Union beats Celtic FC, 1-0, in international friendly

A day before they faced the Union in an international friendly, Celtic FC's players met with local reporters to discuss the first match in a four-city North American tour. When they were quizzed on the Union, they had no answers.

Seemingly, nothing had changed after the Union secured a 1-0 victory Wednesday night at Chester's PPL Park.

Intent on offering a crash course in Union 101, forward Sebastien Le Toux delivered a goal midway through the first half that was enough for the club to win its first match against an international opponent.

Perhaps the Union was helped by the fact that Celtic's players knew nothing about them. The Scottish club, playing in its first preseason match, appeared more concerned with their conditioning for the future than the Union themselves.

When asked Tuesday how much his team knew about the Union, Celtic team manager Neil Lennon pointed to highlights the club saw of a recent Union match. Celtic could not name a single player on the Union roster.

That didn't bother Le Toux, who scored in the 23d minute after he was fed inside the box, where he dribbled around his man, broke loose on the right wing, and then had an open look at the goal to score. As he said, he'll take a win any way the club can get one.

"For us, I know it's an even player against an even player," Le Toux said. "We scored a goal against them. They got some opportunities, but we stayed strong and everyone did a great job."

It was a much-needed win for the Union, even if it won't count toward their point total in the Eastern Conference of MLS.

Celtic fired off four shots in the first half, none of them going in the vicinity of the goal, leaving Union goalkeeper Brad Knighton without much work.

In the second half, the club replaced him with Brian Perk, who collected four saves, including three that came in on one play late in the match. Another came in stoppage time.

"At this stage, it happens," Perk said. "But for me, I felt confident. I do it in training every day. You know, all the goalkeepers are behind me, the coaching staff [is] behind me. So I felt there was no reason to panic or anything. I've been there, done it. Just do it on this stage and move on."

The Union return to their league schedule on Saturday, when they host Toronto FC.

After that, they'll welcome another international club - Manchester United, on July 21 in a friendly match at Lincoln Financial Field - before they resume the remainder of their league schedule.