right now, but you try to stay positive," Bedoya said. "In this league you always have your slumps, and your streaks, and I think all teams go through that. So I mean we’re in a little bit of a slump right now, a finishing slump. We can’t score our chances that we’re creating. The good thing is that we’re creating chances, right? It’s not like there’s a lack thereof. It is what it is."
Head coach Jim Curtin was a bit more measured than his captain, though disappointed nonetheless.
"Not our sharpest night, a little disappointing result obviously for a lot of reasons, a night where we’ve created a lot of chances and opportunities in the box," Curtin said. 'You let teams hang around and we make a silly mistake off of a throw in and we get punished, so still a lot to work on for this group, still sit in a good spot on the table but a disappointing result."
The good news? Philly are just one point behind East leaders D.C. United and are first in points per game and goal difference. As long as the goals start falling, they'll be back to the top in no time.
