Union Continue Road Stretch Saturday In Toronto
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Union will play their second of three straight road matches on Saturday as they visit Toronto FC.
The Union opened this road stretch last Saturday up in Portland, losing to the Timbers, 2-1. The loss dropped Philadelphia to 0-2-1 in its last three matches.
"I think we played decent," Union rookie forward Fabian Herbers tells KYW Newsradio. "We had a couple of mistakes that led to goals, but I thought, overall, we had a good performance on the road. Just didn't get lucky to get the shots that we had, that we couldn't turn them into goals. So, a little bit unlucky, but we keep moving forward and are ready for Toronto."
Listen to the entire interview with the Union's Fabian Herbers:
Despite the recent struggles, Philadelphia is still in fourth place in MLS Eastern Conference with 41 points (11-11-8 record). The top six teams make the playoffs and with four matches remaining in the regular season, Philadelphia is seven points ahead of the team sitting in seventh, D.C. United.
Herbers assisted on the lone Union goal against Portland. It was his sixth helper of the season and that leads Philadelphia. The #6 overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft also has contributed a couple of goals to the cause for the Union. He breaks down his first year as a pro.
"It's always hard to predict when you come into the first professional year, of course," Herbers says. "I didn't come in with too many expectations to be honest. I was just trying to do my best and see what happens and I'm very happy that I ended up in Philadelphia. I'm very happy here. I appreciate the coaches giving me the chance, giving me starting time and playing time and I just try to give it back with goals or assists or just good playing minutes."
Toronto sits at the top of the table in MLS Eastern Conference with 47 points (13-8-8 record). This will be the second meeting between the two sides this season. The first came August 20th in Chester with Toronto winning, 3-1.
"It's probably going to be a hard game to play in," Herbers says. "We have to be very tight and compact defensively and see that we take our chances offensively and the shots that we create, that we can get them on target and on goal, so that we have a chance to come out with three points."
Philadelphia and Toronto get underway at 5:00pm on Saturday.