Union fall to Rapids, 2-1; Ruiz to depart

Playing without their leading goal-scorer, the Union suffered a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Friday night in a Major League Soccer game at PPL Park in Chester.

Team manager Peter Nowak said after the game that the Union had accepted an offer from an unnamed team for striker Carlos Ruiz, who topped the team with six goals.

"There were a lot of fans, even in the stands here, that have a pre-bias toward Carlos, and made some bad comments about him being a diver, or this, or that, not working hard enough, and all these little things," Nowak said. "It was getting tiring to all of us, and we accepted an offer from a club. Carlos is no longer going to be with us. We are finalizing stuff right now, it's probably going to take a couple of weeks."

The Union had more than a few chances to score, and activity at their offensive end at times drew roars from the sellout crowd of 18,770. But their efforts were mostly fruitless.

Roger Torres scored the Union's only goal during stoppage time, when three minutes had been added to the clock.

Each team had 31 points entering the game. The Union are tied with Columbus atop the MLS Eastern Conference. Colorado, 9-6-7, improved to 2-0-2 all-time against the Union, who are 8-5-7.

"It was frustrating," said the Union's Sheanon Williams, who was hit with a red card and ejected in the game's 64th minute for abusive language. "Even down, 2-0, we still had a chance to get back into the game. I think we missed some chances, even in the first half we missed some chances. That's soccer. That's the way things go, sometimes."

The visitors had a 2-0 lead at halftime as the Union mustered only one shot on goal.

It was scoreless until Colorado's Pablo Mastroeni connected in the 35th minute. On the play, Mastroeni charged a loose ball and kicked it into the left corner of the goal.

The Union's best chance came in the 27th minute on a free kick. Both forward Sebastien Le Toux and midfielder Keon Daniel lined up as if Le Toux were going to take the kick. But Daniel booted the ball, and it hit the crossbar.

The Rapids scored again in the 45th minute on a dazzling play by Sanna Nyassi, who dribbled through the Union defense from 20 yards out.

Notes. Before the game, U.S. women's national team members Amy Rodriguez, Lori Lindsey, and Nicole Barnhart were recognized. They play for the Independence of Women's Professional Soccer. . . . The Independence confirmed that their WPS playoff game will take place at PPL Park. The game will be played on either Aug. 20 or 27, depending on whether the Indy finishes second or first, respectively.