Union 1 - 1 Fire
Final
  for this game

Union look to continue fine form against Fire

Jul 18, 2014 - 7:13 PM Bridgeview, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Philadelphia Union will look to continue their good run of form on Saturday when the club travels to Toyota Park to face the Chicago Fire in an Eastern Conference clash.

Since a 3-3 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps at PPL Park on June 7, which cost then-manger John Hackworth his job, the Union have boasted a 5-1-1 record across all competitions under interim head coach Jim Curtin.

Philadelphia put in a solid 90-minute effort on Wednesday night and earned three points at home for just the second time this season with a 3-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls.

The Union wasted little time taking the game by the scruff of the neck on Wednesday as Conor Casey scored just nine minutes in to hand the home side an early advantage.

Philadelphia made it 2-0 in the 51st minute when Fred pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area and smashed it home for his first MLS tally since 2010

The Red Bulls made things interesting in the 60th minute when Bradley Wright- Phillips scored his league-leading 16th goal on an assist by Thierry Henry.

But the Union wrapped up the points eight minutes later when Sebastien Le Toux converted a penalty kick following a foul in the box on Tim Cahill.

"Great performance from our guys from start to finish," Curtin said. "It's a result the fans deserved."

"It feels like it's been forever since we won at home," goalkeeper Zac MacMath said. "We've played well for stretches in games but hadn't been able to close it out. We finished it strong fashion tonight and I'm really happy for the fans."

Chicago, meanwhile, will be looking for a second consecutive win after knocking off the New England Revolution, 1-0, at Gillette Stadium last week.

Quincy Amarikwa netted the lone tally three minutes in and goalkeeper Sean Johnson made seven saves, including saving a Chris Tierney penalty kick five minutes from time to preserve the points for Chicago.

"Sean has been outstanding the past four or five games," said Fire head coach Frank Yallop. "He's a young goalkeeper and he's finally starting to have really good performances and he's starting to look the part. Things like this make the difference it was the reason we won tonight."

Saturday's clash will be the second meeting of the season between the sides, which played to a 2-2 draw at Toyota Park on April 5.






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