Union Held by Colorado Rapids at Home

(MLSsoccer.com)

The Philadelphia Union entered the 2015 MLS season hoping to build off of a disappointing 2014 season that saw them fall seven points out of a playoff spot, but solidly in the middle of the Eastern Conference table.

The Union augmented its roster coming into the season by keeping US international Maurice Edu on a permanent transfer and adding a youth designated player, the Venezuelan attacker Fernando Aristeguieta.

It was results like Saturday’s goalless draw with the Colorado Rapids that plagued the Union and supporters hope that this isn’t a harbinger of things to come in 2015.

The Union controlled the pace, had 62% of the ball, and outshot the Rapids, who finished second to last in the Western Conference in 2014, 16 shots to 2.

Colorado didn’t even manage a shot on target in the match.

What made the contest doubly frustrating for Union was in the 68^th minute, Bobby Bunting was shown a second yellow card for hauling down Sebastian Le Toux that left the already overmatched Rapids down to 10 men.

Philadelphia had all of the chances including two real opportunities by veteran sniper Conor Casey.

In the 86^th minute, Casey’s header attempt off a free kick from just outside the left side of the box was denied on a beautiful reaction save by Clint Irwin.

The Union nearly stole the game at the death when in the 5^th minute of stoppage time, Casey’s header rolled agonizingly wide of Irwin’s cage and Colorado escaped with what they would have to feel is a tremendous result.

There is no doubt that the Union and its fans must feel like the result is more a drop of two points than a gain of one.