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Union-United Preview

Aug 21, 2010 - 5:43 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Philadelphia (4-10-5) at D.C. (3-14-3), 2:00 p.m. EDT

A hat trick from Sebastien Le Toux engineered the expansion Philadelphia Union's first win over four months ago and kicked off his breakout MLS season. Now, he'll get to face league-worst D.C. United again.

Le Toux looks to continue powering the Union's offensive play when they attempt to sweep United in the season series Sunday afternoon.

Le Toux has played a part in 18 of Philadelphia's 23 goals, leading the team with nine goals and nine assists. The French forward did all of the scoring for the Union (4-10-5) in a 3-2 win over D.C. (3-14-3) on April 10 in the club's first victory.

He has three goals and three assists in three wins since and has assisted on both scores as the Union enter this match following consecutive 1-all ties.

Le Toux, 26, has revived his career with Philadelphia, which selected him in the expansion draft from Seattle. He spent his first MLS season in a limited role with the Sounders, getting one goal and three assists after scoring 24 goals in 54 games over the previous two years when they competed in the United Soccer Leagues.

"It's better than I ever did in MLS," Le Toux told the Union's official website. "I'm pretty happy about it and just want to continue to put up bigger numbers and at the end help my team. I hope we can score more goals because if we score more goals we win games. If it's not me (and it's) another guy I will be very happy."

Despite Le Toux's status among the league leaders in goals and assists, the Union's playoff hopes are dimming, and they're ahead of only last-place United in the Eastern Conference.

The Union are 0-2-3 in their last five matches and 1-8-1 on the road this year.

Philadelphia is in ideal position to end its winless streak with a visit to the nation's capital, as United are mired in a five-game losing streak and have been outscored 13-3 during an 0-6-2 stretch.

That poor play cost coach Curt Onalfo his job and Ben Olsen replaced him on an interim basis, with D.C. losing twice since the switch. United fell 3-1 at home to Dallas on Aug. 14.

"Guys are tired of losing," forward Santino Quaranta told United's official website. "There's a lot of passion here. Whether people believe that or not. We've been fighting hard trying to do the right things. That's all we can do as players."

Quaranta's only goal on the season came at Philadelphia in April. He's trying to snap a 14-game drought.