Philadelphia Union 1 V 4 AFCB - Cherries have finishing power

Match Report

The wise AFCB fans were probably well tucked up in bed and enjoying their forty winks when the Cherries kicked off against Philadelphia Union at PPL Park last night. The match may have been AFCB's first pre-season game but I wouldn't have been surprised if most fans were just eager to wake up to the news of the outcome of the big night rather than staying up to get a glimpse of the new kit being worn by the players for the first time. The Cherries were far from sleepy though as they put four past Philadelphia Union in a show of quick passing and neat finishing that will surely endear them as Premier League new boys next season.

Eddie Howe said before the game that he would split his squad and ensure that no player had more than 45 minutes so it was always going to be a bit of a disjointed look at how players were doing in regard to fitness and to see what skills the new players would bring to add to the familiar style of the Cherries. The first 11 out included the new look strike partnership of King and Wilson and at the back Sylvain Distin took his place next to captain Tommy Elphick, but it was a midfield without new signings and Artur Boruc in goal.

Not many fans for the Cherries but they were certainly happily entertained. 

The MLS side started well winning the first corner as UK watchers managed to get their early views of the teams with the live stream coming into full operation. Yet, Matt Ritchie was soon showing his ability to cause problems as he fired a shot straight at John McCarthy in Philadelphia Union's goal. It was the Cherries that started to camp themselves in the Union's half with Adam Smith winning an early free kick that Ritchie went close to scoring with.

It was Josh King that opened the scoring on the night feeding on to a pass from Adam Smith and he struck the ball past McCarthy on 20 minutes to make it 0-1 to the Cherries. Just six minutes later it was 0-2 as Adam Smith again proved provider for Callum Wilson to slot home. Junior Stanislas came near to adding to the Cherries' score before Philadelphia got a goal back through Richie Marquez who headed past Boruc - 1-2. That was Marquez's first professional goal for Philadelphia Union and the defender was to have another chance minutes later but curled his shot wide of the post.

Harry Cornick then came on for Josh King as the half neared the end. meanwhile, Matt Ritchie was a constant danger to Philadelphia as he put another shot just past the post. the MLs team were finding it hard to get close to AFCB's players and were sitting off a bit. That enabled the Cherries to keep possession well and a cross from the left provided Junior Stanislas with a golden opportunity to score but he just pushed his effort wide on 42 minutes. The Cherries were well on top and we had seen 13 shots from them compared to three from the Union's players by half time, the score being 1-2 to the visitors.

Philadelphia are working hard to keep up with the Cherries.

It was all change in the second half for the Cherries with a chance to look at Christian Atsu and record club signing Tyrone Mings. It was Atsu who almost got on the score sheet next but Sheanon Williams just prevented him from getting his shot away with a great tackle. Marc Pugh was less easy to keep quiet and he fired home to make it 1-3 on 62 minutes. Rantie set up Pugh perfectly. The honours were almost reversed on 76 minutes when Rantie just shot wide.

AFC Bournemouth's pace and movement was proving a step above what Philadelphia could cope with and as Pugh was taken down in the penalty area Tolkelo Rantie moved in to make it 1-4 from the penalty spot - top right corner! Keeper almost got that - he's kicking himself.


Match Description from AFCB Twitter feed:

AFC Bournemouth's starting 11:
#afcb XI to take on @PhilaUnion: Boruc, Smith, Elphick, Distin, Daniels, Stanislas, Gosling, Surman, Ritchie, King, Wilson. #PHIvAFCB

01: The game is underway at @PPLPark. #afcb are working urgently with Stream UK to resurrect stream issues. #PHIvAFCB

03: Supporters are advised the #PHIvAFCB stream should now be working:

06: Double block from Gosling and Smith sees #afcb concede the game's first corner.#PHIvAFCB

13: Ritchie shoots straight at McCarthy. #afcb fans should have been able to see that shot in all it's glory..

14: Smith is tripped on the edge of the box and #afcb have a free kick on the edge of the area.

15: Ritchie and Stanislas stand over the ball.

15: Surman taps the ball to Ritchie and he forces a great save from McCarthy. #afcb are on top here.

17: Wilson breaks into the box and cuts the ball back but Lee is there to intercept

20: GOOOOAAAALLLLLL to #afcb!

20: Smith plays the ball in to King, who turns his man & touches it over the 'keeper. 1-0 to #afcb!

23: Ritchie tries his luck from the outside of the area, but it goes wide of the @SonsofBen.  #afcb

26: GOOOOAAAALLLLL to #afcb! 2-0!

26: Smith squares it across the box, King can't make a connection but Wilson sidefoots it home. 2-0! http://bit.ly/1LgkCvP #PHIvAFCB #afcb

34: Stanislas tries his luck with a low drive from outside the area, but it goes narrowly wide. #afcb still 2-0 up

35: Goal to @PhilaUnion. http://bit.ly/1LgkCvP #PHIvAFCB #afcb

35: Marquez heads beyond Boruc to half #afcb's lead

37: First substitution for #afcb as King is replaced by Cornick.

42: Neat interplay around the area culminates in Ritchie curling a shot wide of the far post

42: A great period of play as afcb come close

Second half

#afcb second half XI: Federici, Francis, Cook, Cargill, Mings, Atsu, MacDonald, O'Kane, Pugh, Kermorgant, Rantie. #PHIvAFCB

47: We're underway in the second period with the Cherries shooting towards the TruMark Financial Stand.

53: Not much to shout about in this second half yet, not that the @SonsofBen care too much! Great support.

58: Sheanon Williams makes an unbelievable last ditch sliding clearance on the line to deny Christian Atsu.

62: GOOOOAAAALLLL! Marc Pugh! http://bit.ly/1LgkCvP #PHIvAFCB

62: Tokelo Rantie cuts it back to Marc Pugh, who curls #afcb's third past McCarthy.Nice finish!

68: Fred goes in hard on Yann Kermorgant but escapes with a warning. The Frenchman looks OK to continue.

73: Tyrone Mings is replaced by Elliott ward.

76: Cargill slots in at left back with Ward partnering Cook. Union coming back into the game.

76: Marc Pugh plays in Rantie, who does well to make room for a shot, but it hits the side netting.

84: Marc Pugh is felled and it's a penalty to the Cherries.

85: GGGOOOOOAAAALLLL!!! Tokelo Rantie powers home the spot kick.

85: Rantie puts the game to bed from the penalty spot.

Final score: @PhilaUnion 1-4 #afcb. A fine start to the Cherrie pre-season in Pennsylvania.

Post game links
Union head coach Jim Curtin
Union defender Richie Marquez
Union defender Ethan White
Union defender Sheanon Williams

Philadelphia Union's starting 11
John McCarthy, Raymond Lee (Fabinho 61´), Ethan White (Ray Gaddis 61´), Richie Marquez (Steven Vitoria 45´), Sheanon Williams, Maurice Edu (Fred 45´), Chaco Maidana (Sebastien Le Toux 45´), Andrew Wenger (Jimmy McLaughlin 45´), Eric Ayuk, Zach Pfeffer, C.J. Sapong (Antoine Hoppenot 45´)


Officials
Alex Chilowicz (referee), Gregory Barkey (assistant), Logan Brown (assistant), Mathew Kreitzer (fourth)
Meanwhile, AFCB's U21 Development Squad put 7 past Hamworthy Recreation in a friendly.
First half: O'Flahert, Lee, Zubar, McCarthy, Costa, Matthews, Butcher, Carmichael, Walsh, Green, Quigley.

Second half: Holmes, Muleba, Lee, Buckley, Costa (trialist 62), Matthews, Butcher (trialist 62), Carmichael (Worthington 62). Green (Neale 62), Whitfield, Quigley (O'Hanlon 62)