Stoppage Time

For almost the entire second half, it looked like the Union were en route to a 1-0 win that was just like their other wins this season: a combination of strong defense and an opportunistic goal. But in the closing moments, the Seattle Sounders tore up the script. Alvaro Fernandez's header in traffic deflected off the right post and into Faryd Mondragón's net in stoppage time of the second half, giving the Seattle Sounders a 1-1 draw with the Union at a rain-swept PPL Park.

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Chicago Fire got goals from Baggio Husidic and Marco Pappa to defeat the Union, 2-1, on Saturday night at Toyota Park. Rookie Danny Mwanga scored for the Union in stoppage time. It was the third straight game in which Philadelphia has scored in stoppage time. The Union dictated the tempo throughout the first half, but Chicago struck first. The Union will look to rebound against the Kansas City Wizards on Thursday night, the eighth away match out of the club's first 10. Elsewhere.

The Union will host Toronto FC at PPL Park in Chester on Sunday at 4 p.m. after having picked up a big 2-1 win Wednesday over the Los Angeles Galaxy. Michael Farfan scored in second-half stoppage time to give the Union their first road victory in nearly three months, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. It was the Union's first victory over the Galaxy in club history. The victory was also the first for the Union (4-9-2) on the road since April 21, when they defeated Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center.

Hristo Stoitchkov scored in extra time yesterday as the Chicago Fire won its fourth straight game, beating the Colorado Rapids, 1-0. Chicago raised its record to 10-3-3. Colorado (4-9-5) saw its two-match winning streak snapped. Stoitchkov, a left-footed Bulgarian forward, scored on a 25-foot shot over Colorado goalkeeper Scott Garlick. Chicago goalkeeper Zach Thornton preserved the shutout by stopping a penalty kick in the final seconds. Wizards 3, Burn 2 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Onandi Lowe scored on a header with a minute left, completing Kansas City's rally from a two-goal deficit to a victory over Dallas.

FOXBORO, Mass. - Joe Franchino scored on a direct kick in the second overtime to give the New England Revolution a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew last night. The Revs rallied from a two-goal deficit by scoring twice in three minutes late in regulation. Joe-Max Moore, starting his first match since suffering a sprained knee in early August, scored on a direct free kick in the 78th minute, cutting the Crew's lead to 2-1. Then, in the 81st minute, rookie Shalrie Joseph headed a corner kick by Moore into the net, tying the score.

In between Roy Halladay's perfect game and the Flyers opening 6-5 loss to Chicago in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Union on Saturday night achieved a significant milestone in their first Major League Soccer season. It wasn't only that the Union earned their first ever road win in a 3-2 victory over the Dynamo in Houston, but it was how the victory was achieved that was especially impressive. For the second straight game, rookie Danny Mwanga came off the bench to score in stoppage time in the 93rd minute.

HOUSTON - Second-half substitute Danny Mwanga scored three minutes into stoppage time, and the Philadelphia Union came from behind to beat the Houston Dynamo, 3-2, on Saturday night. The Union improved to 2-5-1 while Houston fell to 5-5-1. Sebastien Le Toux drove down the right side and cut into the box before feeding Mwanga in the middle of the goalkeeper's area. Mwanga did the rest, driving home the winner. Mwanga fed Le Toux in the 69th minute to tie the score 2-2. Mwanga gave Le Toux a centering pass into the upper box, and Le Toux did the rest, freezing Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad and nailing a bullet into the center net. Philadelphia's win spoiled the return of Houston forward Brian Ching, who was not included on the U.S. national team roster for the World Cup. Ching entered the game as a sub to start the second half and paid immediate dividends, knotting the score 1-1 in the 52nd minute with a header into the net off a free kick by Brad Davis.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Crew secured a playoff berth and put themselves in the driver's seat for the Eastern Conference title with a 2-0 blanking of the Chicago Fire before 22,459 at Crew Stadium yesterday. Columbus built a two-goal lead by the 22d minute, then clamped down on the Fire behind goalkeeper John Busch, who denied Hristo Stoitchkov on a penalty kick in the 73d minute and recorded his fifth shutout of the season. D.C. United 2, MetroStars 1 WASHINGTON - Ali Curtis scored on a breakaway in the 87th minute to give D.C. a victory over New York/New Jersey.

Defender Chris Albright scored his first goal of the season on a header three minutes into stoppage time, and the Los Angeles Galaxy rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Fire yesterday. Joseph Ngwenya, a rookie for Los Angeles, tied the match at 2-2 in the 81st minute. Ante Razov scored twice for Chicago. Wizards 2, Crew 2 COLUMBUS, Ohio - Jeff Cunningham had two goals, including one on a penalty kick in the 63d minute that gave Columbus the tie with Kansas City.

When the world unites, there's more to ponder than stoppage time: It was not the way Claudio Reyna wanted to go out as a member of the U.S. national team. Reyna, soon to be 33, the team's captain the last 8 years, played in his final World Cup game yesterday as the United States was ousted by Ghana. He made a rare mistake, and it cost the Americans dearly. After receiving a short backpass from Clint Dempsey in the 22nd minute, Reyna collided with Ghana's Haminu Draman.

The Union will host Toronto FC at PPL Park in Chester on Sunday at 4 p.m. after having picked up a big 2-1 win Wednesday over the Los Angeles Galaxy. Michael Farfan scored in second-half stoppage time to give the Union their first road victory in nearly three months, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. It was the Union's first victory over the Galaxy in club history. The victory was also the first for the Union (4-9-2) on the road since April 21, when they defeated Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center.

In the final moments of the English Premier League's most dramatic season yet, Manchester City had just enough time Sunday to produce one final twist. City looked to have thrown it all away by letting 10-man Queens Park Rangers rally from a goal down to take the lead in the second half and went into the five minutes of stoppage time needing two scores. Meanwhile, rival Manchester United had completed a 1-0 win at Sunderland, and were lingering on the field ready to start celebrating.

Lionel Messi became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League game as Barcelona thrashed visiting Bayer Leverkusen, 7-1, Wednesday for the defending champions to ease into the quarterfinals. Barcelona already led by 3-1 after the first leg and the world player of the year put the result beyond doubt by scoring twice in the first half. Messi, 24, added three more after the break, while substitute Cristian Tello added a brace. Messi, who took his overall season tally to 48 goals, is only the fourth player to score five goals in a European Cup match - and first since the 1979-80 season.

Diego Chaves scored on a rebound in the 81st minute to lift the Chicago Fire to a 3-2, Major League Soccer win over the Columbus Crew on Saturday night in Bridgeview, Ill. Chicago's win allowed the Union to avoid the wild-card round in the MLS Cup playoffs. Jalil Anibaba had two goals for the Fire. Emilio Renteria and Dilly Duka hit for the Crew (13-13-8), who missed out on securing the Eastern Conference title and home field advantage. Columbus, now third in the East, could fall into a wild-card spot pending results of Sunday's games.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Milton Caraglio scored twice for the New England Revolution, but the New York Red Bulls' Dane Richards responded with two goals of his own as the teams played to a 2-2 draw Saturday night. Caraglio scored in the 15th and 37th minutes to give New England a 2-0 lead at halftime. Richards answered in the 54th and 87th minutes to get New York the draw in Gillette Stadium. Houston 3, Salt Lake City 2 HOUSTON - Alex Dixon scored his first career goal in stoppage time to give the Dynamo the win. Seattle 1, FC Dallas 0 FRISCO, Texas - Mauro Rosales scored in the 16th minute and that was all the Sounders needed to win. Colorado 2, Chivas USA 2 COMMERCE CITY, Colo.

THE LAST TIME the Union played Chicago, Carlos Ruiz scored the game-winner on a volley that stunned Fire keeper Jon Conway and made him look silly. And Ruiz also won MLS Goal of the Week honors. Turns out it was the last time for him to do so in a Union uniform. Pending a few John Hancocks, Ruiz is set to leave the team for Mexican club Veracruz, according to a source. Ruiz didn't make the trip for tonight's game in the Windy City. The Union heads into the meaty part of its schedule without its leading goal scorer (Ruiz)

At first, the Union looked overwhelmed; then they slowly settled in; and, finally, they took on the personality that has defined them in their year-and-a-half existence in Major League Soccer. On Saturday night before 57,305 soccer enthusiasts at Lincoln Financial Field, the Union dug in against one of the world's best teams, fought, scrapped, and probably never acquitted themselves better in a losing effort. Real Madrid held on for a 2-1 win, and even though it was only a friendly, the Union made up for a slow start with a blazing finish that had one of the world's best teams back on its heels.

THE AMERICANS are moving on to the semifinals after one of the most riveting games in the history of the Women's World Cup, beating Brazil 5-3 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in extra time. Abby Wambach scored an equalizer in the 122nd minute, and goalkeeper Hope Solo denied the Brazilians in the shootout. "I'm at a loss and I literally cannot believe what just happened," Wambach said. For Brazil, it is yet another disappointment at a major tournament. And this one is sure to sting more than any of the others because Marta seemed to have it won for the Brazilians yesterday in Dresden, scoring her second goal of the game in the second minute of extra time for the 2-1 lead that would have sent the Americans to their earliest World Cup exit ever.

DRESDEN, Germany - The Americans are moving on to the semifinals after one of the most riveting games in the history of the Women's World Cup - beating Brazil, 5-3, Sunday on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw. Abby Wambach scored an equalizer in the 122d minute, and goalkeeper Hope Solo denied the Brazilians again. "I'm at a loss, and I literally cannot believe what just happened," Wambach said. "But we've got two games left. " For Brazil, it is yet another disappointment at a major tournament.

Jozy Altidore's goal in the game's 8th minute was just enough for the United States to beat Guadeloupe, 1-0, and advance to the quarterfinal round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. The United States finished second in its group with a 1-1-1 record, behind Panama (2-0-1), which tied Canada, 1-1, in the first game of the doubleheader, the first games played at the new LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan., home of Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City. The United States will play Jamaica on Sunday at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Jamaica and Mexico had perfect 3-0-0 first-round records.