Union win home finale, 2-1, over Sporting Kansas City

Pedro Ribeiro is the first one to admit he has had his share of scoring chances in his eight appearances with the Union this season. The rookie forward had them against the Seattle Sounders in the U.S. Open Cup and again in a Major League Soccer contest against the Houston Dynamo.

In those games, the 24-year-old couldn't convert.

On Saturday night, in the Union's last home game of the season, Ribeiro netted the game-winner against Sporting Kansas City, sealing a 2-1 victory.

"I've had good moments," Ribeiro said. "I've had bad moments, of course, like all the other players.

"It was great. I couldn't be happier, especially at home, to get the game-winning goal against a great team."

Ribeiro wasn't the only rookie to make an impact against the defending league champions. Brian Brown put the Union up, 1-0, in the 45th minute, after a nice give-and-go with Cristian Maidana. Brown sent the ball out wide right to the midfielder, who then took a few touches before sending a nice ball into the box. Brown ran onto the service and volleyed it into the corner of the net.

But a lapse on the defensive end cost the Union in the 52d minute, as Soony Saad got free on a breakaway. Goalkeeper Zac MacMath challenged the Kansas City forward, taking him down and giving Sporting a penalty kick. Dom Dwyer stepped up to the spot to take the shot and fooled MacMath, burying it low.

Ribeiro's game-winner came in the 71st minute, as Maidana found the forward wide open in front of the net after some nice combination play by the Union.

"Pedro scored a big goal for us," interim manager Jim Curtin said.

The Union acquired Brown, a Jamaica international, July 11 on loan from the Kingston club Harbour View FC. Before earning a spot on the game-day roster, Ribeiro spent time playing for the Union's affiliate, the Harrisburg City Islanders.

Both have appeared in eight games for the Union this season and scored two goals apiece.

The Union finished with a 6-3-8 record at PPL Park this year.

"Winning is contagious - it's a feeling that you have," Curtin said. " . . . You long for those three points. You finally get them, and it is a bit of a relief."