Union looking steadier this season
When the Union saw a 1-0 lead end up a 1-1 draw after the visiting Seattle Sounders scored the equalizer during second-half stoppage time on Saturday, two words came to mind. Last year.
When the Union saw a 1-0 lead end up a 1-1 draw after the visiting Seattle Sounders scored the equalizer during second-half stoppage time on Saturday, two words came to mind. Last year.
In 2010, The Union saw a number of wins or ties turn into losses by allowing late goals, many seemingly preventable. The team became somewhat snakebitten during an 8-15-7 inaugural Major League Soccer campaign.
Yet this clearly isn't last year, when the Union often outplayed opponents but didn't have the result to show for it. Fast forward to now and the Union are 3-1-1 and entered Thursday leading the Eastern Conference with 10 points.
"I am not a huge fan of looking at last year and comparing to this year," Union assistant coach John Hackworth said. "This is a different team than last year."
It all starts in goal, where the play has been much more solid with Faryd Mondragon. Even though Mondragon hasn't had to stand on his head and make one outstanding save after another, his experience, ability to be in the right place and the right time and yes, shot-blocking ability has given this team a world of confidence.
"That is the sign of a great goalkeeper, he doesn't have to make spectacular saves all the time because he organizes so well," Hackworth said. "Part of what he does is not really noticeable - he puts his defenders in such good positions."
And if Mondragon is a major reason for the Union's improvement, central defender Carlos Valdes isn't far behind. He replaced solid, but sometimes mistake-prone center defender Michael Fiscal-Orozco, whom the Union didn't re-sign.
Valdes isn't flashy, but like Mondragon, always seems to be in the right position.
What is interesting is that one could make the argument that the Union were outplayed by a sizable margin in two of their wins, the 1-0 opener at Houston and a 1-0 home triumph over the New York Red Bulls.
Of course, if being outplayed becomes a season-long pattern, then the Union won't enjoy their current success.
What is the major difference is that last season when any bit of adversity hit, the Union seemed to crumble. Now, with a more seasoned team, things are turning around.
The MLS is so balanced that several teams can claim to being a serious contender for the championship. The season is so long - 34 games - that some of those contenders haven't even emerged yet. Right now Real Salt Lake, the 2009 champion, would probably earn the favorite's role.
But can anybody count out the Los Angeles Galaxy or the Red Bulls, to name others?
Will the Union be in the mix?
Their one loss was to the Galaxy and the Union looked outclassed even though it was a 1-0 score, so that result and last week's tie are indicators of the work the Union needs to do.
Yet nobody can dispute this team is on the right track. The fact that they were disappointed in tying a Seattle team that also figures to contend and is coming around after a rocky start, shows the progress from the first to second year.
"The league is pretty tight," Hackworth said. "For us, we are disappointed [to tie Seattle] because it was a home game and we feel we have the ability to beat anybody in this league."
No argument here.
Right now the sample size is awfully small, but the Union would have signed up for 10 points after five games, especially against such a difficult early-season schedule. And just about every other Eastern Conference team would have, as well.
