Union win home opener on Le Toux goal

When Sebastien Le Toux scored in the Union's Major League Soccer home opener last year, he slid into a corner of the field, drew a heart with his hands, and pointed into the stands.

After again getting the first goal of a new season at PPL Park in Saturday's 1-0 win over the New England Revolution, Le Toux had something a bit more elaborate planned.

The veteran forward knelt on the turf and dealt a hand of cards to a few teammates with an invisible deck. It was a tip of the hat to the card games the team played after meals during training in Florida.

It is a new season, and the celebrations are not the only thing that have gotten more creative. The Union (1-0-1) rebuilt their midfield in the offseason, adding players such as Maurice Edu and Vincent Nogueira to create a more fluid, inventive attack.

Amid all of the change, it was the constant performer who made the difference. Le Toux, the Union's all-time leading scorer, has six goals in four home openers with the Union. He scored the game-winner in three of them.

"It was hard to fall asleep last night," Le Toux said. "We have a full house today. It was an awesome scene to be on the field."

The Union dominated the first half but didn't break through until the 31st minute.

Leo Fernandes, a last-minute addition to the starting lineup for the ill Brian Carroll, beat his man into the box on the left side. He slipped a pass across to Le Toux, who poked it past goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth. Fernandes, a second-year player, played in just seven games last season.

"I told Leo, 'You don't have to be the best player on the field, all you have to do is go in and play your role,' " manager John Hackworth said.

Unlike last week, when a mental lapse allowed Portland to tie in stoppage time, the Union hung on despite a second half that Hackworth didn't think was great.

The Revolution's best chance for an equalizer came late in the first half, when Zac MacMath slid to his left to deny Diego Fagundez on a 2-on-1 breakaway.

"We closed out the game. We really didn't give them a chance in the last 10 minutes," Hackworth said. "That says we are slowly making progress."

Toronto 2, Seattle 1 - Former Tottenham star Jermain Defoe scored twice in his MLS debut, and Toronto FC held off the host Seattle Sounders. Clint Dempsey scored for Seattle.

Colorado 1, New York 1 - Vicente Sanchez scored on a 72d-minute penalty as the Rapids tied the Red Bulls in Harrison, N.J.

Thierry Henry had New York's goal.