Chester, Pa. (June 25, 2011) -- Trailing 1-0 and sitting on a 294-minute goal drought, the first place Philadelphia Union (7-4-5) fought back and netted three second-half goals, overcoming a late equalizer to defeat Chivas USA (4-7-5) by a score of 3-2 at PPL Park on Saturday.
Veljko Paunovic scored his first MLS goal to equalize in the 48th minute, erasing Michael Umana's first half goal for the visitors. After Carlos Ruiz gave the Union the lead in the 69th minute, Justin Braun struck back for Chivas in the 77th minute.
But Danny Mwanga had the final word. The second-year striker tallied his club-leading fifth goal of the season, assisted by Sébastien Le Toux, a dagger from distance that stood up as the game-winner.
Chivas struck first in the 28th minute. After Union goalkeeper Fayrd Mondragón punched away a corner kick, Ben Zemanski found Umana, who headed home the opening goal to give Chivas a 1-0 lead.
The Union came close to equalizing when Ruiz sprung Le Toux free in the area, but Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy was there to break up the goal scoring opportunity.
Paunovic first career MLS goal - coming in his third start for the Union - came off a cross from Justin Mapp. Paunovic also added an assist on Ruiz's goal.
Ruiz broke the 1-1 deadlock in the 69th minute, four minutes after Chivas striker Marcos Mondaini hit the crossbar off a free kick. After being sent into space by Paunovic, the Guatemalan held off his defender before firing it through Kennedy’s legs for his fourth goal of the season and a 2-1 lead for Philadelphia.
Braun's equalizer only momentarily silenced the home crowd, before Mwanga sent 18,139 fans into a wild celebration at PPL Park.
The victory extends Philadelphia's home unbeaten steak to 10 matches and vaults the club into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference. The Union now face a three-match road trip, beginning next Saturday with a match at RFK Stadium against D.C. United. The 7:00 p.m. match will air nationally on FOX Soccer.
Scoring Summary:
CHV -- Michael Umana 1 (Ben Zemanski 3) 28?
PHI -- Veljko Paunovic 1 (Justin Mapp 1) 48
PHI -- Carlos Ruiz 4 (unassisted) 69
CHV -- Justin Braun 4 (unassisted) 77
PHI -- Danny Mwanga 5 (Sebastien Le Toux 5) 82
Chivas USA -- Dan Kennedy, Zarek Valentin, Michael Umana (Andrew Boyens 46), Heath Pearce, Ante Jazic, Paulo Nagamura, Ben Zemanski (Blair Gavin 76), Nick LaBrocca, Jorge Flores, Justin Braun, Marcos Mondaini (Chris Cortez 71).
Substitutes Not Used: Victor Estupinan, Michael Lahoud, Mariano Trujillo, Zach Thornton.
Philadelphia Union -- Faryd Mondragon, Sheanon Williams, Danny Califf, Carlos Valdes, Jordan Harvey (Danny Mwanga 46), Justin Mapp, Veljko Paunovic (Kyle Nakazawa 72), Brian Carroll, Sebastien Le Toux, Carlos Ruiz, Jack McInerney (Keon Daniel 46).
Substitutes Not Used: Michael Farfan, Amobi Okugo, Roger Torres, Zac MacMath.
Misconduct Summary:
PHI -- Carlos Valdes (caution; Reckless Tackle) 64
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Referee's Assistants: C.J. Morgante; Corey Rockwell
4th Official: Jose Carlos Rivero
Time of Game: 1:50
Weather: Cloudy-and-80-degrees
Attendance: 18,139
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