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Union ready to tangle with Impact at PPL

Jun 26, 2015 - 11:19 PM Chester, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Philadelphia Union will aim to claim their second consecutive victory in league play on Saturday when the club hosts the Montreal Impact at PPL Park.

After getting absolutely throttled, 5-1, at the StubHub Center by the Los Angeles Galaxy last week, Philadelphia returned home and posted an impressive 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday.

The Union had a great chance to snatch the lead on the half-hour mark when Andrew Wenger was struck with a high boot to the face by Dylan Remick inside the penalty area.

Maurice Edu stepped forward to take the kick, but his effort was saved by goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who dove to his right.

Cristian Maidana went close with a shot from the top of the penalty area in the 56th minute, but the lone arrived in the 69th minute.

Sheanon Williams lofted a ball to the front of goal for Sapong, who got up and turned a header past Frei from six yards despite Frei getting a hand to the ball.

"While it wasn't a perfect game, nobody remembers at the end of the year what the three points looked like in the end of June," Union manager Jim Curtin said. "So again, a big three points for us, a much-needed three points and climbed up a little bit in the points."

A deflected cross from Ignacio Piatti fell to Ambroise Oyongo at the top of the box in the 19th minute, and after taking a touch, he hammered a half- volley inside the right post beyond the reach of diving goalkeeper Chris Konopka.

The lead lasted just seven minutes, however as Sebastian Giovinco got into the penalty area on the right and laid off a ball for Michael Bradley to fire past goalkeeper Evan Bush with a first-time shot.

Jozy Altidore separated the sides in the 56th minute when he took a chipped ball from Bradley down off his chest and placed a wonderful left-footed shot inside the far post.

From there, Toronto pressed to add to the lead and Giovinco struck the post after a nice build up on the hour mark.

A third goal did arrive nine minutes from time as Giovinco was brought down inside the box by Montreal's Bakary Soumare, allowing the Italian to tuck his spot kick just inside the left post to clinch the victory.

"We were not sharp with the ball at all tonight," said head coach Frank Klopas. "When we had the ball we gave it up too easily and we were too stretched, which made it easy for them. We had some good moments, but didn't make the plays."