Toronto Fc

After waiting more than two weeks between their first and second game, the Union play Thursday with just four full days' rest. For the second straight game the Union (1-1) will face an 0-2 team when they visit Toronto FC in Thursday's 7 p.m. Major League Soccer matchup. The Union opened the season with a 2-0 loss on March 25 at Seattle and didn't play again until Saturday's 3-2 win over D.C. United at Lincoln Financial Field. "I am not worried about it," Union defender Danny Califf said of the quick turnaround.

The Union made the first in-season trade in its history, sending Jamaican defender Shavar Thomas to the Kansas City Wizards in exchange for draft picks and allocation money. The Union will receive two second-round MLS SuperDraft selections, one in 2011 and one in 2012. Thomas, 29, played for the Wizards from 2004 to '06, and was acquired from Chivas USA in the expansion draft. He made just one appearance with the Union, replacing Roger Torres in the 56th minute of a 2-1 loss at Toronto FC on April 15.

The Union made the first in-season trade in its history, sending Jamaican defender Shavar Thomas to the Kansas City Wizards yesterday in exchange for draft picks and allocation money. The Union will receive two second-round MLS SuperDraft selections, one in 2011 and one in 2012. Thomas, 29, played for the Wizards from 2004 to '06, and was acquired from Chivas USA in the expansion draft. He made just one appearance with the Union, replacing Roger Torres in the 56th minute of a 2-1 loss at Toronto FC on April 15.

For the second game in a row, Union goalkeeper Chris Seitz was Philadelphia's weakest link. But, unlike in the home-opening victory Saturday against D.C. United, this time his teammates couldn't bail him out. The Union lost, 2-1, to Toronto FC in the Reds' MLS home opener at BMO Field last night in front of 21,978. Seitz was the culprit on both Toronto FC goals. He allowed what should have been a harmless grassburner of a free kick off the foot of Toronto FC striker Dwayne De Rosario to go right through him and cross the line 35 minutes into the game.

FRISCO, Texas - Daniel Hernandez scored for the first time since the 2002 playoffs, converting a penalty kick in first-half injury time in FC Dallas' 1-0 victory over Toronto FC on Wednesday night. Hernandez, Dallas' captain, has five goals in 155 regular-season games in his 13-year MLS career. Dallas improved to 4-3-2 and extended its unbeaten streak to four games (3-0-1). The club has rallied since 2010 league MVP David Ferreira broke his right ankle in Vancouver on April 23. The Union visit FC Dallas on Saturday night.

JUST A WEEK after looking like it might fall out of the playoff race, the Union is back in first place in MLS' Eastern Conference following Saturday night's 2-0 victory in Seattle. Freddy Adu and Brian Carroll scored the goals that put the Union (11-7-14, 47 points) two points ahead of Kansas City with each team having two games to play. "It's huge for us to get the win here," said Sebastien Le Toux. Adu's game-winner in the game's 60th minute was set up by a cross from Gabriel Farfan, who barely kept the ball from going over the endline.

Another Carlos Ruiz is coming to town. The Union has signed Guatemalan forward Carlos "El Pescadito" Ruiz on a free transfer from Greek club Aris Thessaloniki. Terms were not disclosed. Ruiz, voted Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2002, returns after playing abroad for 2 years. He will be eligible to play pending receiving his international transfer certificate. Ruiz, 31, ranks 10th in scoring in MLS history and is third among active players.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER Toronto FC (6-13-13, 31 points) at Union (11-7-14, 47 points) Saturday, 4 p.m., at PPL Park, Chester. TV: CSN. Last MLS game: Toronto played the visiting New York Red Bulls to a 1-1 draw on Oct. 1. The Union won, 2-0, last Saturday at Seattle. Outlook: A tie would clinch a playoff berth for the Union with one regular-season game left, at New York. . . . If the Union win their final two games they would clinch the best record in the Eastern Conference.

The host Columbus Crew got goals from Emilio Renteria, Andy Iro and Leandre Griffit to beat the Houston Dynamo, 3-0, on Saturday night. Houston's Bobby Boswell was sent off after being shown his second yellow card of the match in the 72d minute. Dallas 1, Toronto 1 - Milton Rodriguez scored in the 77th minute to give FC Dallas a draw with host Toronto FC. The goal came after Dallas gained a corner kick on Toronto's sloppy defensive play. Maicon Santos scored in the 61st minute for Toronto.

The 70-1 long shot All Squared Away rallied to win the $200,000 Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, Ky., on Saturday. Purchased for $1,000 as a yearling, All Squared Away ran the 11/16 miles on the Polytrack in 1 minute, 42.55 seconds under Julio Garcia for trainer Wesley Ward. All Squared Away paid $143.20, $45.80, and $17. Summer Front returned $5.20 and $4, while Hammers Terror paid $9.40 to show. Castaway, which needed the $120,000 first-prize purse to have enough earnings to make the Kentucky Derby field, finished ninth.

HOUSTON - Put yourself in Sheanon Williams' shoes for a moment. You've scratched and clawed your way onto an MLS club. Then that club, fueled greatly by your tireless efforts, makes the postseason in only its second season of existence. Would you be satisfied? Could you honestly look back and say before the biggest game of your franchise's history that just being there, with all it took to accomplish, is enough to put your mind at ease? If you said yes, take Williams' shoes off. They don't fit you. While that might constitute a good season for many, for the Union's overworked, undercompensated (league-minum $42,000 this season)

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER Toronto FC (6-13-13, 31 points) at Union (11-7-14, 47 points) Saturday, 4 p.m., at PPL Park, Chester. TV: CSN. Last MLS game: Toronto played the visiting New York Red Bulls to a 1-1 draw on Oct. 1. The Union won, 2-0, last Saturday at Seattle. Outlook: A tie would clinch a playoff berth for the Union with one regular-season game left, at New York. . . . If the Union win their final two games they would clinch the best record in the Eastern Conference.

There have been very few occasions in which Faryd Mondragon cracks a smile. After a big win. Check. While watching his young son, Paolo, rip it up during a soccer camp at YSC Sports, check. And yesterday, when it was made official that the 40-year-old stalwart goalkeeper finally had the green light to return to action when the Union looks to lock up a playoff spot at home against Toronto tomorrow. Check. Barring a change of heart from the technical staff, Mondragon will return to the Union's starting lineup following a 5-week layoff after fracturing his right ring finger in early September.

JUST A WEEK after looking like it might fall out of the playoff race, the Union is back in first place in MLS' Eastern Conference following Saturday night's 2-0 victory in Seattle. Freddy Adu and Brian Carroll scored the goals that put the Union (11-7-14, 47 points) two points ahead of Kansas City with each team having two games to play. "It's huge for us to get the win here," said Sebastien Le Toux. Adu's game-winner in the game's 60th minute was set up by a cross from Gabriel Farfan, who barely kept the ball from going over the endline.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Julius James scored in the 75th minute, and Emilio Renteria connected in the 81st to lift the Columbus Crew over the New England Revolution, 3-1, Saturday night in MLS. New York 2, Chicago 2   NEW YORK - Joel Lindpere's goal at 64 minutes gave the Red Bulls the draw with the visiting Fire. Chivas USA 0, Sounders 0   SEATTLE - Dan Kennedy made two saves on his own and got some help from the goalpost on a penalty kick as Chivas USA and Seattle played to a scoreless tie. Toronto 1, Real Salt Lake 0   TORONTO - Joao Plata scored in the 77th minute for the game's lone goal as Toronto FC won. D.C. United 4, Vancouver 0 WASHINGTON - Chris Pontius scored goals in each half, and Andy Najar and Stephen King added tallies as D.C. United rolled over the Whitecaps.

Sometimes statistics can be misleading, and while we're not sure that's the case with the Union, there is still some question about the recent proficiency of the offense. Seems kind of crazy to mention this after Saturday's 6-2 win at Toronto. Regardless of the opponent, that's a lot of offense. Then again, the opponent has to be taken into consideration. Toronto FC has allowed 23 goals, the most in Major League Soccer. "People might say that Toronto is not a strong defensive team, but we saw good teams go to Toronto and they didn't score that many goals," said Union forward Danny Mwanga, who scored his team's final two goals.

TORONTO - When the halftime whistle blew at BMO Field, the Union appeared to be on the way toward by far their most impressive win of the season. By the end of the game, the Union had to settle for just the most entertaining win - and the most goals scored in a game in the club's relatively short history - in notching for their first road win in more than two months. After scoring three goals in the first half - including two in the first 11 minutes - the Union gave up two goals early in the second half, then scored three more in the last half hour in a 6-2 win over Toronto FC. "Everyone has been talking about how we haven't scored too many goals, but I think we proved them wrong in this game," said midfielder Gabriel Farfan, who scored the Union's first goal.

FRISCO, Texas - Daniel Hernandez scored for the first time since the 2002 playoffs, converting a penalty kick in first-half injury time in FC Dallas' 1-0 victory over Toronto FC on Wednesday night. Hernandez, Dallas' captain, has five goals in 155 regular-season games in his 13-year MLS career. Dallas improved to 4-3-2 and extended its unbeaten streak to four games (3-0-1). The club has rallied since 2010 league MVP David Ferreira broke his right ankle in Vancouver on April 23. The Union visit FC Dallas on Saturday night.