Football
2019 Major League Soccer, Regular Season
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 PHI
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Reuters 5y

Philadelphia Union rally for draw against Vancouver Whitecaps

Kacper Przybylko's first career MLS goal gave the Philadelphia Union a point on the road in a 1-1 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday

In the 66th minute, an Ali Adnan giveaway went right to Przybylko, who rushed into Philadelphia's end and converted the score.

Przybylko was making his first MLS start, one of multiple new faces in the Union's lineup due to injury and suspension absences. Saturday's game also marked the first of three games in an eight-day stretch for Philadelphia (4-3-2, 14 points), testing the team's depth.

Besides Przybylko, goalkeeper Matt Freese was also making his first start in an MLS game. Defender Olivier Mbaizo was in the Starting XI for the second time in his Union career.

Vancouver opened the scoring in the 41st minute, when an unmarked Doneil Henry took advantage of his space inside the box to head in Adnan's corner kick. After scoring two goals in his first 84 career MLS regular-season games, Henry has now scored twice for Vancouver in 2019.

Henry is now the unlikely scoring leader for the Whitecaps (six points), who have just six goals in their first nine games. This lack of scoring is the chief reason for Vancouver's 1-5-3 record, as the defense has conceded only five goals over the Whitecaps' last six games.

Both sides had their share of chances for the go-ahead score, particularly in the last 25 minutes. Less than a minute after Przybylko's goal, defender Raymon Gaddis made a big goal-mouth clearance to prevent the Whitecaps from scoring.

Yordy Reyna led the Whitecaps with three shots on goal, and also banked a shot off the post in the 14th minute. Reyna was substituted out of the game after 65 minutes, possibly due to a leg injury.

Maxime Crepeau made two saves in his return to Vancouver's starting lineup. The goalkeeper didn't play in the Whitecaps' 1-0 loss to Orlando City last Saturday.

The Union have lost just one of their last seven games.

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