Le Toux helps Union rally for tie

NO ONE has questioned his drive and intensity. But this season, midfielder-forward Sebastien Le Toux has not shown the prowess that made him the Union's leading goal scorer in 2010.

Last night, however, against the listless New England Revolution, Le Toux proved why - despite his diminished goal production - his tireless efforts have solidified his place in the Union lineup.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Le Toux scored by ripping a low shot past the outstretched arms of Revolution goalie Matt Reis, securing a 4-4 final in a gritty rally by the Union at PPL Park.

It was Le Toux' second goal of the night after scoring on a penalty kick after being taken down in the 18-yard box by Revs midfielder Pat Phelan.

Le Toux is tied with forward Carlos Ruiz - now playing in Mexico - as the team's leading goal scorer this season with six. He leads in the assist category with eight.

Paltry compared to last season's 14 goals and 11 assists.

As for the return of his scoring knack . . . well, let's not get too crazy, Le Toux said.

"I don't know about that yet, but I am happy to score two tonight," he said. "My teammate Stefani Miglioranzi joked that I need to score in every game in the last [eight] games of the season, but I am really just here to help the team in any way I can. I hope me scoring in every game is the case, but I want those goals to result in points, starting with Portland [this Saturday]."

Le Toux did his best last night, but the Union played a forgettable first half in which the Revolution poured it on while vaulting to a 4-1 lead.

The Union played so poorly against New England - dead last in the MLS' Eastern Conference - that they should have offered fans tickets to another game like the Phillies did on Tuesday night.

Of course, the Phillies did so as a show of thanks to those braving the elements for the game against the Braves.

Those fans will actually want to go to a future game. Union fans wouldn't want to see another performance like last night's.

Granted, the team was forced to lean on 20-year-old rookie goalkeeper Zac MacMath, with No. 1 keeper Faryd Mondragon out 4 weeks with a broken right ring finger. But four goals is unacceptable no matter who's in net.

"I'm not upset about the chances we created, what I am upset about is how easy we gave up four goals in the first half," said Union boss Peter Nowak. "We created a bunch of chances, which is not the first time we have done that, but when you create good looks you have to find a way to finish them."

Perhaps the most disturbing part of last night's initial stanza wasn't that the Revs opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Or that a questionable foul in the box by midfielder Miglioranzi allowed forward Rajko Lekic to put the Revs up 2-0 in the 20th minute. Rather, it was that the Union actually moved the ball up and down PPL's pitch with precision, but to little avail.

Roger Torres finally got the Union on the board in the 28th minute, taking a pass from defender Sheanon Williams and curling it to the far post past Reis from just outside the 18-yard box.

Freddy Adu notched his first Union goal in the 54th minute after halftime substitute Danny Mwanga slotted a perfect through ball in the box to Adu.

In the second half, the Union took it to a shaky Revs' defense but again had trouble finishing.

"It definitely feels good to get my first goal, but I still think that when you are playing at home, you should never give up four goals," Adu said. "I mean, regardless of who you are playing against. But it is what it is and we had to fight back. And, in the locker room we talked about it. We said, 'If we get one goal early enough in the second half we are back in this game' and that's what we did."

The second half found the Union doing what it has done many times this season - chasing the game.

There were chances, and the Union was able to get a pair of goals back. But, as the postseason looms, the Union won't be able to get by playing that way.

The Union (8-7-11, 35 points) is winless (0-3-4 ) in its last seven matches. The club improved to 5-1-7 at home, but hasn't won an MLS game since July 17 - a 3-0 shutover of the Revolution (14-11-12, 24 points) at Gillette Stadium.

Last night's match marked the first in a three-game homestand at PPL Park. With just eight matches remaining in the regular season - and on short rest - the club hosts Portland this Saturday, (7:30 p.m., Comcast Network), followed by Columbus, currently first in the Eastern Conference on Saturday, Sept. 17 (7:30 p.m., Comcast Network).