Danny Mwanga

Danny Mwanga says he feels no extra pressure, and nobody expected a different response. Still, the Union have acquired German forward Kai Herdling, who is on loan through June 30 with the option to stay the entire season. While Herdling could also be used as an attacking midfielder, the Union are obviously bringing him in to spice up an offense that has scored three goals in five games. At 1-3-1, the Union have plenty of time to right the ship, but how much time does Mwanga have?

Carlos Ruiz was brought to Philadelphia to score goals, and the new Union forward understands his role in attempting to help the second-year Major League Soccer franchise contend for a playoff berth. A native of Guatemala who has scored 41 goals for the national team, Ruiz returns this season to Major League Soccer after two years playing abroad. He signed with the Union in February on a free transfer from Greek SuperLiga club Aris FC. "I have always scored, and that has been my job," Ruiz said in the locker room at PPL Park following Tuesday's practice, which took place at Chester Park in Wallingford.

SHEANON WILLIAMS kinda likes being the underdog. In fact, he loves it. Around this time last season, Williams wasn't even a blip on the Union landscape biding his time with the club's USL-2 minor league affiliate in Harrisburg. In fact when he was brought up to the club last August, I distinctly remember listening to a pair of supporters having the following dialogue: Fan 1: Who the hell is Shannon Williams? Fan 2: No clue, man. Some new dude off the reserves in Harrisburg.

Roger Torres didn't wait long to make an impact on the Union attack, one that benefited from an infusion of young blood. Less than a minute after replacing Carlos Ruiz on Saturday night, the 19-year-old Torres converted a breakaway after being sent on goal by Danny Mwanga in the 68th minute. His goal gave the Union a 1-0 Major League Soccer win over the New York Red Bulls in front of a record PPL Park crowd of 19,027. "I feel very good and am very happy," Torres said. "It's good for everyone that we get three points.

FRISCO, Texas - The Union had a chance to take over first place in the Eastern Conference when they played Dallas on Saturday night. But the Union left Pizza Hut Park with a 2-0 loss, extending their winless streak to three games (0-2-1) and remaining a point behind New York and New England. The Union (4-3-2) were in an unaccustomed place early, trailing by 2-0 before halftime. They had not allowed more than one goal in any game this season - just four total over the first eight contests.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER Houston Dynamo (6-7-9) at Union (8-5-8) 8 p.m. Saturday at PPL Park.   TV: 6ABC. Last MLS game: Houston was a 3-1 winner over visiting Seattle last Saturday. The Union played the host Chicago Fire to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday. Outlook: The Union are 5-1-4 at home while Houston is 0-4-6 on the road. . . . These teams opened their seasons against one another on March 19 with the Union winning, 1-0, at Houston on a goal by defender Danny Califf in the fifth minute.

HOUSTON - So many times last year, the script was similar, with the Union dominating play but coming up short on the scoreboard. As they finished 8-15-3 in their first season in Major League Soccer, the Union played an entertaining style, one that had them constantly attacking, even if they frequently got burned on counterattacks. So maybe it was a bit of poetic justice that in Saturday's opening, 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium, the Union were back on their heels instead of attacking.

Despite another game of dominating possession the Union couldn't snap their winless streak that now stands at eight games. Dominating everywhere but the scoreboard, the Union played the expansion Portland Timbers to a scoreless draw on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 18,504 at PPL Park. The Union (8-7-12, 36 points) are now 0-3-5 in their last eight games. Portland stands at 9-12-6 for 33 points. The Union came closest to scoring in the 88th minute when Kyle Nakazawa one-timed a Justin Mapp cross and hit the crossbar from 16 yards out. "I thought it was in," said Nakazawa, who replaced Veljko Paunovic in the 77th minute.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Union manager Peter Nowak has a history of achieving results with improvised lineups. But on Friday night, Nowak faced one of the most challenging tasks of his tenure. Four of the Union's most important players - goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, defender Sheanon Williams, midfielder Freddy Adu, and forward Danny Mwanga - all were unable to play against Sporting Kansas City due to injuries. But despite all those absences, the Union found a way to get a point once again.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Union manager Peter Nowak has a history of achieving results with improvised lineups. But on Friday night, Nowak faced one of the most challenging tasks of his tenure. Four of the Union's most important players - goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, defender Sheanon Williams, midfielder Freddy Adu, and forward Danny Mwanga - all were unable to play against Sporting Kansas City due to injuries. But despite all those absences, the Union found a way to get a point once again.