(Times file)

The Union underwent a little course correction Thursday, when they traded with New York to acquire the guy they never should have traded away in January.

It took stopovers in Vancouver and New York, but Sebastien Le Toux is back in Philly. The Union sent Josue Martinez and allocation money to the Red Bulls in exchange for Le Toux, the club's all-time leading scorer.

Le Toux never wanted to leave the Union. He was on the wrong side of contract negotiations, with ex-Union coach Peter Nowak convincing the shot-callers in the front office to invest in cheaper, yet riskier options at striker before meeting Le Toux's contract demands. So the Union sent Le Toux to Vancouver, and Le Toux told the Daily Times hours after the January trade went official, that he would never again play for Nowak, a man for whom he had such little respect that he refused to shake his hand when the Whitecaps played the Union.

It appears he won't have to, with Union manager John Hackworth and CEO Nick Sakiewicz pulling the strings to bring back Le Toux.

Le Toux told me in July, after his trade from Vancouver to New York, that he hadn't ruled out the notion of playing for the Union in 2013. After all, he would be out of contract by then, and to a degree would have the cards in his hands. (I'm still trying to figure out some of the details of Le Toux's new contract. If I find them, I'll pass them along.)

The Union's vision at the time of the trade of Le Toux was simplistic: Bring in less-expensive options at striker in place of the 28-year-old with 25 goals in two seasons for the Union. It didn't work. They went from a playoff team to a doddering non-contender. Guys like Martinez, Gabriel Gomez and Lio Pajoy are gone. And back is the constant -- Le Toux.

Le Toux and the Union will hold a 10 a.m. press conference Friday. It's a presser that, to Union fans, will probably feel long overdue.

(Philadelphiaunion.com)

Here's John Hackworth's starting XI tonight v. visiting D.C. United:

GK ... MacMath
DF ... G Farfan, Williams, Valdes, Okugo
MF ... Carroll, Gomez, Daniel
FW ... Cruz, McInerney Hoppenot
Bench ... Harrison, Gaddis, Lahoud, Torres, Adu, Martinez, Hoffman

A few notes about the lineups:

• Keeping his word. Hackworth promised it. He said Wednesday he intended to play the kind of guys in the lineup who would help Jack McInerney end his seven-match scoreless streak. That explains why inventive and athletic players like Keon Daniel, Danny Cruz and Antoine Hoppenot are starting and Chandler Hoffman and Freddy Adu were selected as reserves. It's very clear the Union intend to make McInerney their target man moving forward. That's a commitment that anyone -- even those who aren't soccer savvy -- can see from a mile away. Now's the time to see if Hackworth's planning will pay off.
• Look who's back in town. D.C. will start Lio Pajoy up top, with Chris Pontius playing off the former Union striker. It's Pajoy's first match at PPL Park since being traded to United last month.
• An expectation from tonight: The Union need goals. More than one, to be honest. They have scored four in their last seven matches, and never more than once in that stretch. So there's a reason they haven't won since July 29. Look for McInerney to get one and -- oh, let's say -- Hoppenot for a second.

(Times / ROBERT J. GURECKI)

They've scored once in 351 regulation minutes. They've gone six matches without a win. They've been shut out nine times, a franchise record.

So ... what's the next step for the Union and their beleaguered offense?

If you ask John Hackworth, he thinks it's a goals-by-committee fix.

It's worse than that. The Union, with their scoreless draw in New England last weekend, have been blanked on nine occasions this season. That's worse than the eight they incurred in their inaugural season.

The likely move, per Hackworth, is to trust what you've got. That means playing third-year guy Jack McInerney (above), seasoned veteran Freddy Adu and rookies Antoine Hoppenot and Chandler Hoffman to your heart's content. That means trusting your gut with that quartet, in the hopes that those guys can find the net in a way they haven't in games gone by.

The real fix, however, is farming out the job. The Union must find goal scorer elsewhere. Their offseason add projects, in the form of Lio Pajoy and Josue Martinez, were failures. Pajoy wasn't anywhere near the goal scoring force the Union expected, or that ex-boss Peter Nowak had predicted. And Martinez, well, he can't even find his way into consistent starts.

Dating to 2011, they transferred one of MLS' most-successful goal scorers to Mexico (Carlos Ruiz), traded the franchise's best scorer for allocation money (Sebastien Le Toux) and traded another scoring threat (Danny Mwanga) for a guy marketed as a scoring threat (Jorge Perlaza), who turned out to be nothing more than a ghost in the lineup.

That's a ton of goals out the door. The remedy for the Union in the interim will come from that aforementioned foursome of young legs. The long-term fix will arrive in the offseason transfer window.

Look what Columbus did. The Crew rose from midseason irrelevance to postseason capable with the additions of Jairo Arrieta and Federico Higuain. They realized their flaws and went outside the franchise to correct it. The Union might have to do the same in hopes of achieving a more successful campaign in 2013.

(Associated Press)

WASHINGTON – Freddy Adu said something to me tonight that was poignant and spot-on, while also self-critical. Didn’t see it coming, to be honest.

“We’re not going to get a lot of chances on the road. We got them and we didn’t put them away,” Adu said, following the Union’s 1-1 draw at D.C. United. “I thought we did enough to get a second goal, and we didn’t get it done.

“At the end of the day, we were able to hold on and hold on, but we took our foot off the pedal.”

That sentiment is something he said way back in March, after a season-opening loss at Portland. Back then, he referred to it as a reluctance to “pull the trigger.” Sunday night, it was a pedal reference. It’s the same thing, only separated by five months.

The Union are in a holding pattern. Every time they inch closer to relevance in the MLS Cup Playoff picture, they suffer a setback – or, in this case, a series of them – in stumbling to a three-match winless streak. With 12 matches to go, the Union are all but out of it. Returning to the postseason for a second straight year seems distant, with the team requiring about seven wins in the final dozen times out to get it done. Doesn’t seem likely, does it?

Adu was critical of himself when speaking of the Union’s inability to get a second goal. (For more on that, pick up Monday’s edition of the Daily Times. I devoted an entire column to it.) Union manager John Hackworth said it, too, but he didn’t call out any player in particular.

“I think we should have scored two, all right?” Hackworth said. “We’ll talk about execution, but we did what we needed to do in a hostile environment.”

There were a few too many shoves to count, and too many red cards issued to call this one a clean game. But the Union surrendered more than one chance at a second goal. They should have had it. Could have had it. And taking down a team like D.C., which – as Ben Olsen said – is still clawing for a spt in the playoff race would have done wonders for the Union.

Instead, they are where they are – and that’s outside the playoff picture.

A couple notes from the match:

• Rave reviews for former teammate Lio Pajoy were plentiful, as the Colombian striker – traded Thursday from the Union to United – made his D.C. debut against his old side. Union captain Carlos Valdes didn’t like having to mark Pajoy. “He is (freaking) fast,” Valdes said. (I omitted a certain seven-letter expletive in there.)
• When things got chippy, and D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid left his box to break up a fight, Union keeper Zac MacMath said the thought crossed his mind. “It’s something I want to do, but obviously MLS doesn’t like goalkeepers coming out of the box. I got a yellow card earlier in the year for that, so I just have to restrain myself.
• D.C. coach Ben Olsen gave the quote of the night … after he left the podium. On his way out of the press room, after eight solid minutes of ranting against referee Mark Geiger, Olsen let this gem fly: “Drop some money off for my fine.”

That's it. Final dispatch from D.C. See you all in Philly, with Hackworth's Wednesday presser and the Union's match Friday night.

(MLSsoccer.com)

WASHINGTON --- Remember this guy? It's Lio Pajoy, former Union striker who will tonight against his old club.

Here's who John Hackworth is going with tonight in the starting XI against host D.C. United:

GK ... MacMath
DF ... Williams, Okugo, Valdes, G Farfan
MF ... M Farfan, Carroll, Lahoud
FW ... Cruz, McInerney, Adu
Bench: Harrison, Albright, Gaddis, Daniel, Torres, Hoffman, Hoppenot

A few notes about the lineup:

• New guy gets the nod. Midfielder Danny Cruz, who the Union acquired midweek from D.C. in exchange for Pajoy, is in the starting lineup. Conversely, Pajoy will play in United’s attack, alongside Dwayne De Rosario and Chris Pontius.
• Disappearing act. After starting last weekend, in his Union debut, Bakary Soumare didn’t even make the 18. Instead, Roger Torres – who had been a ghost in the gameday roster of late – is listed as a reserve. Hmm…
• Firepower off the bench. Well, if Hackworth’s lineup doesn’t produce any goals, maybe the Union reserves will. They include the aforementioned Torres, and explosive rookies Chandler Hoffman and Antoine Hoppenot.
• Real head-scratcher. Chris Albright made the 18. The veteran has played 10 minutes since March 31. The guy’s a good influence on the young kids, so you figure that’s Hackworth’s way of repaying him.

(MLSsoccer.com)

Well, that didn't take long.

Only minutes after Ives Galarcep, of SoccerByIves, reported that the Union could be shopping Lio Pajoy, they confirm that they've sent the Colombian striker to D.C. United for midfielder Danny Cruz.

The clubs face one another this weekend at RFK Stadium.

Cruz, a fourth-year guy, is a midfielder who's not afraid to take shots on goal. He had 26 in 2010, 25 in 2011 (playing for the MLS Cup runners-up Houston Dynamo) and he has 16 this season, during which he's played 16 games and started 12. Cruz has a goal and three assists in 969 minutes.

Pajoy, in his first season with the Union, has seen his time diminish of late, with the emergence of younger, less-expensive options swiping his playing time. With Chandler Hoffman fully recovered from a broken toe, the Union have been giving the rookie, Antoine Hoppenot and Jack McInerney looks up top as opposed to Pajoy. The striker had five goals and two assists with the Union.

National soccer writer Ives Galarcep is reporting Thursday that Union striker Lio Pajoy is being shopped.

Galarcep broke the news in a message on his Twitter account (pictured).

An immediate thought on any potential move involving Pajoy is that it would demonstrate Union interim manager John Hackworth's fidelity to youth development. Hackworth's coaching career is rooted in bringing along younger players and if a greener, less-expensive option is available -- someone who can do the same job as Pajoy -- why keep the Colombian?

Pajoy, in his first year with the Union, has seen a dip in playing time lately. He's started only one of the last three league matches. He has five goals and two assists in 20 matches, including 16 starts.

Again, this is only a report ... and not verification that any move has been made. Keep that in mind.

(Associated Press)

A popular question occupying space in my inbox last week was, "Can the Union make the playoffs?" It's not out of the question. But it isn't going to be easy.

Here are three modest proposals for how the Union could make the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs:

1. Play Keon Daniel or Michael Farfan in the central midfield -- every game. 

Remember how fans lauded Roger Torres a year ago for his spurts of speed and occasional craftiness in the midfield late in matches? Even if it didn't result in an equalizer or a game-winner, Torres' effort gave those walking out of PPL Park with a sense of pleasure.

With Torres falling on the depth chart, it's time to station Daniel and Farfan there. For good. Here's why: Daniel has the size and skill to muscle opposing midfielders off the ball and win challenges. Farfan, well, he's just a beast. An underrated player at his position, the guy is as good with the ball at his feet as the get. The problem is Farfan is the opposite of outspoken and doesn't ever call for the ball.

Against Chicago, the Union had no connecting passes between the defense and the attack. They settled for long-ball plays over the Fire or shots from long range. Getting the ball to Daniel and Farfan could change that.

2. Win. Simply put, win.

Getting results has never come easily for this franchise. It took the Union one full season, until 2011, to net their first winning streak. It took a ridiculous 3-3-8 stretch to close out that season in order to make the playoffs for the first time in club history.

Still, during that run, the Union lacked victories.

Time's running out. In order to have a decent shot at making the playoffs, they need at least 46 points. With 13 matches to go, they're only halfway there, at 23 points. It's not unheralded, winning games in bunches at the end of the season, they must pull off a 2004 Columbus Crew-type span to do it. That year, the Crew went 18 consecutive matches without a loss to close the season. Can it be done? It's time to find out.

3. Play the best lineup -- even if that means making difficult decisions.

You know what Hackworth did Sunday? After the deflating 3-1 loss to Chicago, he pointed a finger in his direction. He blamed himself for the loss. Wednesday, he was at it again. In his weekly presser, Hackworth said he needs to play the best lineup possible, even if it's not a popular decision.

It's time for Hackworth to do that, and here's what that means:

• Benching Freddy Adu from time to time because, without the ball at his feet, his work rate is lacking.
• Starting Lio Pajoy and Jack McInerney, and bringing Antoine Hoppenot off the bench in a role in which he's most effective.
• Sitting Mike Lahoud and Gabriel Gomez in favor of Brian Carroll and Amobi Okugo.
• And that, of course, means slotting Bakary Soumare and Carlos Valdes at centerback.

(PhiladelphiaUnion.com)

Here's John Hackworth's starting XI tonight at PPL Park v. New England:

GK ... MacMath
DF ... G Farfan, Valdes, Okugo, Williams
MF ... Carroll, Gomez, M Farfan
FW ... Adu, McInerney, Hoppenot

Bench: Harrison, Daniel, Gaddis, Lopez, Martinez, Pajoy, Lahoud.

Observations about the lineup:

• Hoppenot gets his chance. Rookie Antoine Hoppenot will start in the attack, his first opportunity to do so. Previously, he had only been used as a sub and playing no more than 31 minutes (June 23) in any of his appearances.
• Adu is back. After a one-game absence, Freddy Adu is back in the lineup. More to come on this hot-button topic (hopefully) afterward.
• Pajoy on the bench. Assuming he gets into the match, Lionard Pajoy will come off the bench for the third time in his last five appearances, after starting the first 11 matches of the season.
• Gomez v. Lahoud. Seemingly, the only week-to-week positional battle has been in the midfield, between Gabriel Gomez and Michael Lahoud, who had started six of eight games since arriving in Philly via trade in May. Tonight, it's Gomez, who started the first 10 matches of the season. Since then, he's been an unused sub three times, been subbed on three times more and started only twice.
• Albright on the bench ... sort of. Defender Chris Albright hasn't played more than nine minutes in a match since March 24. So why is he on the bench tonight? Well, technically, he's the team administrator -- as is stated on the gameday roster. He's not in the 18. Word is he's a good influence on the younger guys, but Hackworth didn't want to surrender a roster spot for a guy who likely would not get into the game.

(Courtesy PhiladelphiaUnion.com)

Here's the lineup the Union will use against Montreal:

GK MacMath
DF G Farfan
DF Valdes
DF Okugo
DF Williams
MF Carroll
MF Lahoud
MF Adu
FW Daniel
FW McInerney
FW Martinez

Bench: Harrison, Gomez, Hoppenot, Gaddis, Albright, Torres, Pajoy.

#       #       #       #       #

Some notes and obserations about the lineup...

Welcome back, Josue. It's been so long since Union fans saw Josue Martinez in action that it's likely they forgot who he was. But Martinez (pictured), a key offseason acquisition, will get the start at forward -- his first since June 16 and only his third of the season. Martinez, who will pair with Jack McInerney and Keon Daniel up top, will make his 10th appearance of the season. Martinez has not played since June 16, a stretch of four matches of inactivity. He has managed only 177 minutes since the end of April.
Bench bodies. Before drawing conclusions about who's in the dog house, here's all you need to know about the Union's bench tonight: They're resting some tired bodies. Gabriel Gomez is still as productive as ever and Lio Pajoy has enjoyed a rejuvenation of late.
No Perlaza, no Lopez. Forward Jorge Perlaza and defender Porfirio Lopez warmed up together, serving as jogging partners in pre-game. But neither player made the 18. The obvious reason why: They're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Perlaza was traded for by former Union boss Peter Nowak. And Lopez was sought after in the offseason by Nowak. They just don't seem to fit into interim manager John Hackworth's plans.

(Times staff / COLIN KERRIGAN)

Here's who the Union will start tonight against Sporting Kansas City in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal:

GK MacMath
DF G Farfan
DF Valdes (C)
DF Okugo
DF Williams
MF M Farfan
MF Carroll
MF Lahoud
FW Pajoy
FW McInerney
FW Adu

Bench: Konopka, Daniel, Gomez, Hoppenot, Albright, Martinez, Gaddis.

A few notes about the starters:

• No go for Gabriel Gomez? The Union's leading scorer, with five goals, Gomez starts the match on the bench. If he was to start, Gomez likely would have supplanted Michael Lahoud, the sparkplug midfielder who never stops running. Perhaps John Hackworth is looking to give Gomez a breather, during this tenuous stretch of games. Or perhaps he likes what Lahoud gives him at the start of the match. Not sure what else to say about this move.
• If it ain't broke... Hackworth has made a point of saying he's unwilling to tamper with things that are working. With that in mind, we find Jack McInerney (pictured) and Lio Pajoy situated atop the attack. Hackworth knows what he's doing: Across all competitions, with those two at the forefront of the team's offense, the Union are averaging 2.5 goals per match (15 goals in 6 matches).

The Union played for 80 minutes like a draw with Houston was imminent. And in the 81st, the game changed dramatically with the toot of the referee's whistle. A penalty-kick strike from Brian Ching led the Dynamo to a 2-1 victory. Now, I'm not prepared to say that a referee's call, a drawn foul by Ching in the box in the 81st, ultimately led to the Union's demise.

Fact is, John Hackworth's club had multiple opportunities to win this game, without resorting to physical play in the box against Ching, a former U.S. national team player and an MLS veteran who knows who to make a subtle contact look not to subtle. “It was a tough call," Hackworth said Saturday night. "I would need to go look at the replay a couple times. Either way, we have two guys in the box versus one and we need to be smarter in the box and defend it better."

 The Union, after playing 45 minutes of flat soccer, found the back of the net in the 46th minute when Keon Daniel turned and fired a cross from Brian Carroll at the edge of the box. Prior to that, the Union had two sound chances to score -- including a 2-on-1 attack from Lio Pajoy and Jorge Perlaza, the latter of whom hit the ball just wide of the left post in the first half's earliest moments.

And after Daniel's goal, the Union began to dominate possession like they hadn't in the opening 45 minutes. It looked like the Union, who had never lost to the Dynamo in a regular-season match, were about to maintain that streak.

The folks conversing with me on Twitter attempted to place the blame on referee Fotis Bazakos, who blew the whistle and, in doing so, blew the call. They called it "unjust," "unfair," "a blown call," and "a phantom call."

Others prior to the game wondered why guys like Freddy Adu and Antoine Hoppenot were on the bench and not in the starting lineup. With the Union mired in a nine-match-in-27-day stretch, Hackworth can't afford to start Adu every game, nor can they attempt to try Hoppenot, who's developed into a super-sub, outside of a reserve capacity. Hackworth has said he has to trust the depth of the Union. He can't play a game of lineup favoritism. He can't play his ideal lineup each time out, either. He has to use the best guys available at the best times in order to keep everyone fresh, so some nights --- like Saturday in Houston --- you might not see the Union's most-potent lineup on the pitch.

OK, long story short: In the most-literal sense, yes, the Union lost the match because of Ching's penalty kick. But neither a PK, nor an errant whistle should have kept the Union from winning. They had opportunities, but failed to deliver on them.

(Times / JULIA WILKINSON)

Though he may downplay it, or deflect credit for it, Lionard Pajoy’s progress since joining the Union hasn’t gone unnoticed.

He may not be a step as quick as other players. And he may not have scored nearly as many goals as advertised in the preseason by ex-Union boss Peter Nowak. But Pajoy’s improved play is showing up when the Union have needed it.

Pajoy struck twice Tuesday night, once from the run of play and another time from the penalty spot, in a 5-2 win over Harrisburg that sent the Union into the semifinal stage of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Part of the reason for Pajoy’s improved play of late has been that he’s lining up beside two others in the Union’s new-look formation. No longer is the Colombian striker being counted on as the lone striker. Instead, he’s been paired up with Jack McInerney and a combination of other players, like Josue Martinez, Antoine Hoppenot and even Freddy Adu at glimmers pushing forward.

On the same token, Pajoy isn’t always on the attack. He’s dropped a step or two into the midfield, and been counted upon as a link to distribute the ball, rather than simply dump it over the opposition and run onto it.

“It’s just been the hard work that we’ve been putting in,” Pajoy said the other day, through a translator. “The offense, as well as the rest of the team has realized that we have to start scoring goals to win games.

“Not just me, but the entire team, feels pretty confident due to our recent games. It’s something that we didn’t have in the beginning of the season.”

Notice how many times Pajoy said ‘I’ there? Zero. He’s a humble guy, who often will not answer questions pertaining to himself. Call it Bryzgalov-itis, but Pajoy’s taking a team-first approach … even after netting a brace.

Pajoy doesn’t want to be the only guy being relied upon to score. That might have been his M.O. when brought in last offseason, but it isn’t anymore.

“The team isn’t relying on one person. Everyone on the offense is doing their part,” Pajoy said. “This is important for a team that aspires to great things. Hopefully, the offensive players can continue their ways.”

(Greg Carroccio / Philadelphia Union)

About 15 minutes after the locker room had nearly emptied, after the shouts of elation had quieted, there was this subtle exchange between Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz and midfielder Freddy Adu.

Adu: “What's up, boss?”
Sakiewicz: “Two more, baby.”
Adu: “Yep, yep.”

Sakiewicz knows it. Adu knows it. The Union and their supporters know it. They are two victories away from winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, following Tuesday's 5-2 thumping of Harrisburg City Islanders. They face Sporting Kansas City, a 3-0 winner over Dayton Dutch Lions, in a July 11 semifinal at PPL Park.

It seems as though the Union's success is a product of playing more loose, which is a product of John Hackworth's impression upon this group.

From playing a more youthful lineup, to those younger players actually pulling their weight (Jack McInerney and Antoine Hoppenot, for example) … from players saying how they feel, to wearing what they like (bowties are a pretty popular look these days in the locker room), the Union are a charismatic group of guys who don't feel any pressure.

“Player management is important, and (Hackworth) has done a great job doing that for us since he's taken over,” Adu said. “Even when he was the assistant coach, he was the guy that – when you're the assistant coach, you have more of a relationship with your assistant coach when you're a player than with your head coach. He's the guy that is kind of quote-unquote your friend. He's the guy you go to to talk to. The head coach is more like the guy you don't approach – the boss.

“Because of that, I think some of the guys feel close to him. The relationship now, the title is different, but the relationship is strong. He's done an amazing job of keeping it the same, where he's really allowing us to really be ourselves. He is himself. He hasn't changed. He's John Hackworth, and we're thankful for that.”

If you don't buy into Hackworth's influence on this group, how else would you rationalize the following:

• The rapid development of Hoppenot, the 51st pick in the supplemental draft, from seldom-used sub to impact reserve with the scoring touch?
• The immediate impact of McInerney, who has transformed from lineup-card omission to goal-scoring starter?
• The emergence of Amobi Okugo, a natural midfielder who has played impeccably at central defense?

Hackworth may not be the best X-and-Os coach in MLS. He may not be the most skilled man to ever hold a clipboard. But he knows how to handle a group of kids looking for a chance. He's given the Union confidence and, in turn, they've given him production. He's shown them faith and, in turn, they're making good on that commitment.

“Hack has always told me the same thing, from the moment I got here,” said Hoppenot, who drew a foul in the box that resulted in Lio Pajoy's 69nd-minute penalty kick goal. “He's been in my corner since Day 1.”

That's why the Union are two wins away from their first piece of hardware.

NOTE: The Union introduced newly signed 26-year-old Bakary Soumare prior to the match. He went from greeting media in pregame to greeting fans during the game. Soumare, a 6-4 centerback, grabbed the mallet and starting playing the bass drum in The River End, Section 137. "I didn't play it too much," Soumare told me, "but it was a lot of fun out there." According to Soumare, his deal with the Union is "long-term." Read about it here.

Fifty players were selected before he was … in the third round … of the 2012 MLS supplemental draft. It's a selection process reserved for the afterthoughts, the guys who weren't good enough to get picked in the SuperDraft.

So being taken No. 51 has taught Antoine Hoppenot a thing or two about humility.

“I feel like everybody wants to play, but I never expected to play this much soon since, you know, I'm a supplemental guy,” Hoppenot said.

A Princeton product, Hoppenot scored in the 87th minute – a savvy chip for the first MLS tally of his career, off a brilliant throughball from Michael Farfan – in the Union's 4-0 win Saturday night over Sporting Kansas City. He was subbed on in the 58th minute, in place of Freddy Adu.

It's right to assume the Union expect more out of Adu, their designated played. But Adu said he was “running a little fatigued” and suffering from a bum shoulder, courtesy a first-half hit. That left the door open for Hoppenot to shine.

Hoppenot was all over PPL Park Saturday, racing through the box with regularity and making runs into the offensive third. He was challenging from the moment he stepped onto the field, even with his team ahead by two goals. The 21-year-old forward drew a foul in the box, setting up Lio Pajoy's 82nd-minute penalty-kick tally, before scoring one of his own – a chip-shot goal in the 87th.

“I love coming in with 20, 30 minutes left. Right now that's my thing,” Hoppenot said. “I can go out there and just completely gas myself out because 20, 30 minutes is not that much time. It's perfect for me. I can go out there and sprint, sprint, sprint and make something happen.

“I was just happy to get drafted,” he continued. “I worked hard when I got to camp and now Coach (John) Hackworth has confidence in me. He knows if he keeps playing me, I'm going to keep trying the best I have.”

(Times staff / COLIN KERRIGAN)

Union starting XI just announced for tonight's match against Sporting Kansas City. Here it is:

GK MacMath
DEF G Farfan
DEF Valdes
DEF Okugo
DEF Gaddis
MF M Farfan
MF Carroll
MF Lahoud
MF Adu
FW McInerney
FW Pajoy (pictured)

A couple observations here:
BACKLINE: With Sheanon Williams listed as 'out' in the injury report with a right big toe avulsion fracture, you knew the Union were going to have to get creative. So Ray Gaddis is back at right back, and we get to see more of Amobi Okugo paired with captain Carlos Valdes at centerback. Never a bad thing.

MIDFIELD: Nothing doing here. As John Hackworth said this week, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. So you get the same lineup the Union tossed out there a week ago. Good to see Hack sticking to his guns.

FORWARD: A little different look here, with Lio Pajoy returning from his one-game suspension and knocking Josue Martinez from the starting lineup. I still think Pajoy, who's been a step too slow this season, has something to prove before he gets playing time ahead of Martinez. But that's not up to me, now is it? Also, Jack McInerney gets his second consecutive start. Great opportunity for the kid to have at it. He's been champing at the bit since the end of last season and had been denied the chance. Let's see if he's as aggressive as he was a week ago.

Here's the Union's bench for tonight:
GK Konopka
DEF Lopez
MF Daniel
MF Torres
FW Hoppenot
FW Martinez
FW Perlaza

If I'm Hackworth, I'm looking to Perlaza, Martinez and Hoppenot to give me a lift if the Union trail late. As far as we can tell, Torres is not 100 percent -- per Hackworth -- and could be a liability if he rushes back for more than garbage time.

(Associated Press)

Saturday night, the Union are going to be without Lio Pajoy.

While basic logic would dictate that new-guy Jorge Perlaza, pictured, would get the nod to start against D.C. United, Union manager John Hackworth said the other day, 'Hey, not so fast.'

Hackworth said he and the technical staff haven't had too much time to watch Perlaza, for whom the Union traded last week with Portland, and he added the opportunity to play Saturday is up for grabs.

“We got to see (Perlaza) for the first time earlier this week and (Tuesday in a friendly with Harrisburg)  for a half," Hackworth said Wednesday, after his hire as the Union's interim boss. "We're going to go through the next two days and see if he's the best option for us to put on the field. If he is, he'll get that opportunity, but there are some other guys in there that certainly are fighting for that spot."

Pajoy, who has three goals, will serve a one-game suspension for what the MLS Disciplinary Committee deemed a reckless tackle against Toronto FC. So if Pajoy is unavailable, and Perlaza isn't an automatic starter, that means one of the Union's younger strikers could get a shot to crack the starting XI.

Among those who could get the nod are:

• Jack McInerney, 19, the third-year forward who has played all of 93 minutes this season and who last fall was rated as one of MLS' top 24 under 24.
• Cristhian Hernandez, 18, a Homegrown Player who has made two MLS appearances in cleanup time.
• German import Kai Herdling, whose loan expires June 30. 
• Chandler Hoffman, 21, the first-round SuperDraft pick whose MLS playing time has been limited but has impressed in friendlies.
• Antoine Hoppenot, 21, the supplemental-draft choice who netted the game-winner against D.C. in a fourth-round U.S. Open Cup match.

If not Perlaza, who do you think has earned the chance to start Saturday at forward? Let the debate begin.

(philadelphiaunion.com)

It's an obvious question that has no simple answer.

The Union, owners of Major League Soccer's most-anemic offense, traded one of their goal-scoring threats this week when they shipped Danny Mwanga to Portland.

They picked up forward Jorge Perlaza in the process, but the move begged the inquiry, 'Where to from here?' Who carries the torch for a team that -- like Toronto FC -- has scored the fewest goals, with only eight?

Union boss Peter Nowak might have said it best Thursday.

"Why (make this trade) now?" Nowak said, rhetorically. "If you look at the standings and you look at the goals we scored, we can't rely on one guy who can score. It's Lio (Pajoy) or Gabriel Gomez (pictured above). We have to be dangerous up top. These youngsters … they're moving along, but they're not there yet. We cannot wait until it's too late. This kind of stuff is important to give (Perlaza) a couple weeks to establish himself to make sure we give him enough time to know the team. … We cannot fool ourselves with our position in the standings.”

Here are three ideas and observations for how the Union can turn around their season, beginning June 16 when they resume MLS competition with their home match with D.C. United:

1. One (striker) is the loneliest number. The Union have tried their luck with a one-striker formation, leaving Pajoy up top to create off what the midfield gives him. So far, he has only three goals. Gomez has four. Eleven matches into the MLS slate, it's time to try something new. The only way for the Union to determine what they have at their disposal is to throw their forwards into the fire. How about a two-forward look with swift youngster Jack McInerney taking the lead, with Pajoy -- who's a step or two slower -- creating more by playing off him? What about putting Josue Martinez, who's proven himself of late, and Perlaza on the wings with Pajoy as the center-striker, using three strikers to stretch the opposition's backline? What the Union have attempted hasn't worked. So why not try something different?

2. Give the keys of the offense to Perlaza. If the Union aren't willing to try the latter, perhaps the next-best option is putting the offensive workload in Perlaza's hands. He'll have the trust of his Colombian countrymen, with whom -- Nowak assures us -- he'll work well. He demonstrated in Portland that his speed, agility and skill have the potential to break down opposing defenses and, as seen in 2011, he thrives as a center-striker. Giving Perlaza these next two friendlies as a chance to get accustomed to the Union, in advance of that June 16 match, and then turning him loose might be exactly what Perlaza -- who hasn't scored since Aug. 20, 2011 -- needs in order to break a 786-minute scoreless stretch.

3. Don't count on much from Roger Torres. The crafty Colombian midfielder, due back tonight from a two-month injury layoff for a friendly against Reading United AC, is skilled. He's that connecting pass between the midfield and the attack that the Union desperately need. But Torres should be eased back into the mix. Consider: Torres has played more than 70 minutes only eight times since joining the Union in 2010. It's more realistic to allow Torres to progress slowly the next three weeks while Kai Herdling plays out the final weeks of his loan, which expires June 30. That's how the Union can ensure they'll get the best out of Torres in the season's crunch time.

Hey, just some ideas.

(Times/ERIC HARTLINE)

Thursday, Peter Nowak had a few interesting things to say about jettisoned forward Danny Mwanga.

First, he said trading Mwanga to Portland for Jorge Perlaza "was not Danny's fault." Then, he said Mwanga "needs to answer questions for himself" regarding his career trajectory.

Overall, it sounds like Nowak had good intentions in bringing aboard Perlaza, but there's no doubt Mwanga's lack of sustained success as the top overall SuperDraft pick in 2010 has people scratching their heads.

Here's the rest of Nowak's press conference:

On the trade
"I think both teams were looking from the technical standpoint. Noth teams were looking for some, not change per se, but also to complement the strikers we have. Portland have Kris Boyd and they were looking to complement him with something. With us, it's Lio Pajoy. We tried with the different components to put two, three strikers, for this reason. … Jorge's good to withdraw the defenders a little bit. But it's difficult for him to stretch the field. We're looking to stretch the field and make it bigger. I think both teams can find good components in the lineup. From this standpoint, it's a good trade for both teams.”

On what went into the trade
"Before the trade like that happens, you have to check all the angles. I talked to Carlos (Valdes) and Lio about him. We check all the angles. We want the guy who is hungry and have experience winning the championship. He's slightly older than Danny, but it's not like we're getting an old striker.”
"I will say the most important thing is when we go to Carlos and Lio about (Perlaza's) abilities. Carlos played with him. We know what we're getting. We know the qualities he's bringing to the table."

Why make this trade now
"Why now? If you look at the standings and you look at the goals we scored, we can't rely on one guy who can score. It's Lio or Gabriel Gomez. We have to be dangerous up top. These youngsters … they're moving along, but they're not there yet. We cannot wait until it's too late. This kind of stuff is important to give (Perlaza) a couple weeks to establish himself to make sure we give him enough time to know the team. … We cannot fool ourselves with our position in the standings.”

On Perlaza
"We need a guy who is not afraid to stretch the backline and make the defender think. Now we've got the guy who is very good at this. He's very mobile, moves to the wings. ... They're both (Josue Martinez and Perlaza) very good on the wings. Both of them have tremendous speed. Now we have another option to make the defenders uneasy."

On where Mwanga faltered
"It's not Danny's fault. We try a lot of things. We try to give him confidence that he needs to succeed. ... He struggled last year with his shoulde. He scored a couple goals coming off the bench. He played with Sebastien up top. The process is not anything. The quality is what we need right now because of the configuration of the team. It's not like we wake up in the morning and trade this guy. It's a colelctive decision. ... We're on the same page.

On whether Mwanga's hunger to succeed, based on an earlier quote, was lacking
"No, that's not what I said. Danny was a consummate professional. He was great. I cannot say anything negative about him. The technical side of the trade, hungry means neither Danny or Jorge has scored a goal. He wants to be successful. I wish Danny the best. You never know how this is going to work out, but these are the qualities we needed. We believe he is going to help us. Lio will have a good complement and that's what we're looking for. The work needs to be done. ... We believe he will work out very well and he knows already the people he played with."

On regret that a No. 1 SuperDraft pick foundered
"I cannot analyze this thing. I will leave it up to you how to address this thing."

On Mwanga in MLS, and whether he can succeed
"Don't forget – I was the one who flew Christmas Eve to Portland to convince him not to go to France, to come to MLS. I spent time with his family, with his guardians. ... For the future, you never know how it's going to play out. It's always a question how we'll address it and how we're going to go in the future. Danny needs to answer the questions himself – where are you going to be as a professional, where are you going to be as a soccer player?”

(Getty Images)

On the heels of the Union's trade Wednesday of forward Danny Mwanga to Portland, I spoke with Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz, who used the four-minute phone conversation to temper fears of fans while trumping up who the club got in return.

Here are Sakiewicz's thoughts on Mwanga, Timbers-turned-Union striker Jorge Perlaza and fan outcry:

On whether the move carried transfer-window implications
“No, because this move wasn't made within the transfer window. It doesn't open until July. This was a move to make our team better, bring in a guy with multiple weapons in Perlaza and a guy who can do multiple things offensively. Danny's been great with us. He's a tremendous young talent and we wish him well moving forward. This wasn't about freeing up money. This was about grabbing a player who can help us.”

On whether the move was an indictment on a technical staff that acquired offensive players in the offseason
“Not at all. I don't know where you get that from. I don't have any idea if you saw how Josue (Martinez) and Lio (Pajoy) and Freddy (Adu) were playing (Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup).”

On whether there's a crunch for minutes for Perlaza
“There always is. Guy's have to earn there spots. It's good to have a guy like Perlaza with attributes we don't have. Peter will embellish that and tell you Perlaza comes with some weapons we can use.”

On veracity of published reports in the offseason, that Perlaza was on the Union's radar
“I don't know. He's not a player who has come up in our discussions in previous years. Diego (Gutierrez, Union head of scouting) knows him very well. A couple of our guys in the locker room know him. You have to talk to Peter (Nowak, Union manager) about that, whether he's been on our radar.

On reassuring fans who might throw their hands up that another fan favorite has been traded
“I have no respose to (our fans) throwing hands up at any point. We dont give up, we dont quit and we're doing everything possible to get better each season.”