For anyone wondering before it started how seriously teams would take the MLS is Back Tournament, the contrast of emotions on display after Philadelphia Union’s 2-1 loss to the Portland Timbers in the semifinal Wednesday night was their definitive answer.
On one side, the Timbers were exuberant celebrating their victory and shot to play for a Champions League berth next week. On the other, was a dejected Union team all too familiar with defeat in big games processing a loss for the first time since February.
Affable head coach Jim Curtin even let the emotion get to him with a rare terse answer to the first question during the post-game press conference about Sergio Santos taking the penalty he sailed over the bar at the end of the first half.