Le Toux lifts Union over Columbus

Chester -- Featuring a lineup with an average age under 24, the Philadelphia Union (9-7-12, 39 points)  snapped an eight-game winless drought Saturday, edging the first-place Columbus Crew (11-10-8, 41 points) 1-0 in front of an overflow crowd of 18,906. 

Sebastien Le Toux tallied the match's lone goal off a long through ball from Roger Torres, while Zac MacMath and the defense held for Philadelphia's second consecutive shutout.

Both sides came into Saturday’s game shorthanded with the Union missing Justin Mapp (quad strain), Veljko Paunović (calf strain) and Faryd Mondragón (broken finger). The Crew were without Chad Marshall (hip flexor strain), Emilio Rentiera (concussion), Eddie Gaven (lower leg contusion) and Emmanuel Ekpo (red card suspension).

In the end, Union moved within two points of first place, well within striking distance with six regular season matches remaining.

Philadelphia's first and currently only Home Grown Player, 16-year-old Zach Pfeffer, drew the start, his first MLS appearance. Recently-signed midfielder Morgan Langley also earned his first MLS appearance, coming on in the 80th minute.

In a match that was short on chances, a beautiful through ball from Torres to Le Toux in the 32nd minute was the difference when the Frenchman calmly finished for his seventh goal of the season and sixth in the last six games.

Columbus' best chance of the match came in the 16th minute when leading scorer Andres Mendoza struck from distance, but his attempt was parried away by MacMath. It turned out to be the only shot on target for the Crew all game.

The Union return to action on Friday with a key road game against Sporting Kansas City, before hosting D.C. United next Thursday in the club's second-to-last home game.

Scoring Summary:

PHI -- Sebastien Le Toux 7 (Roger Torres 1) 32
 

Columbus Crew -- William Hesmer, Sebastian Miranda, Julius James, Shaun Francis, Eric Gehrig, Dilly Duka, Danny O'Rourke, Dejan Rusmir (Josh Gardner 83), Robbie Rogers, Tommy Heinemann (Justin Meram 62), Andres Mendoza (Jeff Cunningham 74).

Substitutes Not Used: Cole Grossman, Aaron Horton, Josh Williams, Chris Konupka.
 

Philadelphia Union -- Zac MacMath, Sheanon Williams, Carlos Valdes, Danny Califf, Gabriel Farfan, Zach Pfeffer (Danny Mwanga 62), Freddy Adu (Amobi Okugo 75), Brian Carroll, Roger Torres (Morgan Langley 80), Sebastien Le Toux, Michael Farfan.

Substitutes Not Used: Jack McInerney, Stefani Miglioranzi, Kyle Nakazawa, Thorne Holder.
 

Misconduct Summary:

CLB -- Dejan Rusmir (caution; Handball) 12
 


Referee: Alex Prus
Referee's Assistants: -Chris Strickland; Adam Garner
Fourth Official: Edvin Jurisevic

Time of Game: 1:51

Weather: Partly Cloudy-and-68-degrees
Attendance: 18,906