Philadelphia Union Wins Exhibition Opener 5-0 Over North Carolina Tarheels

Yes I fully understand that a professional soccer club should beat a team of college players every time out on the pitch, but forgive us here in Philadelphia for feeling exciting about the Union's 5-0 win over a very good University of North Carolina Squad this weekend.

The game more than the win itself, simply means we are another step closer to the regular season and for soccer fans here in the tri-state area, it is a concept that at one time only existed in conversation.

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunion!

Union Head coach Peter Nowak and his club has been in North Carolina for almost two weeks and it’s clear that the team is starting to jell.

Yesterday’s game was highlighted by the hat trick performance of Frenchman and former Seattle Sounder, Sebastien Le Toux. Philadelphia’s other two goals came off the boots of mid-fielder Shea Salinas and the youngest member of the roster, 17-year-old Jack McInerney, the seventh overall pick in this year’s MLS Super Draft.

The Union are in North Carolina until Feb. 16 and are expected to return to the Philadelphia area to continue preparation for the March 25 season opener at Seattle against the Sounders.

In other MLS Exhibition games this weekend: 

Philadelphia	5
University of NC	0
Sebastien Le Toux 3 goals
UCLA	0
LA Galaxy	4
Former UCLA Bruin Michael Stephens
Scores 2 goals
University of Tulsa	1
FC Dallas	7
Atiba Harris 2 goals, David Ferreira 2 goals
Breck Shea 3 asst
Columbus Crew	1
DC United	0
Devon McTavish own goal.
Southern Methodist	0
Houston Dynamo	4
Dominic Oduro  2 goals,Cam Weaver 2 goals