Leagues Cup, Union 1 v Miami 4
Last week, we spent the overnight in Philly, a $300 dollar event as the weather was bad, teams knew over 2 hours before that the game was off, I have been told, before media were contacted as to the game being off, if told on time we are out, before watching a tree explode 50’ away to lightning, a pair of other strikes and driving in blinding conditions. I applied for today’s game well in advance of the deadline, hearing nothing, I reached out to many to find today, I was not approved, yet no notice. I emailed a pair at Philly, left a VM and the other phone did not connect. Yes 20’ later they got back, impressive as it is game day telling me an automated message went out, I had requested copy of what was or not sent to me, it was not sent but explained? I should not be chasing them to see if in or not on a game, should not have to reach out to 4 or more to see what is going on to find out at 2:20 for a 7 start time from the host, another told me earlier. Having attended a number of Union games, all wins, a few ties to the team past and present, a 15 year old media outlet with platforms throughout the league and being in the industry over 4 decades at this point it is inexcusable. Yes, it is made worse for me as I have worked for a trio of teams and a pair of collegiate programs.
Pre-Messi it would be difficult to imagine Miami in a semi of anything beyond an 18 wheeler, yet here we are, the Messi effect, in full effect. A loud home crowd buoyed by a win over rival NYRB just last week for Philly, after a weather delay of a day are looking forward to yet another win, getting them to the final & the Concacaf Championship.
2’ in and it is already physical. Before 3’, Martinez goes near post beating MVP candidate Blake from 15 yards, stakes his team to the early lead. Did I miss it or did Messi not even get a touch on the ball? Miami holding the ball so well, even when losing it, gaining it right back. What a ball in for Union and Caleneder more than up to it, Gazdag does not miss often from here. Last two fouls on Busquets, trying to get him hearing footsteps, intimidate? Godoy with a pass to where nobody is, the pass does not dictate the run, but rather the opposite. An absolute gift of a handball not called on Philly. Lowe sends Messi to the floor near midfield, message sent. At 20’ two others had chances and Gazdag was just wide. Back at them and Messi strikes in the same minute, smiling ear to ear. At but 30 yards and an ankle for the assist man Martinez, 2-0. FYI, Taylor Twellman, it has not been the start of the MLS Career of Messi, that has yet to kick off, these are Cup games, not league, just wait. Lowe was cautioned for the hard, low tackle to Josef. Tremendous timing as he shot just as he was closed and the placement to the lower corner at the long distance. Gazdag, seeking Wagner but his cover nicks it away. Glesnes playing HORSE with Messi as he also has a go from well beyond the area. Lowe with a shot to make amends also from well outside the box, this while Messi watches. Bueno carded at 25’ for his take down of Arroyo. He did bring him down and further did step on him. Taylor again going over goals, 3 more over the season than since Messi, claiming it is one man, no, he arrived with a few others, please. This a costly foul in their offensive 3rd by Donovan on Busquets. 6 fouls 2 cards not a good ration for the Union. Off the turnover Gazdag lets one rip from a distance a great save made his 2nd on Gazdag. 31’ brings the first foul by Miami. Messi defends Bueno and a corner for Philly. Philly keeps it sends it far post, Busquets defends now for a corner to the home team. Into the 6, the GK boxes it away, 3rd corner, this one from the left. Philly has very tall players but Miami has done well on the first two. Wagner finds his player it’s wide and high as a Miami player is down. Krytstov is down, holding his ankle. Wagner, stronger than Yedlin on the ball keeps it, wins a corner into a sea of pink it goes. Taylor holds off a few then taken down in the center circle. Final 90 seconds Miami holding then attacks and is taken away. Two goals, a number of injuries and a pair of cards makes for 4 minutes of extra time. You know Miami would just love to drop another on the Union. Taylor gets it done on defense holds off a player, feeds Alba 3-0 at 48’. Alba holds up to stay on, gets the GK to commit and slots it home, far post. The boo birds are out in Philly.
Local man making good, Jack McGlynn of BW Gottschee and Queens is waiting to come in as a bit of gamesmanship from Miami as they come out late.
Down by a trio of goals as we start Philly has little to no room for error. Off a long throw, Glesnes has his firs touch betray him, a first touch from McGlynn is a positive one as he gives it out to his wing. Miami goes end line, Miami with the goal kick. McGlynn feeds Martinez who goes well high and wide into the stands. McGlynn a lead ball played from the endline trough the 6, not a soul there for either team. McGlynn takes it from Busquets and a roar comes out of Middle Village. From a 3v2 for Miami to a chipped ball well off target? Donovan is onside and skies an open goal but a a bad angle, wow. Philly getting forward well better over the first few minutes of this 2nd half win a corner. Wagner finds Hariel it is off his arm. Taylor for Martinez, it’s lost here comes Philly, Donovan turned away by Alba. A key corner kick now here as they need one Callender tries to hold a ball he should have boxed away. Callender with a great save on the header by Donovan, well taken low and away from the GK but nothing doing. Martinez and Taylor out at 61’ for Miami. Yedlin cautioned for delay of game a foolish foul to get at 63’. Hariel wins the header to Bueno it’s lost and the defender, Gomez is on the floor, he took a hard hit, an elbow to the throat from Philly, Bueno on the yellow just did striking and very dangerously. Wagner and a diving Glesnes unable to keep it down and skies over the goal as Donovan may have been better to have headed it goal ward than playing it on. End to end action McGlynn, lays it off, 3 looks on goal then back the other way, but a good 10 seconds of play were under on an offside call. Donovan off Bedoya on, Bueno out. Hariel looking at 2 runners, it misses both 71”. Hariel so dangerous on this wing wins another corner. Philly really needs to get on the end of one of these, time is short. Who else but Bedoya sends it spinning into the back of the net as a defender plays the corner right to him. Doop is loud and proud from the Philly faithful, they must have a lot of faith now. Martinez is holding his left hammy and rolling in pain. McGlynn sends it outside then it’s in and bodied just wide but offside. Another slow throw by Miami has the crowd getting loud. Miami now getting scrappy, easy guys, take the win and move on. McGlynn with plenty of time on the ball finds his man again. Now the Union are dishing out some pain. Messi marked by McGlynn, forces Messi to lay it off. Messi to Yedlin for Ruiz, beats an onrushing Blake 4-1 a 84’. Matching the total of goals conceded for the home side over the whole of this Cup. Saturday will be the title game, seems Mia might just take on the winner of the 9:30 game and onto the Concacaf Champions Cup, nee CCL. Allen and Mcvey on for Miami, Messi says on but Alba is off. Torres for Gazdag for Union. Bedoya just short on reaching a ball to head in on goal. Torres takes a corner and it goes over the end line. Allen taken down, he puts his hand out to Martinez who kicks him while down and swiping at his hand.
At the whistle, delayed due to pitch invaders, we see an away coach getting hugs from twins, Arrmy surgeons famous for winding up the opponents in Philly as well as at RBNY where they had season tix as well, Bedoya comes over to Messi and gets photos, we see Jack come over and meet the man. In times past, Miami was spanked for violating league rules in acquiring players, this year so far it seems they have stayed within the rules, changing half their starting line up, is it all Meessi. In and of himself, no it is not Messi but without him does Tata get here, U-23’s. Alba, Busquets, etc.? I say no, the rules are a bit convoluted TAM, GAM U-23’s DP’s but now he who is last may be first., Miami, the cellar dwellers of the MLS are set for a title game in a cup , also looking to go deeper in the US Open Cup taking on Cincy soon. NO, Messi et al have not played an MLS game as yet, faced a few MLS teams yes, but not in league games. How is one able to have such an impact , on the field he is and off it, he drew many others here, but bear in mind this league is not La Liga, on a world wide scale, I consider it to be AA baseball, I have spoken to fans from England who have season tix over here tell me it is not even good U-23 soccer, it is 2nd div. in England a best., A lot of that is purely economic, they don’t pay for the overwhelming majority enough to get the better players, that may have changed with the arrival of Messi, who would not want yo join him, who will be the next high profile to come here with such an impact, since Beckham, here has not been one.