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Union-Revolution 5 things: Back to MLS grind after Open Cup exit

CSN

Union vs. New England Revolution 5 p.m. on FS1

Fresh off a gut-wrenching end to their 2017 U.S. Open Cup, the Union (5-7-4) return to MLS play to host a team in the Revolution (5-7-5) they could end up battling for one of the final Eastern Conference playoff spots.

Here are five things to know:

1. Bruised but not beaten Recovering from games four days apart is always a difficult task; recovering from a grueling 120-minute knockout game that ended with a brutal shootout loss to the nemesis New York Red Bulls is even tougher.

But although head coach Jim Curtin said he felt like he and the players let down the fans, hes confident that theyll be up for a quick turnaround.

We will have some fresh legs, Curtin said. With the competitive roster, we have guys we plug in and dont really miss a beat. Thats a strong thing to have. Were a real balanced team and its a group Im confident will be fresh. Even the 120-minute guys are feeling pretty strong and ready to turn it around and go again.

Indeed, four regular starters goalkeeper Andre Blake, defenders Oguchi Onyewu and Ray Gaddis, and midfielder Ilsinho didnt play at all vs. the Red Bulls on Wednesday and another (Chris Pontius) only played 15 minutes.

And as for the guys who went the full 120 minutes, Curtin is feeling good about their effort and recovery, specifically pointing to attacking midfielder Roland Alberg.

It was his best game in a Philadelphia Union uniform, the Union coach said.

2. Gold Cup absences Theres good news and bad news on the international absence front.

The bad news? The Union will be without captain Alejandro Bedoya, whos currently with the U.S. national team leading up to start of the Gold Cup next weekend. And the Union are 5-1 in the last six games Bedoya has started.

The good news is Blake, who was dealing with a minor rib injury, is set to make one final start in Philly before joining Jamaica for the CONCACAF tournament. And hes coming off a monster performance in the Unions 1-0 win over D.C. United last weekend.

The Revs, meanwhile, will be without striker Juan Agudelo (U.S.) and midfielders Kelyn Rowe (U.S.) and Gershon Koffie (Ghana). All three were part of Saturdays U.S.-Ghana friendly, though only Rowe got into the game, earning his first USMNT cap.

3. All eyes on Jones With Bedoya gone and Warren Creavalle hurt, 20-year-old midfielder Derrick Jones has a big opportunity in front of him as a starter for Sundays game and potentially a few more after that.

In Jones last start, he was shown a red card that led to a 2-0 loss to the Red Bulls on June 18. But he said hes learned from that experience and is eager to temporarily take the spot of a player like Bedoya.

I look up to him every day in training, on the field, in games, Jones said of the Union captain. He tells me to play my game, keep doing what Im doing.

Curtin said the first half of the season has gone well for Jones, who began the year of a starter before transitioning to a reserve role. But he expects more from the promising young homegrown.

This is a big time for him now with Ale being out for these next two games, the Union coach said. Hell have his hands full. But his fearlessness is what [sporting director Earnie Stewart] and I love in him and its what we see every day in training. We know hell be up to the challenge.

4. Players to watch Revolution: New England is missing some key players with Diego Fagundez suspended and others injured on top of the Agudelo, Rowe and Koffie international absences. But in striker Kei Kamara, the Revs still have a marquee veteran striker who can turn a game on its head.

Union: This could be an important game for Ilsinho, whos dealing with a calf issue but figures to start at the No. 10 attacking midfield role. And he may need to have a big game to keep that spot, considering Alberg is coming off such a good game and Adam Najem an up-and-comer at the No. 10 spot had an excellent performance vs. the Red Bulls four days ago, according to Curtin.

5. This and that In their Open Cup game Wednesday, the Union finished with 27 shots but only scored once, leading Curtin to have the players work on finishing during practice this week.

Maurice Edu, who hasnt played an MLS game since Sept. 20, 2015, participated in training this week but still has no timetable to return.

The Revs have yet to win on the road this season, going 0-6-3 in nine matches.

The Union are 2-0-1 in their last three meetings with the Revs, outscoring them 8-1.

With seven assists, Revs midfielder Lee Nguyen is tied for third in the league.

Goalkeeper Ryan Meara stopped Fafa Picaultand Felipe did the rest, catapulting the New York Red Bulls over the Union in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16, 1-1 (5-3), in added extra time penalty kicks on Wednesday night at Red Bull Arena.

Its devastating for the guys, Union manager Jim Curtin said to reporters. I couldnt be prouder of the group in terms of the effort we put in. I thought we showed a lot more fight, a lot more heart, a lot of grit, balls, guts, whatever your adjective is, we had more of it.

Roland Alberg and Chris Pontius kept pace with the Red Bulls early in penalties, but a heroic diving stop by Meara on Picault was the difference. Red Bulls veteran Sacha Kljestan gave his club the 4-2 lead but was matched by rookie Marcus Epps, opening the door for Felipe to finish the contest.

I missed, Picault said to reporters. I shot it and he made a good save. It hit the post and thats it.

Despite guessing correctly on nearly all of the Red Bulls attempts, Union backup keeper John McCarthy was unable to make a stop. Meara finished with one.

After qualifying but losing in the tournaments title game in 2014 and 2015, the Union failed to make it out of the quarterfinals last season. This year, the club, which defeated the Harrisburg City Islanders in its first match, wasnt able to survive the Round of 16.

Meanwhile, the Red Bulls advance to face the New England Revolution on July 13 at Harvard Universitys Jordan Field. The Revolution defeated D.C. United, 2-1, on Wednesday.

Trailing by one and after nearly 90 minutes of futility, Alberg and the Union hit gold in the 86th. Launching a long-ball pass into the box, Jack Elliot stunned the Red Bulls back line as the volley landed at the feet of a nearly offside Alberg. The Union No. 10 turned and fired off a shot that beat Meara far side to lock the match at 1-1.

Roland Alberg put in an incredible shift in terms of work rate and effort, Curtin said. Character to come back, this group has that.

But that wasnt the only scoring chance for the Union. Despite shaky defense early, the Union owned the games first great opportunity, when Picault, whose finish was suspect all game, broke free on a breakaway in the 18th minute. His low shot was sloppy and body-stopped by Meara to keep the game scoreless.

We had them on the ropes in their building and we didnt quite finish them off, Curtin said.

It was one of 27 attempts on goal throughout the contest for the Union.

We created enough to win, Curtin said. We should have won tonight.

While the Union missed chances, the hosts took control. In the 41st minute, Bradley Wright-Phillips pounced on a Josh Yaro turnover and slid a centering pass to Kljestan, who easily placed his shot through McCarthy and in for the 1-0 advantage at the half.

We have to regroup and refresh, said Curtin, whose club is set to face the New England Revolution on Sunday at Talen Energy Stadium. This is why our sports science department gets the big bucks. Well be ready to go.

USA Today Images

CHESTER, Pa. -- Sportsmanship isnt dead. In the 74th minute of Saturdays 1-0 Union win over D.C. United at Talen Energy Stadium, Luciano Acosta knocked midfielder Haris Medunjanin out of bounds. Trekking in from midfield, referee Sorin Stoica immediately threw up the red card to eject the United's Acosta from the match. Moments later, play restarted with Acosta still in the game. "All I know is I saw the red card, turned around and next thing I know is hes still on the field," Union center back Oguchi Onyewu said. The red card was pulled for what Stoica believed was Acosta kicking Medunjanin. Unaware that the referee could even rescind the card, the Union man honorably disputed the kick and Stoica pulled the ejection. "I rescinded the card because [Medunjanin] stated that he was not kicked after the play, which was the initial decision I made," Stoica told a pool reporter. Medunjanin explained his side. "I saw the red card and spoke with Acosta and he was saying that he didnt kick me," he said. "I said I didnt feel it also. I went to the referee and he said, 'did he kick you?' and I said, 'no he didnt kick me, I think it was just a push.' Thats why it was no red card for me." He then took a shot at New York Red Bulls player Felipe, who drew a red on the Unions Derrick Jones last Sunday in what the club believed was a dive. "I hope Felipe was watching from last week," Medunjanin said. "I wish he could say the same. I think you need to be honest and I felt like it was just a push."

Union manager Jim Curtin, who admitted he may not have been so honorable in Medunjanin's position, was proud of his player.

"Its not a red card, and I have to give a lot of credit to Haris," he said. "Hes a person that I respect a great deal. Its an incredible act. I think its something you could show to not just young kids but also a lot of the adults that play in professional soccer because what he did is very honorable. Its the right thing to do." While fair play Medunjanin gained respect from Curtin and United coach Ben Olsen, who called him a classy player and classy human being, he was grilled by his teammates, who found the scenario humorous. "I dont know whose team Haris is on, I really dont," Onyewu said jokingly. "I dont know if Haris and the referee or Haris and Acosta are actually best friends, I dont know. Maybe they are going out later tonight and they didnt want any bad tension?" They also found it perplexing.

"I didnt think that was possible, Medunjanin said, a sentiment echoed by Onyewu. The referee chose to do it so you need to respect that. I can talk now and be honest. Maybe if it was a draw, it wouldve been a little different." But it happened and Medunjanin can walk away with three points and an unofficial award for being a class act.

"Everybody said thanks for the fair play, Medunjanin said. Nice gesture of you and thats it. The coach came over to speak with me and I said, 'no problem this is football. We fight for the three points, but we need to be honest.'"

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