Union’s losing streak can be traced to few scoring opportunities, lineup shuffles
Quality chances have come hard for the Union, who took until the 33rd minute of Saturday’s match to take their first shot and until the 45th for the first shot on goal.
As the Union and the San Jose Earthquakes re-emerged from the locker rooms after a scoreless first half at Subaru Park on Saturday night, each team’s manager brought in their marquee offseason signing to try and spark their respective attacks.
The Union brought on Ezekiel Alladoh, a 20-year-old striker the team signed for a club-record fee of $4.5 million from Swedish first-division club Brommapojkarna in December.
San Jose brought on Timo Werner, a 30-year-old forward who played 10 seasons in the German Bundesliga and four in the English Premier League.
The advantage on Saturday went to San Jose, which claimed a 1-0 win after Werner played Ousseni Bouda through on goal in the 59th minute.
» READ MORE: Union still seek their first MLS win following Saturday night setback against San Jose
Alladoh finished the game without recording a shot and was issued a yellow card in the 88th minute as the Union pushed for an equalizer.
The Union have now lost three games in a row for the first time in Bradley Carnell’s time as head coach. Still, Carnell was encouraged with his team’s effort, despite the loss.
“It’s just unfortunate that things aren’t going our way right now,” Carnell said. “This was, by far, our best performance of the three, which is a step in the right direction.”
Attacking woes
The Union have taken more shots than their opponents in all three of their MLS games this season, including a 13-7 advantage over San Jose on Saturday.
But the Union only created more shots on target than their opponent once, in their season-opening 1-0 loss to D.C. United.
“We’re not getting as much time and space in those final moments,” Carnell said. “We’re getting to the moments, but then it’s maybe the intricate movements, it’s maybe the set-up on the entry balls as well.”
It took until the 33rd minute of Saturday’s game for the Union to take their first shot and until the 45th for the first shot on goal.
The Union are still searching for their first goal from open play. The team’s lone goal in three MLS games came from the penalty spot in a 2-1 loss to New York City FC.
Frankie Westfield, who started at right back on Saturday, called the team’s inability to find the back of the net “annoying,” but he believed the team was close to breaking through.
“In the first half, we had a lot of chances,” Westfield said. “Off pressure, off some crosses from the left or the right. I think it’s just a matter of that final action. It’s very close.”
Back line shuffle
The Union started their third different backline in as many league games on Saturday, a result of Olwethu Makhanya serving a one-game red card suspension.
Nathan Harriel slid inside from his usual spot at right back to cover Makhanya’s spot at center back. Westfield started at right back, while Union II’s Giovanny Sequera made his MLS debut at left back.
“It’s easier to have a consistent lineup,” Westfield said. “But with the red cards and stuff, it’s a little harder. But I think it’s just another game ... I wouldn’t say it’s anything different.”
Sequera is the third different left back to start an MLS game for the Union following Kai Wagner’s departure to English club Birmingham City in January. Sequera was the defender Bouda beat for the decisive goal on Saturday night.
The Union will likely have their answer at left back soon in Philippe Ndinga. The new signing is still waiting to be added to the Union’s active roster.
“Philippe’s going to get up to speed,” Carnell said. “Hopefully that’s one of the solutions. We’ll continue to do our bit and work hard as a group and as individuals to try and solve that piece of the puzzle.”
Eyes on América
The Union will need to put Saturday’s loss behind them quickly, as they host Mexican side Club América for a Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16 match on Tuesday (7 p.m., FS2).
“No one’s happy,” Carnell said. “We can be proud of the performance, of the effort. We lack a little quality in certain moments right now. But we should be upset. That’s totally normal. And, you know, the best moment to pick up is your next game, and the next game’s on Tuesday.”
Club América is one of Mexico’s biggest clubs and currently sits in eighth place in the Liga MX standings. América‘s most recent visit to Subaru Park was in 2021, when it defeated the Union, 2-0.
“Tuesday’s going to be a very big one for us,” Westfield said. “We’re already looking forward to it. Just put this one behind us and we’ll come out ready to fight.”
Bruno Damiani said the team needs to be more patient as it adjusts to life without many of its key players from 2025’s Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign, including Tai Baribo, Mikael Uhre, Jakob Glesnes, and Wagner.
“The guys who had more years here left last year, most of them,” Damiani said. “Now it’s just a lot of young guys with energy and talent, but everything is a process and we are struggling a bit. But it’s just three games. It’s not been enough patience coming from us.”
Damiani has had three games to settle in alongside new strike partners in Alladoh and Agustín Anello, who started alongside Damiani on Saturday.
“We need to be more patient,” Damiani said. “We need to know that the things aren’t going to come right away.”