Union prevail, creep closer to playoffs

Freddy Adu drives the ball around the Sounders' Jhon Kennedy Hurtado. Adu later scored to put the game out of reach.
Freddy Adu drives the ball around the Sounders' Jhon Kennedy Hurtado. Adu later scored to put the game out of reach. (TED S. WARREN / Associated Press)

Their 2-0 victory over Seattle moved them into first place in the Eastern Conference.

From Staff and Wire Reports
Posted: October 10, 2011

With one of the best wins in the franchise's short history, the Union solidified their hold on a playoff spot on Saturday night in Seattle.

Playing on the road against the league's second-best team, the Union came away with a 2-0 victory against the Sounders at CenturyLink Field.

The victory moved the Union (11-7-14) into first place in the Eastern Conference with 47 points.

Sporting Kansas City (45 points), Columbus (44), New York (43), and Houston (43) follow close behind. Each team has two games remaining in the regular season.

The Union are primed to grab one of the 10 playoff spots in MLS in just their second season of existence. The clinching can come as early as Saturday, when the Union host Toronto FC at 4 p.m. A win would get them in. They could also clinch if there is a winner in Friday's Houston-Portland game and the New York Red Bulls fall to Sporting K.C. on Saturday.

The regular-season finale is Oct. 20 against the Red Bulls in Harrison, N.J.

On Saturday, the Union got goals from Freddy Adu and Brian Carroll in the second half against the Sounders (16-7-9), who had won three straight league games.

"It's huge for us to get the win here," said Union midfielder Sebastien Le Toux, a former Sounder.

Carroll scored with a low shot in the 70th minute to expand Philadelphia's lead to 2-0. He ran into the clear on the right side of the penalty box and received an on-point pass from Le Toux.

Ten minutes earlier, Union midfielder Gabriel Farfan drove the left side and was able to angle a cross to Adu. Adu one-timed a shot to the top of the goal past goalkeeper Kasey Keller in the 60th minute.

It was Adu's second goal of the season since being acquired via a transfer Aug. 12 from Portugal's Benfica.

Seattle's best chance came when midfielder Brad Evans hit the left post in the 52d minute. His clever chip arced over the Union defense and to the right of goalkeeper Zac MacMath.

"I think it was key when Evans touched the [post]," Leoux said. "I think it changed the tone of the game."

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