Fire 1 - 2 Union
Final
  for this game

Ruiz, Union edge Fire to remain unbeaten at PPL

May 22, 2011 - 4:34 AM Chester, PA (Sports Network) - Carlos Ruiz scored the match-winner in the 75th minute off a stunning half-volley, as the Philadelphia Union remained unbeaten at home with a 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire on Saturday at PPL Park.

Michael Farfan also scored for Philadelphia (5-3-2), which scored two goals in a match for the first time this season to end a three-game winless streak. The Union have four wins and two draws in six home matches in Major League Soccer.

"It's a good step forward, especially when you score two goals for the first time," Union coach Peter Nowak said.

Dominic Oduro scored for Chicago (1-4-5), which is winless in eight straight.

Carlos Valdes glanced a header off the top of the crossbar in the opening half and Sebastien Le Toux found the outside of the right post early in the second for the Union, but the match remained scoreless through an hour.

Philadelphia broke the deadlock in the 64th minute when Kyle Nakazawa played a free kick from the left side into space outside the box, where Farfan ran onto the ball and hit a 30-yard shot that took a slight deflection past Jon Conway.

Chicago responded within three minutes, as Dominic Oduro settled a poor cross from Gonzalo Segares and lost a defender to beat Faryd Mondragon to the near post in the 67th.

The Fire came within inches of taking the lead in the 71st, but Union defender Sheanon Williams cleared Gaston Puerari's shot off the line to save Mondragon, and Ruiz followed with the game-winner.

Ruiz took a poor free kick, but he ran onto the deflection, made one touch to settle the ball, and struck a looping 35-yard half-volley over Conway and just under the bar for his third goal of the season.

"It was a bad free kick by me, but the only play I had was to shoot on goal, because if I had stopped the ball, if I think twice on that play, I can lose the ball," Ruiz said. "Just shoot on goal and see what happens."

The Union visit Toronto FC for their next match on May 28, when the Fire also return to action at home against the San Jose Earthquakes.






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