2015 Philadelphia Union season

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Philadelphia Union
2015 season
OwnerKeystone Sports & Entertainment
Head coachJim Curtin
StadiumPPL Park (Capacity: 18,500)
MLSConference: 9th
Overall: 18th
MLS Cup PlayoffsDid not qualify
U.S. Open CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: C. J. Sapong (9)
All: C. J. Sapong (9)
Highest home attendance18,883
(Aug 1 vs. New York Red Bulls)
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 15,374
(June 3 vs. Columbus)
All: 5,782
(August 12 vs. Chicago)
Average home league attendanceLeague: 17,471
All: 15,714
← 2014
2016 →

The 2015 Philadelphia Union season was the club's sixth season of existence, competing in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The team was managed by Jim Curtin, his second season with the club and first full season after taking over from John Hackworth midway through the 2014 season. For the second consecutive season, the Union finished runners-up in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup, this time to Sporting Kansas City.[1] The 2015 season also marked the departure of CEO Nick Sakiewicz, who had been with the club since its inaugural season. Sakiewicz was replaced with former U.S. men's national team player, Earnie Stewart, who was named Sporting Director in October 2015.[2]

Background

2014 MLS regular season

The 2014 Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season saw the team go 10–12–12 finishing 6th in the Eastern Conference and 12th overall. The Union had a slow first half of the season, winning only 3 of their 16 games. Because of this, head coach John Hackworth was fired and Jim Curtin was named the club's interim head coach. Following the summer break, the Union saw better results, and were in a position to reach the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs. However, a loss to the Columbus Crew SC on October 11, 2014, put them out of the playoff race. After the season was over, the title "interim" was taken removed from Jim Curtin's title and is now the permanent head coach.

2014 U.S. Open Cup

The 2014 U.S. Open Cup was the most successful Open Cup in the club's history. The Union entered the competition in the fourth round along with the other 18 MLS clubs. In that round, the Union defeated the Harrisburg City Islanders, a team in the third tier of the American soccer pyramid, 3-1 after extra time. In the next round, the Union defeated the NASL team the New York Cosmos 2-1 after extra time. The Union then defeated the New England Revolution 2-0 in the quarterfinals and FC Dallas 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 1–1 tie in the semifinals. In the final, the Union lost to Seattle Sounders FC 3-1 after extra time.

2015 roster

As of August 29, 2015.[3] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Jamaica JAM Andre Blake (GA)
2 MF Guyana GUY Warren Creavalle
5 MF France FRA Vincent Nogueira
6 FW United States USA Conor Casey
7 MF United States USA Brian Carroll (Captain)
8 MF United States USA Maurice Edu (DP)
9 FW France FRA Sébastien Le Toux
10 MF Argentina ARG Cristian Maidana (DP)
11 FW United States USA Andrew Wenger (GA)
13 MF United States USA Michael Lahoud
14 MF Cameroon CMR Eric Ayuk Mbu
15 DF United States USA Ethan White
16 DF United States USA Richie Marquez
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW United States USA C. J. Sapong
18 FW Venezuela VEN Fernando Aristeguieta (DP; on loan from Nantes)
20 MF United States USA Jimmy McLaughlin (HGP)
21 MF United States USA Eric Bird
23 DF Canada CAN Steven Vitória (on loan from Benfica)
27 MF United States USA Zach Pfeffer (HGP)
28 DF United States USA Ray Gaddis
29 MF United States USA Antoine Hoppenot
33 DF Brazil BRA Fabinho
49 GK United States USA Brian Sylvestre (on loan from Carolina RailHawks)
55 GK United States USA John McCarthy
77 MF Brazil BRA Fred
85 MF Switzerland SUI Tranquillo Barnetta

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
4 DF United States USA Austin Berry (on loan to FC Anyang)
18 GK United States USA Zac MacMath (GA, on loan to Colorado Rapids)
19 FW Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Dzenan Catic (on loan to Carolina RailHawks)
22 MF Brazil BRA Leo Fernandes (on loan to New York Cosmos)
44 MF United States USA Danny Cruz (on loan to Bodø/Glimt)

Squad breakdown

Current squad

No. Name Nationality Position Date of birth (age) Signed From
Goalkeepers
1 Andre Blake Jamaica GK (1990-11-20) November 20, 1990 (age 34) United States UConn
49 Brian Sylvestre United States GK (1992-12-19) December 19, 1992 (age 32) United States Carolina RailHawks
55 John McCarthy United States GK (1992-07-04) July 4, 1992 (age 32) United States Rochester Rhinos
Defenders
2 Warren Creavalle United States FB/DM (1990-08-14) August 14, 1990 (age 34) Canada Toronto
8 Maurice Edu United States CB/DM (1986-04-18) April 18, 1986 (age 38) England Stoke City
15 Ethan White United States CB (1991-01-01) January 1, 1991 (age 34) United States D.C. United
16 Richie Marquez United States CB (1992-05-26) May 26, 1992 (age 32) United States Redlands
23 Steven Vitória Portugal CB (1987-01-11) January 11, 1987 (age 37) Portugal Benfica
28 Ray Gaddis United States RB (1990-01-13) January 13, 1990 (age 34) United States West Virginia University
33 Fabinho Brazil LB (1985-03-16) March 16, 1985 (age 39) Australia Sydney FC
Midfielders
5 Vincent Nogueira France MF (1988-01-16) January 16, 1988 (age 36) France Sochaux
7 Brian Carroll United States DM (1981-07-20) July 20, 1981 (age 43) United States Columbus Crew SC
10 Cristian Maidana Argentina AM/LW (1987-01-24) January 24, 1987 (age 37) Argentina Argentinos Juniors
13 Michael Lahoud Sierra Leone MF/DM (1986-09-15) September 15, 1986 (age 38) United States Chivas USA
14 Eric Ayuk Mbu Cameroon MF/RW/LW (1997-02-17) February 17, 1997 (age 27) Cameroon Rainbow FC Bamenda
20 Jimmy McLaughlin United States LW/RW (1993-04-30) April 30, 1993 (age 31) United States Colgate University
21 Eric Bird United States MF (1993-04-08) April 8, 1993 (age 31) United States University of Virginia
27 Zach Pfeffer United States MF (1995-01-06) January 6, 1995 (age 30) United States IMG Soccer Academy
77 Fred Brazil MF (1979-08-18) August 18, 1979 (age 45) Australia Melbourne Heart
85 Tranquillo Barnetta Switzerland MF (1985-05-22) May 22, 1985 (age 39) Germany Schalke 04
Forwards
6 Conor Casey United States ST (1981-07-25) July 25, 1981 (age 43) United States Colorado Rapids
9 Sebastien Le Toux France ST (1984-01-10) January 10, 1984 (age 41) United States New York Red Bulls
11 Andrew Wenger United States LW/ST (1990-12-25) December 25, 1990 (age 34) Canada Montreal Impact
17 C.J. Sapong United States ST/RW (1988-12-27) December 27, 1988 (age 36) United States Sporting Kansas City
18 Fernando Aristeguieta Venezuela ST (1992-04-09) April 9, 1992 (age 32) France Nantes
29 Antoine Hoppenot United States ST (1990-11-23) November 23, 1990 (age 34) United States Princeton University

Last updated: August 29, 2015.
Source: Philadelphia Union

Competitions

Preseason

February 4, 2015 Intersquad Scrimmage Red Team 1–3 Gray Team Clearwater, Florida
Sapong File:Soccerball shade.svg 7' Report Catic File:Soccerball shade.svg 5'
Pfeffer File:Soccerball shade.svg 12'
Wenger File:Soccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Joe DiMaggio Complex
Note: 30-minute match
February 4, 2015 Intersquad Scrimmage Red Team 1–0 Gray Team Clearwater, Florida
Cruz File:Soccerball shade.svg Report Stadium: Joe DiMaggio Complex
Note: 30-minute match
February 10, 2015 Preseason Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–0 Philadelphia Union Clearwater, Florida
6:00 p.m. EDT Herzog File:Soccerball shade.svg 67' (pen.) Report Hoppenot Yellow card 53'
Pfeffer Yellow card 78'
Stadium: Joe DiMaggio Complex[4]
Attendance: 2,000
February 21, 2015 Suncoast Pro Classic Philadelphia Union 6–0 London United Bradenton, Florida
7:30 p.m. EDT Marquez File:Soccerball shade.svg 9'
Cruz Yellow card 20'
Fred File:Soccerball shade.svg 28'
Aristequieta File:Soccerball shade.svg 69', 85'
Wenger File:Soccerball shade.svg 71'
Maidana File:Soccerball shade.svg 79'
Report Totesaut Yellow card 49', Red card 51' Stadium: IMG Academy
Note: London United are composed of players who are currently out of contract and are searching for professional clubs. They replace Congolese side TP Mazembe in the tournament.

MLS season

March 21, 2015 Regular Season Philadelphia Union 0–2 FC Dallas Chester, Pennsylvania
4:00 p.m. EDT Nogueira Yellow card 23'
Fabinho Yellow card 32'
Pfeffer Red card 42'
Le Toux Yellow card 86'
Report Michel Yellow card 26'
Ulloa Yellow card 31'
Akindele File:Soccerball shade.svg 49'
Hollingshead File:Soccerball shade.svg 59'
Hollingshead Yellow card 90+1'
Stadium: PPL Park
Attendance: 16,031
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
Note: Game originally scheduled for March 20 at 7pm Eastern, but was moved due to snowy weather in the Philadelphia area.
March 29, 2015 Regular Season Chicago Fire 1–0 Philadelphia Union Bridgeview, Illinois
5:00 p.m. EDT Adaílton File:Soccerball shade.svg 37'
Johnson Yellow card 80'
Report Fred Red card 72'
Edu Yellow card 90'
Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 12,815
Referee: David Gantar
May 2, 2015 Regular Season Philadelphia Union 0–1 Toronto FC Chester, Pennsylvania
4:00 p.m. EDT Gaddis Yellow card 56' Report Giovinco File:Soccerball shade.svg 34'
Hagglund Yellow card 43'
Stadium: PPL Park
Attendance: 17,859
Referee: Armand Villarreal
May 17, 2015 Regular Season Philadelphia Union 1–0 D.C. United Chester, Pennsylvania
7:00 p.m. EDT Williams Yellow card 31'
White Yellow card 79'
Pfeffer File:Soccerball shade.svg 90+3'
Report Kemp Yellow card 65' Stadium: PPL Park
Attendance: 16,853
Referee: Alan Kelly
June 24, 2015 Regular Season Philadelphia Union 1–0 Seattle Sounders FC Chester, Pennsylvania
7:00 p.m. EDT Sapong File:Soccerball shade.svg 69' Report Remick Yellow card 30'
Scott Yellow card 49'
Stadium: PPL Park
Attendance: 18,072
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
July 18, 2015 Regular Season Toronto FC 2–1 Philadelphia Union Toronto, Ontario
4:00 p.m. EDT Delgado File:Soccerball shade.svg 29'
Giovinco File:Soccerball shade.svg 32'
Report Casey File:Soccerball shade.svg 90+1' Stadium: BMO Field
Attendance: 25,032
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
August 22, 2015 Regular Season Montreal Impact 0–1 Philadelphia Union Montreal, Quebec
8:00 p.m. EDT Donadel Yellow card 25'
Oduro Yellow card 90+2'
Report Fabinho Yellow card 73'
Le Toux File:Soccerball shade.svg 78'
Stadium: Saputo Stadium
Attendance: 20,801
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
September 12, 2015 Regular Season Philadelphia Union 1–2 Columbus Crew SC Chester, Pennsylvania
7:00 p.m. EDT Sapong File:Soccerball shade.svg 66'
Vitória Yellow card 86'
Report Kamara File:Soccerball shade.svg 21', 26'
Clark Yellow card 90'
Stadium: PPL Park
Attendance: 17,283
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero

Standings

Eastern Conference standings
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
6 Toronto FC 34 15 15 4 58 58 0 49 MLS Cup Knockout Round
7 Orlando City SC 34 12 14 8 46 56 −10 44
8 New York City FC 34 10 17 7 49 58 −9 37
9 Philadelphia Union 34 10 17 7 42 55 −13 37
10 Chicago Fire 34 8 20 6 43 58 −15 30
Source: MLS
Overall standings
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
16 Real Salt Lake 34 11 15 8 38 48 −10 41
17 New York City FC 34 10 17 7 49 58 −9 37
18 Philadelphia Union 34 10 17 7 42 55 −13 37
19 Colorado Rapids 34 9 15 10 33 43 −10 37
20 Chicago Fire 34 8 20 6 43 58 −15 30
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored

U.S. Open Cup

Philadelphia entered the 2015 U.S. Open Cup with the rest of Major League Soccer in the fourth round.[5]

Friendlies

Statistics

Statistics are from all MLS league matches.

Nat. No. Player Pos. Apps Starts G A Yellow card Red card Acquired
United States 2 CreavalleWarren Creavalle DF 2 1 0 0 0 0 SuperDraft
United States 3 LeeRaymond Lee DF 1 0 0 0 0 0 SuperDraft
France 5 NogueiraVincent Nogueira MF 20 17 5 0 5 0 Signed
United States 6 CaseyConor Casey FW 11 2 1 0 1 0 Re-Entry Draft
United States 7 CarrollBrian Carroll MF 19 18 0 0 2 0 Trade
United States 8 EduMaurice Edu MF 21 21 1 1 8 0 Signed
France 9 Le TouxSebastien Le Toux MF 24 21 6 4 3 0 Trade
Argentina 10 MaidanaCristian Maidana MF 24 21 1 14 1 1 Signed
United States 11 WengerAndrew Wenger MF 22 19 1 2 0 0 Trade
Sierra Leone 13 LahoudMichael Lahoud MF 12 9 0 0 2 0 Trade
Cameroon 14 Ayuk MbuEric Ayuk Mbu MF 22 9 2 2 3 1 Signed
United States 15 WhiteEthan White DF 13 11 0 0 2 0 Trade
United States 16 MarquezRichie Marquez DF 15 14 0 0 0 1 SuperDraft
United States 17 SapongCJ Sapong FW 21 14 7 4 2 0 Trade
Venezuela 18 AristeguietaFernando Aristeguieta FW 16 12 4 1 2 0 Loan
Bosnia and Herzegovina 19 CaticDzenan Catic FW 0 0 0 0 0 0 SuperDraft
United States 20 McLaughlinJimmy McLaughlin MF 1 0 0 0 0 0 Signed
Portugal 23 VitóriaSteven Vitória DF 13 13 0 0 2 0 Loan
United States 25 WilliamsSheanon Williams DF 17 15 0 2 3 0 Signed
United States 27 PfefferZach Pfeffer MF 20 10 2 1 0 1 Signed
United States 28 GaddisRay Gaddis DF 23 22 0 0 2 0 SuperDraft
United States 29 HoppenotAntoine Hoppenot MF 1 0 0 0 0 0 Supplemental Draft
Brazil 33 FabinhoFabinho DF 20 17 1 2 1 0 Signed
Brazil 77 FredFred MF 6 0 0 0 0 1 Signed
Switzerland 85 BarnettaTranquillo Barnetta MF 5 4 0 0 1 0 Signed
31 33 40 5

Goalkeepers

Nat. No. Player Apps Starts Record GA GAA SO Yellow card Red card Acquired
Jamaica 1 BlakeAndre Blake 2 2 1–1–0 1 0.50 1 0 0 SuperDraft
United States 49 SylvestreBrian Sylvestre 12 12 5-6–1 19 1.58 5 0 0 Signed
United States 55 McCarthyJohn McCarthy 8 8 1–4–3 15 1.88 1 0 0 Signed
Algeria 92 M'BolhiRais M'Bolhi 5 5 0-3-2 9 1.80 1 0 0 Signed
7-14-6 44 1.63 8 0 0

Honors and awards

Week Player Opponent Position Ref
3 France Sebastian Le Toux D.C. United FW [6]
22 United States C. J. Sapong
Brazil Ilsinho
United States John McCarthy
FW
MF
GK
[7]
24 Argentina Cristian Maidana MF [8]
29 Switzerland Tranquillo Barnetta MF [9]

End of Season Awards

2015 MLS Team Fair Play Award[10]

Transfers

In

Date Player Number Position Previous club Fee/notes
December 8, 2014 United States CJ Sapong 17 ST/RW United States Sporting Kansas City Traded for allocation money and a 2015 SuperDraft pick
January 16, 2015 Bosnia and Herzegovina Dzenan Catic 19 ST United States Davenport University 2015 MLS SuperDraft
January 16, 2015 United States Eric Bird 21 MF United States University of Virginia 2015 MLS SuperDraft
January 16, 2015 United States Raymond Lee 3 LB United States Saint Louis University 2015 MLS SuperDraft
March 3, 2015 Cameroon Eric Ayuk Mbu 14 MF Cameroon Rainbow FC Free
July 29, 2015 Switzerland Tranquillo Barnetta 85 MF Germany Schalke 04 Free
August 7, 2015 United States Warren Creavalle 3 DM Canada Toronto Acquired for a 2016 SuperDraft pick

Out

Date Player Number Position New club Fee/notes
December 8, 2014 United States Amobi Okugo 14 MF/CB United States Orlando City SC Traded for allocation money and a 2016 SuperDraft pick
December 8, 2014 United States Corben Bone 19 MF United States Wilmington Hammerheads Waived
December 8, 2014 Jamaica Brian Brown 17 ST United States Indy Eleven Waived
December 8, 2014 Mexico Cristhian Hernández 23 MF/FW Waived
December 10, 2014 Brazil Pedro Ribeiro 30 MF/FW United States Orlando City SC 2014 MLS Expansion Draft
February 14, 2015 United States Aaron Wheeler 12 ST/CB United States Wilmington Hammerheads Released
July 23, 2015 United States Sheanon Williams 25 RB United States Houston Dynamo Traded with an international slot for allocation money
July 27, 2015 Colombia Carlos Valdes 3 CB Colombia Santa Fe Mutual Termination
August 24, 2015 Algeria Rais Mbolhi 92 GK Turkey Antalyaspor Mutual Termination
August 29, 2015 United States Raymond Lee 3 LB Waived

Loan in

Date Player Number Position Loaned from
February 9, 2015 Portugal Steven Vitória 23 CB Portugal Benfica
February 20, 2015 Venezuela Fernando Aristeguieta 18 FW France Nantes
May 7, 2015 United States Brian Sylvestre 49 GK United States Carolina RailHawks

Loan out

Date Player Number Position Loaned to
January 6, 2015 United States Zac MacMath 18 GK United States Colorado Rapids
January 15, 2015 Brazil Leo Fernandes 22 MF United States New York Cosmos
February 6, 2015 Colombia Carlos Valdes 3 CB Uruguay Nacional
March 2, 2015 United States Austin Berry 4 CB South Korea FC Anyang
March 18, 2015 United States Danny Cruz 44 MF Norway Bodø/Glimt
May 15, 2015 Bosnia and Herzegovina Dzenan Catic 19 FW United States Carolina RailHawks

References

  1. Zach Lahey (December 13, 2015). "Philadelphia Union 2015 Season Review". mlsmultiplex.com. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  2. "Philadelphia Union hire ex-US international Earnie Stewart as sporting director". MLSsoccer.com. October 26, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  3. "Players". Philadelphia Union. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  4. "Tampa Bay Rowdies Announce First Set of 2015 Preseason Matches". Tampa Bay Rowdies. January 22, 2015. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  5. "102nd U.S. Open Cup Unveils Format, Record Number of Teams". ussoccer.com.
  6. Simon Borg (April 12, 2010). "Le Toux bests rookie for Player of the Week honors". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  7. "Kwadwo Poku Named to Major League Soccer Team of the Week for Week 24". nycfc.com. August 17, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  8. "Kwadwo Poku Named to Major League Soccer Team of the Week for Week 24". nycfc.com. August 17, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  9. "Ned Grabavoy Named to Major League Soccer Team of the Week for Week 29". nycfc.com. September 21, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  10. "Portland Timbers' Darlington Nagbe, Philadelphia Union win 2015 MLS Fair Play Awards". MLSsoccer.com. November 6, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2021.