Back-to-back road wins give Union confidence

After starting out the season 1-3 on the road, which included an opening, 1-0 win at Houston, followed by three straight 1-0 losses, the Union faced many questions about their inability to play well away from PPL Park.

While the last two weeks are only that, two weeks, the Union won, 6-2, at Toronto FC and played to a 1-1 draw at the defending Major League Soccer champion Colorado Rapids. It was the first time in their two-year history that the Union earned points in consecutive road games.

So they are 2-3-1 on the road while being 4-0-2 at home.

"It's huge, and now we're believing in ourselves a little bit more [on the road]," Union defender Danny Califf said. "We have carried that swagger we have at home, and that confidence has really paid dividends."

Califf is still steamed at being called for a penalty kick after taking down Pablo Mastroeni inside the box. Colorado's Conor Casey converted the penalty kick.

"I reached around and got the ball with my right foot, and my hand was on his opposite shoulder, and as soon as he felt my hand he fell down," Califf said. "I wasn't too happy about that."

Juventus, the 27-time Italian champion will play three friendlies in the United States and base itself in Philadelphia from July 19 to Aug. 1.

Only one of the three matches has been announced, July 26 at Citi Field in New York against Mexico City's Club America.

But a Union team official said the team won't be playing Juventus in either of the other two friendlies.

Despite their 6-3-2 record, Real Salt Lake doesn't enter Saturday's 4 p.m. game at PPL Park against the Union on a roll. Real is just 1-2-2 in its last five games following Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Columbus.

Real goalkeeper Nick Rimando didn't spare feelings in his analysis of the most recent loss.

"We didn't get a result because we didn't put the effort in," Rimando told reporters. "We pretty much let down a lot of people on the team."

In this new age of social media, it was reported on Twitter that three Union players - forward Danny Mwanga, defender Sheanon Williams, and midfielder Keon Daniel - missed the flight back from Colorado because they were buying candy at the airport and didn't board on time.

Hannah Whalen, Williams' girlfriend, posted the news.

The Union would not confirm or deny this report, saying only that those involved were fined.

"The guys were at the gate and ready to board, and certain airline employees were not having such a great day, and they ran into one," Union assistant coach John Hackworth said.

Hackworth termed it a nonstory. However, if players are fined, it would seem to fall in to the story category.

"They get a fine if they walk in 30 seconds late for a team meal," Hackworth said. "This is not a story."