Union look for positives after second consecutive draw
Last night's game against the Los Angeles Galaxy had some good news and some bad news.
There was a good-news, bad-news quality Saturday for the Union in a 0-0 Major League Soccer draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy before 25,008 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
It snapped a string of six consecutive games in which the Union had allowed at least two goals, but they remained the only MLS team without a win. They are 0-4-4 and are winless in their last 15 regular-season games since last year.
Still, for a defense that had been leaking, coach Jim Curtin was encouraged by the performance.
"We haven't put together a complete 90 minutes [defensively]," Curtin told reporters afterward. "So for the first time, I think it's a 90 minutes where we were intense, we were focused the entire time, and we were together."
It was the Union's first shutout since a 0-0 scoreless draw on opening day, March 5 at Vancouver.
But this is 2-5-1 Galaxy team that doesn't resemble a five-time MLS Cup winner. Still, getting a point on the road is never easy.
"It was a great point for us," said Union keeper Andre Blake, who made a few key diving saves in earning his 10th career shutout. "I think the guys fought really hard and we stuck tighter and I think overall it was a great performance defensively."
A Union team that hasn't gotten many breaks this season finally got one in the 21st minute when Joao Pedro's low blast from 25 yards out hit off both posts.
Midfielder Fafa Picault earned his first start for the Union. Another midfielder, Ilsinho, missed the game because of illness.
Right back Keegan Rosenberry, an all-star last year, was benched for the second straight game, with Ray Gaddis earning the start.
The Union will resume action Saturday when they host the New York Red Bulls in a 7 p.m. game.
"We still haven't won, but in the last two games we haven't lost," said Blake, referring to a 3-3 draw with visiting Montreal in a game the Union led, 3-0. "So there are still positives and we have to keep going."
@sjnard