Union show fight but continue losing slide

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CHESTER, Pa. -- It was the story of the Unions season summed up in 90 minutes.

Facing rival New York Red Bulls on Sunday at PPL Park, the struggling Union showed fight and even flashed some offensive brilliance, getting a pair of goals from Lionard Pajoy. But in the end, a dose of bad luck and untimely defensive breakdowns would see them fall to the Red Bulls, 3-2, to continue their losing slide.

The defeat was the Unions third in a row and marks their second three-game losing streak of the 2012 season. They had none last year. The Unions record now stands at 2-6-1, with a 1-3-1 total at home.

Conceding the early one-goal lead in the 17th minute despite dominating possession and play, the contest appeared to be headed in the direction that so many of the Unions recent games have gone -- early pressure but untimely defensive errors would spell doom.

But while the Red Bulls goal put the Union down, it also woke them up

Leading this charge early in the opening half was Union midfielder Freddy Adu, who suddenly came alive and began running at defenders, wowing the crowd with dekes and shuffles. With a strong individual effort, Adu earned a corner in the 31st minute, where he booted a lifeless service that was rejected by the Red Bulls back line back to Adu on the edge. Crossing the second chance into the box, Adu connected with the head of Pajoy, who batted the ball through Ryan Meara for the equalizer.

It was Pajoys second goal of the season and one that broke a three-game Red Bulls shutout streak.

But a controversial call would temporarily end the Unions comeback party. In the 44th minute and holding a yellow card for a tackle in the fifth, Adu made a bull-headed move into the box. In an attempt to earn the penalty kick he fell to the ground after slight contact with a defender. The referee immediately flagged Adu for the dive and handed the second-year Union midfielder his second yellow of the game and a red-card ejection.

Instead of dropping their heads and playing for the draw, the Union, with 10 men, persevered once again. Almost immediately following the opening kick of the second half, the ball was played quickly by the Union into the Red Bulls zone. With a goal already on his gameday resume, Pajoy grabbed possession and ran directly at a defender on the left side, pushing the ball through and trickling a low bouncer to the far side, giving the Union the 2-1 advantage.

However, the Red Bulls would eventually power through the shorthanded but scrappy Union. In the 69th minute on a corner kick, Brandon Barklage found Markus Holgersson, who put a clean header past Zac Macmath and in to tie the game at two. The Red Bulls took the lead less than 10 minutes later, when Kenny Cooper accepted a pass in the box, barreled through an aggressive play by MacMath and burying the open-net goal for the 3-2 Red Bulls lead and eventual victory.

The Union opened the contest with renewed offensive life against their rivals, pushing the pace and controlling the ball by using a two-striker system of Danny Mwanga and Pajoy. This opened the field for Adu and Keon Daniel, who helped the Union earn seven first-half corners and manage 11 shots.

However, following their theme this season, the Union were unable to convert or even push a dangerous chance on the Red Bulls goal. And while the home squad fruitlessly pestered the opposing defense, the Red Bulls would strike.

On a counterattack, the Red Bulls took the 1-0 lead on their first shot of the game, when Mehdi Ballouchy worked the left side of the Union box before dropping a pass back to Joel Lindpere, who ripped a line drive that deflected off MacMaths hands and in.
E-mail Ryan Bright at ryanbright@gmail.com

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