This is the kind of flashback that Union supporters would prefer to forget.
The club's recent form, going winless for 10 straight games since a 2-1 loss to Toronto FC on Saturday night, is reminiscent of the Union pre-2018.
Scoring the winning goal, dominating most of the game, only to lose to chance in the final seconds, was a pattern that played out game after game for a club still finding its groove in Major League Soccer. Even Jim Curtin, who took over in 2014, needed time to get back on track, ditching the short-lived talent rotation, struggling for more than a shoestring budget and taking the team to the brink of an MLS title in 2022.
” read more: The Union lost 1-2 away to Toronto FC after conceding two goals late in the game.
But this season has played out the same way as in the past, with Curtin forced to sit down in the post-match press conference and make excuses for his team, who had dominated for much of the game but ended up losing by a final score.
“We're a tough team to play against,” Curtin said after Saturday's loss. “We conceded two shots and zero corners, but we still made some big mistakes and got punished for them. We just didn't make the little plays to get us over the hump.”
Against Toronto, the Union were the better team, creating more chances and outshooting TFC 4-2. They took the lead in the 39th minute with a perfectly timed header from Ty Balibo off a Kai Wagner free kick. Toronto was the team to beat and was in similar form to the Union, coming into the game having beaten a 10-man New England team on May 19, just one day before the Union's last win.
But just like old times, poorly timed errors continued, including an own goal by defender Jack Elliott to tie the score for Toronto, then Elliott again fired a clear ball in the middle of the field that was intercepted by Toronto, and TFC forward DeAndre Carr's quick counterattack and diagonal run provided deja vu for the Union.
Up next is a short week with New England playing a Wednesday night game at Subaru Park (7:30 p.m., Apple TV, MLS Season Pass).
“That's unacceptable,” Curtin said. [has it been] “It's just a shame we didn't find a way to win, because we're so vulnerable and that's unusual for this group. So, again, it hurts.” [but we] We need to get ready for New England quickly.”
” read more: The USMNT coaching search will undoubtedly be international, not just domestic, sources say.
Coming soon: Cavan Sullivan?
One of the highlights of Saturday night's frustrating defeat was when Curtin revealed the club's desire to add home-grown phenom Cavan Sullivan to the 20-man traveling squad for the trip to Toronto.
But Curtin said those plans were thwarted by “paperwork” to allow the 16-year-old Sullivan to travel. Sullivan had just scored his first goal for Union II in a 3-1 win over Chattanooga FC at Subaru Park last week.
Sullivan, whom the Union brokered with English Premier League powerhouse Manchester City, is rumored to make his first appearance for the first team in the Union's League Cup games, starting with a game against Charlotte on July 27 (8 p.m., Apple TV, MLS Season Pass).
However, Curtin noted that Sullivan was not scheduled to play against Toronto, but the idea was to give him an opportunity to play against top-level competition and on the road.
“I wanted him in the group and I wanted him to be 20. [-man travel roster]”But the paperwork, the league rules and the child labour laws in Canada are different,” Curtin said. [and] I don't try and understand everything, and I don't pretend to understand it, so it's a problem with the league. It just wasn't working until literally the moment the bus was leaving the parking lot and was about to end it.
“I think it was good to at least bring him in… to get him used to the travelling and first-team environment.”
He joked after a short pause.
“Hopefully he'll be one of the 20 members when we get back to the States, but we'll have to wait and see what the rules are.”
” read more: Jim Curtin wasn't surprised by Gregg Berhalter's firing and hopes to one day help the USMNT.
