Union look to extend home streak vs. Real Salt Lake

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Friday, June 10, 2011
Posted: 11 a.m.By Ryan BrightCSNPhilly.com Contributor

After spending two fruitful weeks on the road, the Union are making their awaited return to the friendly confines of PPL Park on Saturday, when they face stingy Western Conference side, Real Salt Lake.

Yet, holding a 4-0-2 record when playing as the host this season, competing in Chester hasnt just been good the Unions comfort level, its been great for bringing in results.

We want to continue what we talked about last year, when teams come here, we protect this ground and bring our absolute best, said assistant coach John Hackworth, whose team is just one of three in the MLS without a loss at home this season. You want it on both sides (home and away) but certainly, playing here at PPL is special for us.

We love playing here and have a passion for playing here. Any time we have a game here, were excited about it.

And its shown.

However, leading the Eastern Conference with 21 points in 12 games, the Union havent just been blessed at home. Proving their worth with a 6-2 road win over Toronto FC and grinding out a draw with reigning MLS Cup champions Colorado Rapids in the Mile-High City, 1-1, the Union are now tied with DC United for the best road record in the conference, 2-3-1.

I think were just playing better overall, said Hackworth. Its not just that were playing well at home. We proved it last weekend that we can go on the road and get a result. Thats a big step for us.

While road wins are a step for the second-year squad, more importantly, they are earning respect by competing with the leagues best. Last week, the Union earned a result against the 2010 league champions and on Saturday, they will have an opportunity to challenge the 2009 MLS Cup championsa team many believed at the beginning of the season to be the best the MLS has to offer.

When you play the best teams in the league, you find out where you are, said Hackworth. The league is tight. Our league has so much parity that any given day anyone can compete. That being said, when you play the MLS Cup champion or a team sitting at the top of the table, its different. Not only do you know it but you want to prove youre as good or better than that team.

Out to show they can take down Real Salt Lake will take more than just the will to win, the Union will need a complete performance. Although the Western Conference team has just one win in their last five games, they still hold a 6-3-2 record and are hungry to get b ack on the winning track. Injury issues and international call-ups have stunted Real Salt Lakes production, but that doesnt make them any less hungry to find a result at PPL Park.

Its going to be a matter of who can execute when opportunities arise, said Hackworth. We want to maximize ours and shut them down as much as possible.

I think its going to be a critical game for both of us. If you look at it, especially earlier in the year, Real Salt Lake was the best team. Theyre still a dangerous team.

Helping the Union will be their new found offensive swagger. The same team that struggled to find the back of the net in the early going has nine goals in their last three games. Led by Danny Mwangas four, the Union are beginning to find that cohesiveness and confidence that was missing at the beginning of the season. One key to the Unions production has been attacking the goal from outside the box, which has opened up other areas.

We want to create opportunities to score but have a balanced attack, said Hackworth, whose squad will be without striker Carlos Ruiz, who was called up to the Guatemalan National Team for the Gold Cup tournament. You do that by bringing defenses out with shots from farther out. Its something weve been trying to do but we have to do it a little better.

With Real Salt Lake starving for three points and the Union hitting their stride, there is little doubt that Saturdays contest will be a battle.

Weve had a pretty good stretch, said Hackworth. Youre going to find two teams with good form and it will be a very good game.
Off the Mapp
Exiting last weeks match against the Colorado Rapids in the 25th minute due to a slight groin tweak, midfielder Justin Mapp, who was hoping to begin practicing with the team late in the week, is officially questionable for Saturday against Real Salt Lake at PPL Park.

Early on in the game, I felt like it wasnt getting any better, so I tried to catch it before it got too bad, Mapp said on Tuesday.

It was frustrating. I would have liked to keep that going as a team. Hopefully, I wont be out too long.

While the injury isnt deemed serious, the reigning MLS Player of the Week, with two goals in back-to-back games against the Chicago Fire and Toronto FC, may still miss the contest for precautionary reasons.

Mapp, 26, missed time in early April because of a hamstring strain.
E-mail Ryan Bright at ryanbright13@gmail.com
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