The game in 100 words (or less): If Wednesday in Chester is any indication, life without Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins is going to go about as you’d expect. Seattle had a lot of trouble finding its attack minus its two offensive leaders, and Philadelphia was unlucky not to come away with a multi-goal win. CJ Sapong deserved to have an early goal, and grabbed one that couldn’t be whistled back late in the match. Seattle’s lost two on the bounce, while Philly is 4-3 in its last 7.
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Three moments that mattered
28′ — Phantom foul denies Philly — CJ Sapong found with an easy tap-in after Seattle keeper Stefan Frei couldn’t collect a long throw-in. The referee ajudged Andrew Wenger’s leap to have infringed Frei, or at least that’s what we think. It remained 0-0.
32′ — Frei stops a PK — Maurice Edu had a chance to put Philly ahead after a foul on Wenger in the box, but Frei correctly ascertained his intentions, diving right to parry and then corral the penalty kick.
69' -- Sapong leaves no doubt -- Sheanon Williams’ nifty pass over the the Seattle back line gave Sapong his chance, and Frei could only get a piece of the resulting header. 1-0 home side with 21-plus to play.
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Man of the match: Sapong. He has six goals on the season, and to paraphrase one Twitterer, “I wish our forwards could be Sapong, Sapong and Sapong”.