Sapong, Pontius Forming Dynamic Goal-scoring Duo for Union

CHESTER, Pa. - Throughout their history, the Union have usually had one player carry most of the goal-scoring load. First, it was Sebastien Le Toux. Then, Jack McInerney came along. Last year, C.J. Sapong took the mantle.

But eight games into the 2016 season, not one, but two players have been finding the back of the net at a fast clip.

Those players are Sapong and Chris Pontius, who have each scored four goals so far for the 4-3-1 Union, who are second in the Eastern Conference with 13 points. That puts both players at a pace to score 17 for the season. To put that into a little bit of (way-too-early) context, no Union player has ever scored more than 14 goals and only one time in club history have two players hit double digits in goals in the same season - back in 2013 when McInerney had 12 and Conor Casey had 10.

What does that mean for head coach Jim Curtin as his offense continues to evolve?

"It's good because when teams prepare for us defensively, it's not focusing on one individual," he said after Tuesday's practice. "We have a couple of guys that can get goals. I'd still like to see another midfielder contribute even more on the stat sheet in terms of that. But it makes it easier for us offensively because now teams have to prepare for a couple of threats."

Curtin is expecting foreign newcomers Ilsinho and Roland Alberg to join the goal-scoring party soon as they continue to get settled in a new league and find some consistency.

Until then, he's glad that a couple of seasoned MLSers like Pontius and Sapong are helping to ease the burden.

In Saturday's 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes, Pontius scored on a beautiful header - his second goal in as many games. His four goals on the year are the most the oft-injured winger has scored since his 12-goal season in 2012.

But that doesn't mean he's entirely happy.

"As an attacker, a lot of it is confidence - being confident in the box, being able to put away your opportunities and not second-guessing yourself in scoring moments," said Pontius, who spent the first seven seasons of his MLS career with rival D.C. United. "I'm playing free within the 18, but I've gotta sharpen up a lot of other points in my game right now."

As far as what those "other points" are, Pontius specifically mentioned that he's trying to be more careful with the ball and avoid turning it over. One thing he has been satisfied with, though, is his ever-growing relationship with Sapong, whose praise he sung.

"It's a good partnership," Pontius said. "I know there's a lot of national team talk around him. He's an unbelievable forward - strong in the holdup, scores goals, works his butt off for the team. He's everything you want in a center forward."

There has indeed been plenty of U.S. national team buzz around Sapong, who seems to really be hitting his stride as the center forward in Philly's 4-3-3 formation. But despite his MLS success, he's still not on the radar of USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who didn't name the Union striker on his 40-man provisional roster for this summer's Copa America Centenario.

Curtin was asked about the omission Tuesday.

"You want your players to play for the national team," the Union coach admitted. "It's the highest honor that there is. A 40-man roster is a big roster, but that's not for me to select. I think C.J.'s playing as well as any forward in our league right now. I hope he keeps that going. If he does continue to produce and perform, I think his national team call-up will come eventually."

Until then, Curtin will be happy to see Sapong continue to score goals in MLS play. The same goes for Pontius, whose play, he believes, has been boosted by Sapong and some of the team's other threats in the box.

"He's usually the beneficiary of when teams line up to mark us, they send their biggest guy on (Richie) Marquez, maybe their next biggest guy on Sapong, sometimes if Ken (Tribbett's) out there, Chris starts to fall into the fourth or fifth option and we know going in that he's probably gonna have a guy against him that's not a top guy in the air," Curtin said. "And Chris is really good in the air. He's capitalized in the box with his movement and he's gotten some goals.

"And he fits the mold of a Philadelphia player, where he plays through some pain. He'll stick his face in front of anything, and he's a fighter and a winner. That's the biggest compliment I can give Chris. He's done a great job."

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