The Warmup: #PHIvNE
- Updated: March 18, 2016
Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz
It’s another week, another distinct challenge for the Revolution to tackle when they meet the Union on Sunday at Talen Energy Stadium (ne’ PPL Park). Kickoff is set for 2:30 pm.
After facing foes from opposite ends of the spectrum during the first two weeks of the season, the locals will encounter a different kind test for the third straight week when the first whistle screeches in Chester, Pa.
“They’re a whole new look in terms of how they’re playing,” Revolution coach Jay Heaps told the media earlier this week. “In regard to the personnel they have, and it’s going to be difficult.”
No doubt there’s been plenty of change in Philadelphia since the Revolution’s last visit – and it hasn’t just been limited to the sign above the stadium, either.
Since the Revolution’s 1-0 win over the Union on Aug. 29, 2015, the Union have sent midfielders Andrew Wenger and Cristian Maidana packing while winger Sebastian Le Toux and right back Ray Gaddis have both been relegated to the bench. The club added proven scorer Chris Pontius during the winter, and drafted promising fullback Keegan Rosenberry to man the right channel.
Making things all the more cloudy for the Revolution will be the absence of U.S. international Maurice Edu, who could be sidelined up to three months. Another injury that’s affected Union coach Jim Curtin’s early season planning is ankle knock suffered by Vincent Nogueira, a development that’s forced Curtin to tinker with his midfield during the last two weeks.
“They bring a lot of different looks,” Heaps said. “They’ve changed their lineup slightly from game 1 to game 2, and they have options off the bench so they’re a difficult team.”
As difficult as it may be to predict what the Union will bring on Sunday, one thing Heaps is hoping for is another sound effort from his defense, which helped pitch the Revolution’s first shutout last week against DC – a performance that came less than a week after the squad conceded three goals to the Dynamo on First Kick.
“I think when we’re tight in those certain blocks, we can defend,” Heaps said. “The key was when we get stretched and try to win the game, to limit any counterattack.”
Interestingly, the Union used the counterattack to get the best of the reigning conference kings last week in Columbus. Pontius punched the back of the ol’ onion bag twice to give his club a 2-1 win that few people outside of greater Philadelphia expected.
Indeed, the Union aren’t the same side the Revolution beat twice in the shadow of the Commodore Barry Bridge last year. Then again, Heaps noted that his team – which added midfielder Gershon Koffie and right back Je-Vaughn Watson during the winter – isn’t an exact replica of the Revolution side that Philadelphia failed to beat in 2015.
“You’re still in the gelling process,” Heaps said, “and getting the chemistry right on the field in playing against a couple of different looks (in the Dynamo and United).”
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