Union top New York City FC, 2-0
The two biggest changes for the Union this year are the standings and their attitude. The Union moved into a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference with Montreal after a 2-0 MLS win over New York City FC on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 18,681 at Talen Energy Stadium.
The two biggest changes for the Union this year are the standings and their attitude. The Union moved into a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference with Montreal after a 2-0 MLS win over New York City FC on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 18,681 at Talen Energy Stadium.
With a 4-3 mark, the Union have 12 points, but they believe they need to improve more.
"Good teams find ways to win when it is not their best night," said Union coach Jim Curtin, who thought his team wasn't sharp.
Make no mistake, Curtin isn't giving the win back. But the standards have risen with him and the players.
One of those players is midfielder Brian Carroll, who reached a milestone by playing in his 350th MLS regular-season game.
"It is a pretty good accomplishment and something I will appreciate when I am done playing," he said, "but I am enjoying playing and I am more satisfied with the group maybe not playing at our top level and getting the win."
NYC FC forward David Villa, a World Cup champion with Spain in 2010 and among the most dangerous attacking players in MLS, hit the crossbar on a one-timer from 12 yards out in the 24th minute. After that the Union took over.
Midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta, who missed the first three games of the season with knee tendinitis, made his first start and played a season-high 65 minutes. He set up the first goal, leaping over a defender and sending a cross from the right side of the six-yard box. Barnetta found an open Chris Pontius, who one-timed it in from the middle of the six.
"I am happy to be back and can help the team," said Barnetta, who had a game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Orlando SC.
The Union made it 2-0 in the 41st minute, when C.J. Sapong, stationed eight yards out, redirected a Sebastien Le Toux shot from just beyond the 18 for his team-high fourth goal.
There have been recent murmurs that the 27-year-old Sapong could get a call from the U.S. national team. He appeared twice in 2012 with the Americans.
"In the past, whenever I paid attention to things like that, it kind of took my focus away from what was important," Sapong said. "I let those people say what they feel, and I am just playing my game for the Philadelphia Union now."
He and his team are playing at a first-place level and, in their minds, have plenty of room to improve.
