Pro Soccer: Union stumble in falling on the road in Miami
MIAMI — This could not have been what management for Monterey Bay F.C. envisioned when it cleared out its coaching staff five weeks ago.
There will be some — or at least there should be — soul searching on the flight back from Florida Saturday after the Union were shut out 1-0, enabling Miami FC to end a 17-game winless streak.
Since the abrupt firing of Frank Yallop and his staff, Monterey Bay F.C. is 0-2-2 under Jordan Stewart, stretching its winless streak to seven matches, two off the franchise record of nine.
The loss was crippling for the Union (7-12-7), who have dropped to 10th — top eight teams in each conference reach the playoffs — in the Western Conference with 28 points.
Yet, despite having not won a match on the pitch since July 6, the Union are still just two points out of a potential playoff spot with eight matches left in the regular season.
Miami came into the match with the worst record in the United Soccer League Championship at 2-21-2, and all but eliminated from postseason contention in the Eastern Conference.
Frank Lopez produced the matches only goal in the 48th minute for Miami FC, who snapped a nine-game losing streak, evening its overall series with Monterey Bay F.C. at 1-1-1.
The last time Miami FC won a match was on April 27 when it beat San Antonio. While their last win came on the road in Pittsburgh, the Union are just 3-9-1 outside Cardinale Stadium this year.
The Union have now been shutout out in 11 of their 26 matches, including their last two, which have come against franchises that sit at the bottom of their respective conferences.
Monterey Bay F.C. wasted another outstanding effort in goal from Antony Siaha, who leads the USL in saves this season with 98 between the pipes.
The Union were forced to play the match without their leading scorer in Tristan Trager, who was nursing a leg injury. The forward has a team high seven goals.
Monterey Bay F.C. will be without the services of Jerry Ayon for its next match at home against San Antonio, after he picked up two yellow cards.
