It’s been quite some time since the Union have posted a win on the soccer field. Credit: Getty Images
After a promising start to the season, the Union (1-4-5) seem to have hit a wall. The team’s netted just two goals in their past four matches and they haven’t won a match since March 15.
While the defense has held pretty strong all season, the club is desperately in search of offense. They’re averaging just one goal per game as Leo Fernandes, Sebastien Le Toux and Maurice Edu are tied for the club lead in goals scored with just two. The MLS leader in goals, Clint Dempsey, has eight.
Still, the Union are just three points out of the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. A win this weekend against fifth-ranked D.C. United (3-3-2) will put them right back in the mix.
“We just have to keep plugging away and hopefully we can get some luck on our side,” said Union defender Amobi Okugo. “I feel like the defense has a good game and the offense struggles or the offense has good game and the defense struggles. We just have to have a complete performance from both sides.”
The Union nearly beat arguably the best team in the MLS this past weekend, the Seattle Sounders (6-2-1). They held a 1-0 lead at the half before letting in two second half goals to fall 2-1. Sebastien Le Toux said the feeling in the locker room is a lot of frustration and disappointment at the moment.
“Disappointment was the feeling right after the game, it’s just very frustrating,” said Le Toux. “I thought we played well but a mistake here and there cost us the game. There’s a little bit of frustration and disappointment, but we have to move forward.”
United is led by forward Fabian Espindola who’s tied for ninth in the MLS in scoring with four goals. The Union will look to key in on him on the defensive end and try for their first win in the month of May.
The game airs at 4 p.m. this Saturday, May 10 on The Comcast Network.
Scoring void
Through the first 10 games last season, forward Jack McInerney netted seven goals for the Union. He ended the season ranked eighth in the MLS in scoring with 12. Conor Casey added an additional 10 goals, seven of which that came from matches in June to August. He ranked just below McInerney at 16th. The next closest player on the team was Le Toux with three. Casey has just two starts in 2014 and zero goals.
