The Philadelphia Union turned in their best performance of the season against one of the best teams in MLS in a 4-0 rout of Sporting KC. Jack McInerney rewarded new manager John Hackworth's decision to start with a first half brace as "Doop" played throughout the stadium early and often.
McInerney, who had largely rode the bench under Peter Nowak, was inserted into the starting lineup by Hackworth and paid immediate dividends when he tapped in a Lionard Pajoy layoff in the first minute. The play was set up thanks to a fantastic feed from rookie RB Raymond Gaddis, who is filling in for the injured Sheanon Williams.
Jack Mac's 2nd goal was much like his first, when he knocked in a rebound off a corner kick in the 42nd minute. Neither were pretty goals for Jack, but they were kind that good strikers all over the world find themselves in positions to get. It was a definitely an encouraging night from the youngster.
Speaking of youngsters, 21 year old French native Antoine Hoppenot created both of the Union's second half goals. The first came when he earned a penalty after being hauled down in the box in the 81st minute. Lionard Pajoy took and converted the spot kick. Hoppenot would get his own goal just 6 minutes later when he again broke away from the defense and finished with this lovely chip over Sporting KC keeper Jimmy Nielsen.
It was a big night for the Union, who sit just one place off the bottom in the Eastern conference against the team that sits just one place off the top of the West. John Hackworth's more attacking 4-3-3 certainly seems to have injected some life into this squad, which will delight Union fans who have largely suffered through a pretty drab and boring Nowak led team in 2012.
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