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Philadelphia Union 1-0 Everton: Teenager Christian Hernandez scores the night's only goal
The Union's youth academy Player of the Year provided a spark against some top-notch European competition in Chester, Pa.
By Mike Slane
Christian Hernandez, Philadelphia Union (Getty Images)
CHESTER, Pa. - Thanks to a 17-year-old unsigned player, the Philadelphia Union became the first Major League Soccer team this summer to knock off a top European club.
Christian Hernandez scored the game's lone goal to lift the Union to a 1-0 victory over Everton of the Premier League in an exhibition at PPL Park.
Hernandez, the Union’s U-17/18 Academy Player of the Year, entered the match in the 71st minute and put one home on a left-footed strike 16 minutes later.
Everton, which played without starting goalkeeper Tim Howard, was shaky in the first game of this month's two-match tour of the United States as it played in 90-degree weather.
“We didn’t play that well. I thought we had a good 20 minutes in the second half, but under those circumstances, I have no complaints,” Everton coach David Moyes said.
Several of the Toffees top players saw action in front of 18,582, including captain Phil Neville and last year's leading scorer Tim Cahill.
The Union, meanwhile, rested most of their regular starters and opted to go young. Hernandez's youth academy teammate Jimmy McLaughlin provided a spark in the second half, while rookie Zach Pfeffer also made an impact.
“With four or five guys under 21 playing, and all playing well, getting minutes for these guys will be huge for their futures," Union assistant coach John Hackworth said. "The focus for tonight was to continue building towards the style of soccer we want to play, and they did that.”
Philadelphia improved to 3-1 all-time against clubs from outside North America. Last season, the Union defeated Celtic FC and Chivas de Guadalajara but lost to Manchester United.
Everton will visit the nation's capital this weekend to take on D.C. United.
Bryan Robison contributed to this report from Chester, Pa.
Christian Hernandez scored the game's lone goal to lift the Union to a 1-0 victory over Everton of the Premier League in an exhibition at PPL Park.
Hernandez, the Union’s U-17/18 Academy Player of the Year, entered the match in the 71st minute and put one home on a left-footed strike 16 minutes later.
Everton, which played without starting goalkeeper Tim Howard, was shaky in the first game of this month's two-match tour of the United States as it played in 90-degree weather.
“We didn’t play that well. I thought we had a good 20 minutes in the second half, but under those circumstances, I have no complaints,” Everton coach David Moyes said.
Several of the Toffees top players saw action in front of 18,582, including captain Phil Neville and last year's leading scorer Tim Cahill.
The Union, meanwhile, rested most of their regular starters and opted to go young. Hernandez's youth academy teammate Jimmy McLaughlin provided a spark in the second half, while rookie Zach Pfeffer also made an impact.
“With four or five guys under 21 playing, and all playing well, getting minutes for these guys will be huge for their futures," Union assistant coach John Hackworth said. "The focus for tonight was to continue building towards the style of soccer we want to play, and they did that.”
Philadelphia improved to 3-1 all-time against clubs from outside North America. Last season, the Union defeated Celtic FC and Chivas de Guadalajara but lost to Manchester United.
Everton will visit the nation's capital this weekend to take on D.C. United.
Bryan Robison contributed to this report from Chester, Pa.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EDT
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
5 | 1 |
|
Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
5 | 0 |
|
Heiðar Helguson
Striker QPR |
5 | 0 |
|
Jason Roberts
Striker Blackburn Rovers |
4 | 1 |
|
Wayne Rooney
Striker Man United |
4 | 0 |