Match recap: Philadelphia Union 1, D.C. United 0

A Fafa Picault goal and a couple of huge Andre Blake saves saw the Philadelphia Union win their first game in four tries and take the lead in the all-time series with D.C. United.

Things got off to a bit of an auspicious start when in the 13th minute CJ Sapong was knocked down in the D.C. United box by Kofi Opare, but a penalty was not awarded.

D.C. United would have most of the good looks on goal in the early parts of the first half, as the Union conceded possession to D.C. United and defensive miscues allowed for decent looks on goal for the black and red.

In the 31st, the Union were able to strike. Fafa Picault hit a cross from Alejandro Bedoya and blasted it past Bill Hamid to put the Union up 1-0.

Just before the half, the Union conceded a free kick just outside of the 18. While this would normally result in a Union goal, the kick was too heavy and went wide of Andre Blake’s goal and the Union would go into the locker room up a goal.

The Union were able to created couple of good chances in the second half. Jay Simpson got on the end of a great cross by

Disaster struck for the Union in the 68th minute when Oguchi Onyewu was whistled for a handball in the box. While the call was dodgy at best, hte penalty was awarded. Andre Blake however wasn’t hearing any of it and made a phenomenal save.

Luciano Acosta was shown a red card in the 74th minute for a harsh foul on Haris Medunjanin. In a shocking scene however, referee Sorin Stoica rescinded the red card and allowed Acosta to play on. According to the television broadcast, the AR called off the red card – however as Tommy Smyth pointed out “the red card had already been shown to everyone in the stadium.” Medunjanin later revealed he had told the referee that Acosta hadn’t touched him, which allowed Stoica to reverse his decision.

The Union were able to play great possession soccer late however, stifling the D.C. United attacks before they got started. Luciano Acosta whipped a cross in late that was headed on frame, but Blake came up huge again.

The Union were able to hang on and get the win.

Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Giliano Wijnaldum, Oguchi Onyewu, Jack Elliott, Ray Gaddis; Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya; Fafa Picault (Marcus Epps, 83’), Ilsinho (Roland Alberg, 70’), Chris Pontius (Jay Simpson, 64’); CJ Sapong

D.C. United: Bill Hamid; Taylor Kemp, Kofi Opare, Steve Birnbaum, Chris Odoi-Atsem; Ian Harkes (Julian Buescher, 82’), Jared Jeffrey; Lamar Neagle, Luciano Acosta, Sebastien Le Toux (Patrick Nyarko, 56’); Jose Ortiz (Deshorn Brown, 63’)

Scoring: Philadelphia Union – Fafa Picault (31’), D.C. United – None

Disciplinary: Philadelphia Union – None; D.C. United – Jose Ortiz (Yellow – 31’),