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Union set for stern test against Sounders

Jun 24, 2015 - 12:04 AM Chester, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of interconference rivals will clash on Wednesday when Seattle Sounders FC travels to PPL Park to battle the Philadelphia Union.

Aside a positive patch from time to time, its been a difficult season for Philadelphia and the club will be looking for a bounce-back effort following a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the Los Angeles Galaxy at the StubHub Center last week.

The Galaxy grabbed the lead in the 23rd minute when a shot from Gyasi Zardes following a turnover struck the post and went straight to Baggio Husidic, who drove a shot underneath goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre.

Zardes played provider in the 35th with a nice ball to Juninho at the top of the box, allowing the Brazilian to take a touch and smack a shot inside the right post.

The lead swelled to 3-0 in the 56th when a pinpoint cross from Robbie Keane allowed Zardes to finish at the back post from eight yards.

C.J. Sapong scored on the turn two minutes later to reduce the deficit to 3-1, but Stefan Ishizaki's thunderous volley one minute later restored the three- goal lead and snuffed out any chance of a Union comeback attempt.

Sebastian Lletget came on as a substitute and curled home a first-time shot after Zardes laid the ball off to him at the top of box with 25 minutes to play to cap the scoring.

"Everyone has to take a good hard look in the mirror when you get outplayed like that," Union head coach Jim Curtin said. "Starts with myself, but all of the guys as well, it was disappointing. I thought we actually had in the first 25 minutes some chances and started well, had two or three to get a goal, we don't. And then a good team like the Galaxy, get good looks around goal and they punish you."

Seattle, meanwhile, is also looking for a better effort after suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the San Jose Earthquakes at CenturyLink Field last time out.

Matias Perez Garcia set up the opening tally for Sanna Nyassi in the 28th minute before scoring his first goal of the campaign in the 73rd as the Earthquakes shut down a struggling Sounders attack that was playing without the suspended Clint Dempsey as well as the injured Obafemi Martins.

Perez Garcia played a ball to Nyassi, and he took a touch to set himself up for a wonderful half-volley that found its way inside the far post.

Seattle's Andy Rose was denied at close range by the elbow of San Jose goalkeeper David Bingham in the 34th minute, while the 'Quakes sat back a bit after the break and hit on the counter attack to seal the win in the 73rd.

"Marco Pappa ended up playing a little too deep for my liking," Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said. "But he was tired as well. So what we were looking for is getting those three underneath guys - Thomas, Pappa and Rose - to be a little more offensive than they were. But I thought [Micheal] Azira and [Cristian] Roldan were pretty solid."