Neil Pierre plays another huge game for the Union in Austin to keep the team’s unbeaten run going
The 18-year-old centerback phenom stuffed the box score so thoroughly that he even took the headlines from Cavan Sullivan scoring his fifth goal of the year in the 1-1 tie.
As the Union and Austin FC traded wayward scoring chances down the stretch Saturday night, both teams’ fans probably assumed the other would find the net and take away a win.
The number of opportunities that piled up was in part a reflection of the 98-degree heat at the 8 p.m. kickoff in central Texas. But the fact that neither team found a winner was a reflection of the fact that for all Austin’s firepower and all the Union’s momentum, they both entered the night with 5-10-5 records.
You read here heading into the weekend that the Union still aren’t a good team quite yet, and that still stands for the moment. A game where substitutes Ezekiel Alladoh and Agustín Anello had more impact on defense than offense is proof.
But that doesn’t mean the night was all bad for Ryan Richter’s squad, which now stands 5-10-6 (21 points) and three points below the playoff line. It ended in a 1-1 tie, and the unbeaten streak is now six games heading into Saturday’s visit to Red Bull New York (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).
“It got a little wild at the end both ways,” Richter said afterward. “I think both teams could have probably gotten a goal, but the way they pushed through and were able to get a point in this game — we’re always going for the win, but for a week like this, two games on the road [and] home to Miami, to come without losing a game and and five points, that’s OK.”
Two players stood out above the rest: Andre Blake and Neil Pierre. Blake made five saves, including a spectacular one in each half to deny what looked like certain Austin goals.
» READ MORE: Cavan Sullivan’s early goal earns the Union a 1-1 tie amid brutal heat in Austin
Pierre took the headlines even from Cavan Sullivan, who scored his fifth goal of the year with a rare header. While the 5-foot-7 Sullivan jumped for his goal, the 6-foot-7 Pierre rarely had to leave his feet to stuff the box score: five clearances, three tackles, three blocks, three interceptions, 10 defensive recoveries, five duels won from seven contested, and 38-of-41 passing.
The scouts who’ve been watching Pierre, whether from European club suitors or the U.S. national team, will feast on all that.
“I thought he was our best player,” Richter said of the 18-year-old centerback. “The amount of shots that he blocked, times he stepped out of the [defensive] line, big clearances that he made, some of the interceptions that he had, he had a really solid game. So it was another good step for him.”
Everyone knew how hot it was, even fans who watched from air conditioning on their couches. MLS made a smart decision in advance to delay the kickoff by half an hour, but even that only moved the thermometer from 101 to 98.
It also put a spotlight on Richter’s decision to start the same lineup that started against Miami on Wednesday, and 10 of the 11 who started the previous Sunday at New York. He knew that was a risk, even if it’s becoming increasingly clear that at a lot of positions, the Union’s starters are a lot better than the backups.
“It made it a hard decision, definitely,” Richter said. “I couldn’t sleep between Wednesday and today, trying to think what was the right decision to go with. But I decided to trust the guys to turn around again, and I think they did a good job in that.”
He was satisfied with the subs, too, including Anello and Alladoh. The defensive plays in question came in the closing minutes: a risky but successful sliding tackle by Anello, and Alladoh’s bodying of former U.S. national team striker Brandon Vázquez on a break into the box.
“That was a pretty key play in the game,” Richter said of Alladoh. “I have to look exactly where he started when he started that run, but to make it all the way back … That’s all you can ask, is this kind of commitment. Anything to do to win a game, that’s what these guys did on this play.”
» READ MORE: The Union are fighting toward being a better team, but they’re not there yet
Both Union strikers also had scoring chances that they didn’t convert, including Anello’s shot off a last-minute free kick that was blocked. But two players who don’t get much playing time were able to offer something from the opportunity they got.
“‘Augie’ has been really patient with his role so far, you know, and tonight he came in and and he did a really good job,” Richter said. “This is what you can do, is make a case for yourself by being dangerous in these moments and looking like you can be the difference.”
Asked if he wants to see more from Anello, Richter dialed things back a bit.
“It’s not always going to come, of course,” he said. “When you sub in and play 20 minutes, you shouldn’t expect a goal every single week. But if you look dangerous, you’re getting opportunities, getting into the positions, putting the work in defensively, the goals will come.”
If they do between now and November, this Union team could be even more interesting down the stretch.
