Le Toux's 2 goals help Union earn 2-2 draw with Dallas

There was an even greater buzz than usual at sold-out PPL Park on Saturday night, with the Freddy Adu era beginning for the Union after the attacking midfielder signed with the team and participated in his first practice Friday.

Even though Adu stole the pregame spotlight, he later was upstaged by teammate Sebastien Le Toux, along with Dallas midfielder Brek Shea early and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman late.

Le Toux scored twice on penalty kicks, Shea concluded a stellar week in the Philadelphia area by scoring one goal and creating plenty of pressure, and Hartman came up with two difficult saves late in the game as the Union and Dallas played to a 2-2 draw before a crowd of 18,881.

It was the third consecutive draw for the Union, who are 8-5-10. Dallas is 12-6-7.

"We pushed them until the end," said Union team manager Peter Nowak, whose team twice overcame one-goal deficits. ". . . Hartman made big saves at the end of the game."

On Wednesday at Lincoln Financial Field, Shea enjoyed an outstanding game off the bench, earning an assist as the U.S. national team played Mexico to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly.

Then, during stoppage time in the first half against the Union, the 6-foot-3, 188-pound Shea broke a 1-1 tie with a tip-in goal.

Dallas had taken advantage of a rare defensive miscue by Union defender Carlos Valdes to score the game's first goal. Valdes almost whiffed on a clear, just getting enough where Maicon Santos was able to intercept the ball from just outside the box and chip it over goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon in the 16th minute.

Union midfielder Justin Mapp set up the equalizer when he earned a penalty kick after being taken down by defender Ugo Ihemelu inside the box.

Le Toux converted the penalty kick in the 33d minute.

Dallas took a lead right before halftime, scoring in stoppage time. Santos got things started by feeding Marvin Chavez, whose shot was deflected by Mondragon off the near post. Shea followed the play and tapped in the rebound for his 10th goal of the season.

As for Adu, he had a rather uneventful first half, one in which he received his first yellow card for his new team in the 27th minute on a reckless tackle.

Adu's night was over in the 62d minute when he was replaced by Danny Mwanga.

"I felt pretty good," Adu said. "That was my first game since the Gold Cup final [June 25]. I knew I wasn't going to play 90 minutes, but it felt good to be on the field playing."

There will continue to be an adjustment period.

"For 60 minutes, it was a good start, but we're going to rev it up," Nowak said.

Dallas was forced to play shorthanded after defender George John received his second yellow card in the 81st minute for a hard foul.

Shortly after, the Union earned their second penalty kick when Gabe Farfan, making a strong run from the back, was taken down in the box by Jackson.

Le Toux converted the penalty kick. He has three goals, all on penalty kicks.

In the 90th minute, Hartman stopped a point-blank shot from the right side by Mwanga, who had been sent in on goal by Roger Torres. During stoppage time, Hartman made an acrobatic save on a bouncing header by Keon Daniel.