Union's Farfan thrilled with first goal

Michael Farfan won't soon forget his first score. The Union rookie midfielder/defender from the University of North Carolina tallied his first Major League Soccer goal in Saturday's 2-1 win over the visiting Chicago Fire and broke a scoreless tie with the strike in the 64th minute.

"I was excited to get on the field and get a start at home in front of our great fans and the goal was awesome," said Farfan, who was making his second start and third appearance of the season. "It definitely was a confidence booster just to get out there and compete at this level and was definitely a good thing."

Besides his first goal, Farfan also was named to MLSsoccer.com's team of the week.

Union midfielder Amobi Okugo says he expects to be out one to three weeks after suffering a high-ankle sprain early in the win over Chicago. He was replaced in the fifth minute by Kyle Nakazawa.

"When it happened, I was trying to play it off, and every time I put pressure on, it kept throbbing," Okugo said.

The 20-year-old midfielder has been among the Union's most improved players. He tried to put a philosophical spin on the injury.

"This happens in soccer," he said. "You have to keep mentally strong, and once you return to the field you have to be ready to pick up where you left off."

Toronto FC, which hosts the Union at 12:30 p.m. at BMO Field, saw a 1-0 deficit wiped out by the weather during Wednesday evening's second leg of the Nutrilite Canadian Championships against the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps.

With Toronto trailing, 1-0, after 60 minutes, the game was postponed due to rain, thunder, and lightning. The game must now be replayed in its entirety, which means the score will be reset at 0-0. The rescheduled game will be on July 2 at Toronto's BMO Field.

The rematch had originally been scheduled for Thursday morning but the Canadian Soccer Association decided that the field conditions at BMO were still too poor to replay the match.

A Toronto official told The Inquirer on Thursday that the field would be fine for the Union game.

Union CEO and operating partner Nick Sakiewicz confirmed on Thursday that he will be on the field as the team's staff will face the Union's supporters club, the Sons of Ben, in the inaugural River Cup charity match on July 15 at PPL Park.

The 6:30 p.m. match was announced on Thursday, with the proceeds benefiting one of the Union's community partners, Chester City United, the local youth soccer organization.

A former professional goalie, Sakiewicz says he will be a field player.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Sakiewicz said. "I will not play goal, because I hung up the gloves in '89, but I will be a starting central defender."

Sakiewicz said the Union's coaching staff will also be part of the team. When asked if team manager Peter Nowak will be on the pitch, Sakiewicz replied: "It depends on his injury status."

Sakiewicz, who is already in training for the event, said the real winners will be the youth of Chester.

"Ultimately we hope to raise money for the kids in Chester," he said. "We want that program to grow."