Somehow, thoroughly uninspiring just doesn’t quite say it all. Let’s put it this way: The Union were lucky that Columbus didn’t put up a football score – American football, mind you – Wednesday, such was the disparity between the two sides in the Crew’s 4-0 win at the Disney Pro Soccer Classic.

Some observations:

- OK, no one go for the lifeboats just yet. Manager John Hackworth had reason to field a young side (essentially the third team on the depth chart) in the first of three games in four days. But the Crew also didn’t play their first-teamers, and the result was still unduly lopsided. For guys fighting for possible MLS contracts, it was a disappointing, unspirited performance.

- Let’s get the positives out of the way quickly. Leo Fernandes was lively in the midfield, though he needs to work on hitting the target with greater regularity. Don Anding sent in a few dangerous crosses in the second half that no one seemed to get on the end of. And Roger Torres again sparked strong play when introduced in the second half. Yeah, that’s it.

- Now for reality. Another defensive unit, another poor showing. Eric Schoenle and Greg Jordan were burnt twice before Damani Richards came on to pair with Schoenle … and get burnt twice. They were completely overmatched. Eddie Gaven must have been salivating like a dog in a butcher shop when he entered at halftime, and he helped create two goals inside of eight minutes. Schoenle and a nothing-to-write-home-about Chase Harrison were beaten on the first goal by Ryan Finley, and the fourth goal was scored by Aaron Schoenfeld, left in acres of space at the far post on a cross. Poor. Read more »

Saturday’s meeting with Orlando City was the Union’s preseason opener, and boy did it look like it. Only a Leo Fernandes goal in the 75th minute salvaged a point for the Union at the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, the third straight preseason that they’ve failed to beat Orlando City.

Here is the nuts-and-bolts recap on the site, but a few extra observations if I may.


- I’ve been impressed by Fernandes through the preseason. He has an eye for goal and a clinical finish that’s evident even in training, and it’s nice to see it translate into the games. His goal was a thing of beauty. Roger Torres chipped a beautiful pass over the defense, which Fernandes touched down and fired home. We’ll see if there’s a place on this team for the Supplemental Draft pick out of Stony Brook – though playing regularly at a lower level may be more beneficial – but he’s certainly made an impact.

- After weeks of writing and talking about his 4-3-3 formation, manager John Hackworth went with the 4-4-2 that he professed an attraction to last season and seemed on paper to better fit this squad. The first 60-some minutes of Saturday’s game begged to differ. The team lacked any sort of cutting edge, disjointed in attack and at the back. We’ll write it off to early-season issues … for now.

- Jeff Parke spent most of the preseason working out with the U.S. National team. Amobi Okugo spent most of it in the midfield. When the two were paired in central defense, the divergent training habits were obvious. There was no rapport between them, Parke often venturing out wide and Okugo left to cover in the center, and the opportunities exploited by Orlando City were myriad. Long Tan had a field day, and he’s unlucky not to have scored, coming closest in the 59th minute before he was surprisingly withdrawn just past the hour mark.
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