Inside MLS: Philadephia Union

Inside MLS: Philadephia Union — page 3
CHAPTER 1 FIRST PLAYOFF PUSH Most expansion teams have to wait several years to make the Most expansion teams have to wait several years to make the playoffs In the case of the Philadelphia Union it took just playoffs In the case of the Philadelphia Union it took just two seasons Being a brand-new team presents unique challenges Being a brand-new team presents unique challenges The players have never competed together Often they The players have never competed together Often they are players other clubs didn’t want And the team has are players other clubs didn’t want And the team has to figure out lots of new challenges on the fly such as to figure out lots of new challenges on the fly such as how to replace injured players The Union faced all of these obstacles upon joining The Union faced all of these obstacles upon joining Major League Soccer MLS in 2010 They lost half of their Major League Soccer MLS in 2010 They lost half of their 30 games and won only eight However the next year was a 30 games and won only eight However the next year was a different story Goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón was a big Goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón was a big part of the Union’s success in 2011 part of the Union’s success in 2011 4