CHESTER, Pa. — The second Alejandro Bedoya’s game-winning goal struck the back of the net, Philadelphia Union manager Jim Curtin rushed down the sideline in the direction of his players with his arms raised in celebration.
“I try to stay calm,” Curtin said. “I think it’s the best way on the sideline and not be one that’s screaming a lot at the refs or celebrating goals too much. But that one was a special one. It meant a lot for Ale to get the goal. It meant a lot for the guys and how much hard work they’ve put in from the preseason to now.”
Bedoya’s stoppage-time goal handed the Union a 2-1 victory on a frustrating Saturday night in which they weren’t able to find the back of the net until 85th minute at Talen Energy Stadium.
Bedoya and Cory Burke scored the pair of late goals for the Union to extend their winning streak to three games.
“I think everybody goes home happy tonight about the way the Union played and what the future of this club looks like,” Curtin said.
FC Dallas held the lead for 75 minutes after it was handed a gift on the way to scoring its opener in the 10th minute. As the visitors built one of their first attacks forward, Marco Fabian pulled down Ryan Hollingshead away from the ball inches from the top of the penalty area. The referee whistled for a foul on Fabian just as Jack Elliott blocked a cross from coming in from the left wing.
The costly mistake by Fabian was turned into a goal by Reto Ziegler off a curling free kick seconds later.
The Swiss center back caught Andre Blake flat footed and sent the opening goal into an open left side of the net to put Luchi Gonzalez’s side ahead, which allowed FC Dallas to sit back and defend for the majority of the match.
After trying to break down the stingy FC Dallas back line for 75 minutes, the Union finally found a breakthrough in the 85th minute in an unconventional manner.
Burke earned a penalty at the right post in an individual duel with Matt Hedges, which led to Fabian stepping to the spot.
“I saw a shot from deep inside the half and the keeper made a really nice save and I followed up and earned the PK,” Burke said.
Burke fought for the ball at the right post after Jimmy Maurer leaped and saved a rocket of a shot from Jamiro Monteiro, who made his Union home debut Saturday.
Fabian sent his penalty left and it was saved by Maurer, who sprayed the rebound right into the path of Burke.
Burke easily finished the ball into the open net to equalize the contest and send the final few minutes into a frenzy.
“I know when your teammate is kicking a PK, you have to be on your toes and ready for it,” Burke said.
Seven minutes later, during stoppage time, Bedoya, the Union captain, took it upon himself to earn the victory by dancing through the right side of the box and finishing into the left side of the goal.
“I knew (Ilsinho) was going to do something,” Bedoya said. “I knew he was capable of chipping the ball. I was trying to find where to move in between the defender there when he had the ball. I thought he was going to play a 1-2, but then he chipped it.”
“I was able to get a touch past Ziegler and then another guy came and I cut and then I finally got one of those goals that all these strikers get where you just shoot and it goes between the defender’s legs,” Bedoya said.
The Union will try to extend their winning streak to four games on the road in a week’s time against the LA Galaxy, while FC Dallas takes on the Portland Timbers back at home.