Carlos Ruiz opened his account with the Union with a 77th minute goal that proved to be the game winner as Philadelphia shut out the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0. It was the Union's home opener at PPL and expansion Vancouver's first ever away game.
The Union goal came after an extended period of pressure from the home side. Sheanon Williams knocked a cross into the box that a Vancouver defender headed out straight to Stefani Miglioranzi, who teed up a long distance shot that ended up dribbling over to Sebastien Le Toux to the right of the keeper. Le Toux calmly passed to a wide open Carlos Ruiz at the other side of the net for the goal to keep the Union undefeated on the season so far. Newly signed goalkeeper and Union captain Faryd Mondragon earned his second straight shutout as Philadelphia, whose defense was porous and goalkeeping suspect last season, has yet to concede a goal this year. The Whitecaps played a man down for the last half hour as Eric Hassli was sent off in the 57th minute for a second yellow card.
The win puts the Union clear at the top of the Eastern conference and MLS as a whole with 6 points. Chicago, New England & New York are all tied for second with 4 points in the young season. LA Galaxy lead the West with 4 points from 3 games. The Union's next game is against that Galaxy squad at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA next Saturday at 10:30 pm eastern.