The front flip didn't come off as well as it could have, but the strike that warranted the celebration was a ten out of ten.
Philly rookie Fabian Herbers got his first MLS goal on Wednesday night, and this one was a game-winner for the first-place Union.
It was late in the second half and a Warren Creavalle tackle sparked a Union counterattack against the 10-men Columbus Crew. Herbers made a diagonal run and received the ball from Ilsinho, who continued on to the far post.
But instead of squaring it back for the Brazilian, Herbers made a razor-sharp cut, put the ball on his right foot, and hit a beautiful curler inside the far post.
“I got a great pass from Ilsinho,” Herbers said of the play. “It was on a counter attack and he put me through very well, and I cut it with my left so the defender was gone. I could have played Ilsinho back or Tranquillo (Barnetta) as well, but I’m a striker and I just go for it. Luckily it went in the far corner.”
The eruption on the Union bench was something to behold, especially Jim Curtin's reaction. The manager has spoken highly of the rookie his season and has used him as a second half substitute in 12 out of 13 games.
Herbers hadn't compiled a ton of minutes in those appearances, just 179 in total, but he had been creating at least decent look per game. It always felt like it was a matter of “when”and not “if” that first goal was coming.
"Yeah, I’m very happy," Herbers added. "I appreciate the trust of the coaches; they always put me in late in the game. They trust me, they have the hope that I can make an impact on the game and yeah I have had several chances in other games, and I just got unlucky in those games. But yeah I finally hit one into the net and I’m really, really happy about that."
Last Saturday, the rookie got his first MLS assist on the Union equalizer in Colorado. Battling against the 6'7" Axel Sjoberg, Herbers was able to redirect a ball that was lumped into the box, and Brian Carroll fired home at the near post.
It looked like Herbers might get off the mark in the game prior to that one, when he put some venom on a half volley in the Orlando game. It was a good strike, but it was hit directly at goalkeeper Joe Bendik, who was able to parry away.
Herbers was waiting for the goal to come but explained that he didn't feel nervous or anxious about it.
"I wouldn’t say anxiety, but I mean yeah you just want to score if you’re a striker," he explained. "I mean, I don’t get that many minutes yet, but I have had several chances as you said. It’s not frustrating, but, of course, you want to score, you always want to hit the net as a striker. But yeah, finally I hit one in and I’m really, really happy about it. I broke the band and now hopefully I can score a couple more goals in the future."
Curtin has had nothing but high praise for Herbers since day one. He's the final piece of an impressive rookie group that also includes defenders Keegan Rosenberry and Josh Yaro.
“Earnie (Stewart), Chris (Albright) and I talk about it on a daily basis," said Curtin of Herbers' potential. "We see what happened (Wednesday night) in training every day, so he's a kid that around the goal is incredibly sharp. He has a knack for running, losing his center back, being in the right spot at the right time.
"Composure, he slipped in there on his weaker foot to have the composure to know that the center back’s only play there is to slide, he cuts it back to his strong foot and puts it in a pretty good spot to say the least. So, he has things that I can't teach. I don’t take credit for any of that, that’s for sure. He is special around the goal. He has a lot to learn. He worked hard defensively tonight and I am proud of that. That was my message when we went in, if you score a goal great, but I am more concerned about the defensive work and defensive effort and he is not fazed going into a game whether we are winning, whether we are losing, or whether we are tied.
"He is the same every time, he is not scared. That’s for sure.”