CHESTER, Pa. -- With the Union in dire need of an offensive catalyst and in front of US Mens National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann, Tennessee-native Jack McInerney made the most of his start.
With a first-half goal and a pair of close calls, it was the exact type of spirited effort the Union needed to get their home swagger back and grab three points. However, with a late goal from Houston Dynamos Geoff Cameron, McInerneys effort was wasted, as the Union tied the Dynamo, 1-1, Saturday night at PPL Park.
I think frustration and disappointment are the feelings we have right now, said assistant coach John Hackworth, on the sideline in place of Peter Nowak, who is suffering through a back injury. We deserved three points. The game is so funny.
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Were just trying to way to get results. Jack McInerney scores a great goal off a great feed from Sebastien Le Toux and it puts us in position to play the tactics that we did. You think youll get the second goal. That second goal didnt come for us, but we felt like we locked it down and wouldnt give anything away. They just needed one opportunity.
The disappointing draw was the second consecutive for the 8-5-9 Union, who are winless in their last three matches.
Holding the 1-0 lead with defensive substitutes in place, the Unions bad luck on one end led to disaster on the other. In the 84th minute and on a partial breakaway, Sebastien Le Toux moved quickly down the right side of the Dynamo box looking for his first live-action goal of the year. Beating goalie Tally Hall with a right-footed bender, the shot curled directly into the left post and stayed out.
All of us would love for Le Toux to finish that goal, Hackworth said. Then were talking with a very different tone, two goals at home. But it didnt happen.
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Less than a minute later, on the counter-attack, Cameron found space at the top of the Union box and with an effortless shot, found an opening that beat Faryd Mondragon to lock the game at one, where it would end.
That ball was definitely going in except for the last rotation, Hackworth said of Le Touxs shot. Its a funny game sometimes and this was one of those cases because we definitely feel like we left points out there.
After a disjointed start for both squads, McInerney and Le Toux connected for a thing of beauty in the 15th minute. Dishing the ball off at the top of the box to Le Toux, McInerney beat the Dynamo back line and accepted a perfect lead pass back from the Frenchman, completing the give-and-go with a soft one-touch finish to give the Union the 1-0 advantage.
It was Le Touxs team-leading eighth helper of the year and McInerneys first of the season.
It was a good feeling, McInerney said. I got over top of the defense, saw Seba Le Toux out wide. Someone stepped and we did a one-two around him. It was a good ball.
It felt good to get it over with, Ive been waiting to get my opportunity and it finally happened.
Four minutes later, McInerney, who turned 19 on Friday, struck again on a fast break off a Sheanon Williams flank pass. However, the play was ruled offsides and the score remained the same, with the Union going into the half up by one.
The second-year striker continued his strong play in the second half, nearly depositing an outside foot bicycle kick off a Michael Farfan pass in the 54th minute. The shot sailed high over the frame but gained a rise from appreciative crowd of 18,524.
It was great, for him to get the start and scored with his first chance is fantastic, Hackworth said. Maybe that is another young guy who can do that for us. It was good for him, good for our team and its too bad he was offsides on the second one.
Yet, in the end, missed chances were the name of the game. But Hackworth isnt worried about his team finding their finish.
We created a lot of chances and if were creating chances they will start falling for us, Hackworth said. The players we have are capable of finding the back of the net. Id be worried if we werent creating those chances.
It was a good time for McInerney to show what upside he has. With a friendly against Mexico lined up for Wednesday at Lincoln Financial Field, newly named USMNT coach Klinsmann was in the house scouting talent. Who, exactly, he wouldnt say.
Ive marked them already, thats my homework I need to do, Klinsmann said. My staff already told me to look at certain players, weve talked to a lot of MLS coaches already.
E-mail Ryan Bright at ryanbright13@gmail.com