Torres goal lifts Union over Red Bulls

Roger Torres didn't wait long to make an impact on the Union attack, one that benefited from an infusion of young blood.

Less than a minute after replacing Carlos Ruiz on Saturday night, the 19-year-old Torres converted a breakaway after being sent on goal by Danny Mwanga in the 68th minute. His goal gave the Union a 1-0 Major League Soccer win over the New York Red Bulls in front of a record PPL Park crowd of 19,027.

"I feel very good and am very happy," Torres said. "It's good for everyone that we get three points."

Up to that point, the Red Bulls had controlled play. That changed when Mwanga stole a pass by Tim Ream and hit a streaking Torres, who converted for his first MLS goal after recording six assists last season.

The 19-year-old Mwanga was also a late insertion. He replaced Justin Mapp in the 59th minute and then made the key play on his steal of Ream's pass.

Ream "didn't see me coming, and I took advantage of it," Mwanga said.

The Union are 3-1, with all three victories by 1-0 scores. New York, the preseason Eastern Conference favorite, dropped to 1-1-2.

The three shutouts are one more than the Union recorded last season while going 8-15-7.

"We have made some huge strides," Union defender Danny Califf said. "Everybody recognized last year we were better than our record, and this year we are validating that we are a better team and are putting up the results."

And he realizes there is plenty of room for improvement.

"The best thing is that we haven't played our best soccer, and we are standing here with nine points," Califf said.

A third member of the Union kiddie corps, midfielder Amobi Okugo, gave the team a major lift off the bench. Okugo played a solid game after replacing Brian Carroll in the sixth minute. Carroll suffered a strained hamstring.

The Union's best first-half chance came when Mapp's end-swinging free kick from just outside the box on the right side was tapped wide in front of the goal by Califf. Mapp was moving well after missing the previous two games with a hamstring strain.

Despite that play, the scoreless first half truly belonged to the Red Bulls.

New York's Juan Agudelo, on a nice feed from Dwayne De Rosario, hit the post on a low roller from just inside the box in the 21st minute.

Agudelo then hit the crossbar in the 32d minute from 10 yards out after taking a long pass, trapping the ball and shooting while Califf was in pursuit.

"It is ridiculous to lose a game like this," New York coach Hans Backe said. "It happens all the time; you make mistakes, and we have to blame ourselves for not scoring in the first half."

In the 48th minute, Faryd Mondragon momentarily stayed down after getting hit in the face by the ball after a wide shot by Joel Lindpere went out of bounds and bounced back and hit the Union keeper.

"It is the first time in my career I had that particular situation," Mondragon said. "It was kind of funny, it hurt a little, but I am OK."

And so is his team, sitting in first place in the Eastern Conference.