Ppl Park

SOMETIMES we Philadelphians take for granted the area sports scene and venues. Not only are we anticipating the U.S. Open, at Merion Golf Club, in June, but the city also recently hosted the early rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, the Women's Atlantic 10 Tournament and hosts annually arguably the best track-and-field event (Penn Relays) in one of the most historic stadiums (Franklin Field) in America. The Dad Vail Regatta is two weeks away, followed by the Stotesbury Regatta the following week.

THE UNION was shut out by the New England Revolution, 2-0, in an MLS game Saturday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. The Revolution (2-3-2) scored twice in the second half to secure the win. The Union is 3-3-2. "That was not reflective of the kind of game we are capable of playing. And it was probably our worst performance on the year so far," Union manager John Hackworth said. "In a lot of ways, it's frustrating because we've been playing consistent and at least the way we tried to play tonight - it just wasn't the same.

The Union are riding a high with a three-game unbeaten streak, and they play a team this week with just one win and two goals. Yet it might be the toughest game of the season. On Saturday the Union will visit the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium, in Foxboro, Mass. This will be the first home game for the Revolution since the Boston Marathon bombings. The Revolution are coming off last week's 4-1 loss in Harrison, N.J., to the New York Red Bulls. And while that was an emotional game, with the fans of both teams entering the stadium together, this one is home, about 40 minutes from downtown Boston.

THE UNION scored during stoppage time to earn a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC at PPL Park on Saturday. Jack McInerney scored in the 93rd minute for the Union (2-2-2). The game was hard-fought, with more than 20 fouls called, eight of which were yellow cards. "I think we do a good job of getting a point and working real hard," Union midfielder Danny Cruz said. "Keep in mind we had a goal called back [a disallowed McInerney attempt in the 88th minute] that could have made it two, but credit to our guys [for]

There is little time for sentimentality in sports, with players coming and going all the time. But a Major League Soccer homecoming on Saturday - when Danny Califf and Toronto FC face the Union at PPL Park - should prompt some emotion. Califf was the team's first captain, and as a central defender was vital in the Union's earning a playoff berth in 2011, their second season. He was well-liked in the community and a face of the franchise. Califf fell out of favor with former team manager Peter Nowak, which didn't exactly put him in select company, and he was traded in May to Chivas USA. Now he is with Toronto and, after missing last week's 2-2 draw with FC Dallas with the flu, is eagerly anticipating a return to PPL Park.

THE UNION earned a 1-1 tie in an MLS game at Columbus on Saturday, giving Philadelphia its first-ever point in Crew Stadium. Jack McInerney scored in the 34th minute to give the Union the lead but the Crew tied the score in the 72nd minute on a goal from Dominic Oduro. About McInerney's goal, Union midfielder Brian Carroll said: "It was just great combination play. We were ahead on a break with numbers and the finish was calm, cool and collected. Great sequence and we had a few more great sequences like that.

When/Where: Saturday at 3:30 p.m., at Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J. TV: NBC Sports Network Records: Union (2-1; 1-0 on the road); Red Bulls (0-2-2; 0-0-1 at home) Goals for: Union 4, N.Y. 4   Goals against: Union 4, N.Y. 6. Last MLS game: The Union beat New England, 1-0, at PPL Park on March 16. New York lost, 1-0, last Saturday at Montreal. About the Union: Last Saturday the Union earned a 1-0 win over Pumas in a friendly at PPL Park.

THE UNION defeated Pumas UNAM, a Mexican team, 1-0, in a international friendly Saturday at PPL Park. Midfielder Michael Farfan scored in the 68th minute on a play set up by Sebastien Le Toux, who avoided two defenders and passed to Aaron Wheeler, who set up the goal. "It was a great ball in from Wheeler, all I really had to do was pick my spot," Farfan said of his first goal of the season. "This game was great for us, we've been talking about keeping the momentum going and I think we did that today.

Maybe last year, when the Union struggled with a 10-18-6 Major League Soccer record, this would have been a bigger story. But for now, center back Bakary Soumare's request to be traded is far from a crisis. The Union acquired Soumare last year from Vancouver, and they had fairly high expectations. But he had a knee problem and played only one game for the Union, and it wasn't a very good one. Soumare didn't move very well, and the defense followed that pattern in a 3-1 home loss to Chicago on Aug. 12. After that, he didn't see any action.

JACK McINERNEY'S goal in the 76th minute gave the Union a 1-0 victory over visiting New England at PPL Park on Saturday night. It was McInerney's second goal in two games as the Union improved to 2-1-0. It was his third game-winning goal against the Revolution in his career. "I don't know what it is with [the Revolution], but I know I get in good spots against them," McInerney said. "They sit high up [on defense] and I like it because I can get balls played back in behind them in the box that amount to good goals.