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Union earn big 2-0 win over United

Conor Casey is healthy and has resumed his role as a dangerous goal-scorer. The Union forward scored both goals a 2-0 Major League Soccer win over D.C. United on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 18,652 at PPL Park in Chester.

Union forward Connor Casey (right) battles for the ball with Red Bulls
defender Kosuke Kimura. (Andrew Renneisen/Staff Photographer)
Union forward Connor Casey (right) battles for the ball with Red Bulls defender Kosuke Kimura. (Andrew Renneisen/Staff Photographer)Read more

Conor Casey is healthy and has resumed his role as a dangerous goal-scorer. The Union forward scored both goals a 2-0 Major League Soccer win over D.C. United on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 18,652 at PPL Park in Chester.

Casey has nine goals in 21 games - one more than he had the last two seasons combined in 32 games playing for the Colorado Rapids while hampered by an Achilles tendon injury.

Casey was a double-figure goal-scorer each season from 2008 to 2010.

He was replaced in the 85th minute by Aaron Wheeler and left to a standing ovation.

"It feels great," Casey said about his play. "I put in a lot of work this year in the preseason."

Casey is a physical presence who does more than just score goals.

"What he did early in the game to change it by dropping in the midfield and giving [his teammates] the ability to play into him, off of him, changed things for us," team manager John Hackworth said.

The Union are 10-7-7 for 37 points, with 10 games left. They are in third place in the Eastern Conference but trail first place Sporting Kansas City by just two points. The top five teams in the conference will earn a playoff berth.

United was coming off Wednesday's 2-0 victory over the Chicago Fire in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal.

The Union had a chance early when Jack McInerney booted one over the crossbar from in front of the goal in the fifth minute.

Casey opened the scoring in the 35th minute. Defender Sheanon Williams sent a long cross from the right side into the box that was headed by Sebastien Le Toux to Casey. After taking a dribble, Casey scored from the 6-yard line.

United inserted Dwayne De Rosario after halftime and the former MLS MVP made the attack much more dangerous.

In the 58th minute Williams blocked what would have been a sure goal by United's Collin Martin from the center of the box.

"I happened to be in the right spot at the right time," Williams said. "I know [goalkeeper] Zac [MacMath] had the near post covered and I had the back post covered and happened to make a good save."

The Union finally got breathing room when Casey scored in the 75th minute. Le Toux got things started by feeding defender Fabinho on the left flank. Fabinho, playing in place of injured Ray Gaddis, sent a cross on goal that Casey volleyed in. Le Toux's MLS-leading assist total stands at 12.

Elsewhere: Federico Higuain scored twice as the host Columbus Crew defeated the New York Red Bulls, 2-0.