(Times / COLIN KERRIGAN)

Freddy Adu played 50 minutes. He scored two goals.

Call it a coincidence, but good things -- like scoring goals -- tend to occur when Adu gets consistent playing time. 

For the better part of two months, he hasn't with Union manager John Hackworth going as far as saying it's not the Union's mission as a team to make Adu a 90-minute player.

Take from that what you will, but Adu -- the Union's highest-paid player -- wants to be on the field. He said Thursday he thinks he has to play the rest of this season as though his job depends upon it. His performance Sunday, which featured a brace in the Union's 3-1 win over the Houston Dynamo, certainly showed it.

On top of that, Adu's not content just to play. He wants to play the forward position, not at midfield, where he gets a majority of his PT.

 

“Personally, it feels good. It means a lot. Getting two goals in league play, it’s good for your confidence," Adu said after Sunday's game. 

"Especially when the coach puts you at forward, to reward the coach with two goals and for Josue (Martinez) getting the start today and getting the goal, it’s a good feeling. The team won, everybody’s happy and it just feels like it’s been a while since we won a game. 

"It’s definitely a good feeling and hopefully I’m able to stay in that position and play hopefully the rest of the games in that position."

If Adu can score a goal, or at least create goals, out of the forward position -- well -- let the man do his thing.

Extra notes from Sunday’s game:

• Captain Carlos Valdes said he and Brian Carroll called a brief team meeting Saturday to hash out any lack of cohesiveness that was present in Thursday’s loss to D.C. “It went well,” Valdes said. Added Sheanon Williams: “Sometimes people need a kick in the (rear).”
• Veteran defender Chris Albright, who had played only 10 minutes in MLS play since March 31, got nine minutes against Houston. “I’ve got my young kids in the stands, so it’s always fun when they get to see their dad on the field,” said Albright, who entered for Danny Cruz in the 81^st.
• John Hackworth got his first win as the full-time manager, with the interim label having been lifted from his job description earlier this month.
• Josue Martinez scored the first goal of his MLS career.
• Carroll’s teams have qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in each of his first nine seasons. Sunday, the Union were victorious, staving off playoff ineligibility – for now.