Union Opens Suncoast Invitational With 1-1 Tie Against DC United

Report From Philadelphia Union

CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union tied 1-1 with D.C. United in the first game of Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Suncoast Invitational Wednesday night. Sebastien Le Toux gave the Union the lead seven minutes in, sending the ball into the back of the net from C.J. Sapong’s rebound after his shot hit the crossbar. Playing against his former club, Chris Pontius gave the assist.

The Union looked strong during the game seeing several chances on goal, but D.C. got the equalizer in the 56th minute from Fabian Espindola’s penalty after Pontius committed a foul in the box.

The Union return to action on Saturday, Feb. 20 to face Tampa Bay Rowdies for the second game in the 2016 Suncoast Invitational.

MATCH RECAP
D.C. United 1 – 1 Philadelphia Union
AL Lang Stadium
St Petersburg, Fla.

SCORING SUMMARY
PHI — Sebastien Le Toux (C.J. Sapong, Chris Pontius) 7’
D.C. — Fabian Espindola (Penalty) 56’

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
D.C. — Bobby Boswell (Yellow) 18’
PHI— Roland Alberg (Yellow) 21’
D.C. — Steve Birnbaum (Yellow) 25′
D.C. — Marcelo (Yellow) 27’
D.C. — Taylor Kemp (Yellow) 69’
PHI — Leo Fernandes (Yellow) 75′

PHILADELPHIA UNION STARTING XI
Andre Blake; Fabinho (Taylor Washington 60’), Ken Tribbett (Joshua Yaro 60’), Richie Marquez (Anderson 60’), Keegan Rosenberry (Warren Creavalle 60’); Vincent Nogueira (Eric Ayuk 60’), Roland Alberg (Leo Fernandes HT); Chris Pontius (Walter Restrepo 60’), Tranquillo Barnetta © (Brian Carroll HT), Sebastien Le Toux (Ilsinho HT); C.J. Sapong (Fabian Herbers 60’)

D.C. UNITED STARTING XI
Andrew Dykstra, Taylor Kemp, Bobby Boswell, Steve Birnbaum, Sean Franklin (Collin Martin), Nick DeLeon (Paul Clowes), Markus Halsti (Chris Rolfe), Luicano Acosta (Alvaro Saborio), Marcelo (Rob Vincent), Patrick Nyarko (Luke Mishu), Fabian Espindola

TEAM NOTES
· The Union return to action on Saturday, Feb. 20 to face Tampa Bay Rowdies for the second game in the 2016 Suncoast Invitational.