CHESTER, PENN. – Seattle Sounders FC (9-6-2, 29 points) fell 1-0 on the road to the Philadelphia Union Wednesday evening at PPL Park. C.J. Sapong scored the lone goal for the Union as Seattle lost its second-straight match for the first time this season. Sounders FC remains tied atop the Western Conference standings with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, but holds the tiebreaker with a plus-nine goal differential. The Rave Green return to action this Sunday, June 28 with a road matchup against Cascadia rival Portland Timbers (4:00 p.m. PT / FOX Sports 1, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
After over an hour of scoreless play, Philadelphia broke the deadlock in the 69th minute when Sheanon Williams sent a cross into the box that found the head of Sapong for his sixth goal of the season.
The Union nearly got on the board in the first half when the club was awarded a penalty kick in the 30th minute, as Dylan Remick was whistled for a foul while attempting to make a clearance inside the Sounders FC area. On the ensuing penalty, Stefan Frei denied Maurice Edu’s shot with a diving stop to his right, keeping the score level.
Three Sounders FC players – Aaron Kovar, Oniel Fisher and Jimmy Ockford – all made their first MLS starts Wednesday, with a bevy of other players out due to injury and suspension. It was the MLS debut for Ockford, who hails from nearby Yardley, Pennsylvania.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Philadelphia Union 1
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Venue: PPL Park
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
Assistants: Anthony Vasoli, James Conlee
Fourth Official: Daniel Fitzgerald
Attendance: 18,072
Weather: Sunny and 84 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
PHI – C.J. Sapong (Sheanon Williams) 69’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Dylan Remick (caution) 30’
SEA – Zach Scott (caution) 49’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Oniel Fisher, Jimmy Ockford, Zach Scott – captain, Dylan Remick (Chad Marshall 81’); Cristian Roldan, Micheal Azira, Gonzalo Pineda, Marco Pappa, Aaron Kovar (Thomàs 75’); Lamar Neagle (Darwin Jones 70’)
Substitutes not used: Troy Perkins, Tyrone Mears, Andy Rose, Victor Mansaray
Total shots: 9 (Pappa, 3)
Shots on goal: 2 (Pappa/Thomà s, 1)
Fouls: 12 (3 players, 2)
Offside: 1 (Jones, 1)
Corner-kicks: 1 (Pappa, 1)
Saves: 4 (Frei, 4)
Philadelphia Union – Brian Sylvestre; Sheanon Williams, Maurice Edu – captain, Richie Marquez, Fabinho; Andrew Wenger (Eric Ayuk Mbu 61’), Vincent Nogueira, Brian Carroll, Cristian Maidana (Fred 78’), Zach Pfeffer (Raymond Gaddis 90+1’); C.J. Sapong
Substitutes not used: John McCarty, Ethan White, Dzenan Catic, Antoine Hoppenot
Total shots: 12 (Sapong, 3)
Shots on goal: 5 (5 players, 1)
Fouls: 4 (Nogueira, 2)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 6 (Maidana, 6)
Saves: 2 (Sylvestre, 2)
MATCH NOTES
- Sounders FC remains tied atop the MLS Western Conference standings with 29 points (9-6-2), level with Vancouver Whitecaps FC but holding the tiebreaker with a plus-nine goal differential.
- Tonight’s match marked the first career MLS start for three Sounders FC players – Aaron Kovar, Oniel Fisher and Jimmy Ockford. Kovar had previously appeared in eight matches as a substitute, while Fisher made his MLS debut with four minutes of action on March 28 against FC Dallas. It was the MLS debut for Ockford, who hails from nearby Yardley, Pennsylvania.
- Frei’s first-half save on Edu’s penalty kick marked his first PK stop of the season and third of his career in 24 opportunities. He last stopped a penalty kick in last season’s 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo (August 10, 2014).
- Seattle is still winless in four matches (0-2-2) in MLS play in Philadelphia. The Rave Green did, however, get a 3-1 extra-time win in last season’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final at PPL Park.
