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A Philadelphia Union blog hosted by Christopher A. Vito and Matthew De George

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Rapids 1-2 Union: Postgame thoughts

It took almost three years to get there.

But when the Philadelphia Union used the sixth and seventh overall picks in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, the first in the team’s existence, on Amobi Okugo and Jack McInerney, respectively, games like Sunday’s 2-1 win in Colorado is what they had in mind. (The fact that the opponent was the Rapids, the third team in less than 12 months for the No. 1 pick in that draft, Danny Mwanga, well, just put that in the win-some-lose-some file.)

Okugo and McInerney each scored, the former picking up his first MLS goal, in earning the win. Considering the conditions – the game was postponed from Saturday due to snow – and another herky-jerky performance from the Union, they were fortunate to get three points in a tough venue.

Some observations from the game:

Union defender Sheannon Williams, left, and Colorado defender Brian Mullan do battle for a ball in the first half of the Union's 2-1 win Sunday. (Associated Press)

- Is there a more deserving goalscorer than Okugo? Not only was he a rock in defense, he provided a strong downward header in the 34th minute to put the Union ahead. The fact that it came off a set piece, a recent weakness of the Union, is all the more impressive. Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens should’ve done better to read Sebastien Le Toux’s back-post, corner-kick delivery, but it was a textbook header from Okugo, who rose over Marvell Wynne and finished astutely.

- The second Union goal was a tremendous finish by McInerney, calmly slotting one past a committed Pickens after being played through by substitute Antoine Hoppenot. The play was made, though, by Hoppenot shrugging off a defender and showing the most poise in the middle of the pitch any Union player had all day.

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