Commerce City, CO (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Union earned their first
victory over the Colorado Rapids in franchise history on Sunday after posting
a 2-1 win at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Sunday's interconference tilt was originally scheduled to be played on
Saturday, but blizzard conditions in the area caused the game to be postponed.
Having to stay on the road an extra day did not faze Philadelphia as the
visitors got off the mark first for the second consecutive week.
Amobi Okugo gave the Union the lead 34 minutes into the match when he got a
clean header away following a Sebastien Le Toux corner kick and powered it
past a helpless Matt Pickens, who was rooted to his spot. It was Okugo's first
career goal.
Colorado's fortunes changed in the second half when Jamie Smith was brought on
at halftime and the move paid dividends for the home side when he found an
equalizer in the 68th minute.
Smith ran onto a nice feed from Deshorn Brown and powered a left-footed strike
past Philadelphia goalkeeper Zac MacMath.
But Philadelphia grabbed a winner with 11 minutes to play through Jack
McInerney, who hustled to catch up to a well-placed through ball by Antoine
Hoppenot and beat Pickens with a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner
of the net.
Colorado had several chances in the final minutes as the fourth official's
board showed five minutes of extra time, but Philadelphia's defense held firm
to secure the three points.
The result marks the Rapids' first home-opening loss in nine years.
The Sports Network