WASHINGTON - Union coach Jim Curtin couldn't have asked for a better start against the best team in the Eastern Conference.
Only 21 seconds into the match, Union forward C.J. Sapong fielded a pass in the middle of the box, shed his defender like an elusive NFL running back and fired a rightfooted shot past D.C. United goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra for an unusually early lead at RFK Stadium yesterday.
Sapong's goal was the fastest in Union history and seventh-fastest in MLS history, not to mention the fastest in the league this season.
Three minutes later, midfielder Sebastien Le Toux made what looked like a pass to Sapong, who was knifing through the middle of the box, but the ball went untouched and rolled all the way to the back of the net for a two-goal lead.