Le Toux is back with the Union after being traded.
Sometimes, all it takes is to look at a team’s record to judge how much of an impact a player has on his team.
For the Philadelphia Union this season, look no further than forward Sebastien Le Toux.
Le Toux, who rejoined the Union in a trade after stints with the Vancouver Whitecaps and N.Y. Red Bulls last season, has made an immediate impact on the team from both a record and leadership standpoint.
“My goal this season is to bring the Union back to the playoffs,” said Le Toux. “Last season it didn’t happen which was very frustrating for this team. Making the playoffs against Houston [in 2011] was a great accomplishment, so I hope this season we can get back there. Once we’re in, anything is possible.”
Without Le Toux last season, the Union finished a disappointing 10-18-6 which placed them 15th out of the 19 total MLS clubs. With Le Toux in 2011, the Union finished an impressive 11-8-15 which placed them third in the Eastern Conference and they finished eighth in the league in points with 48.
Le Toux has inspired the Union, winners of two-straight, to a 2-1-0 record so far this season as they prepare to face their rival N.Y. Red Bulls [0-2-2] on the road Saturday. The Union have yet to win a game at Red Bull Arena in their four years as a club, but Le Toux thinks they’ll have a good chance this weekend.
“I think we have a great chance,” he said. “We’ve been great defensively and the Red Bulls seem to be struggling to find that cohesion right now between their team, so we have a great opportunity right now to use that to our advantage … To have nine points after four games would be great.”
One things, for sure: Expect a large crowd Saturday. The Sons of Ben will definitely make the two-hour drive out to see their team potentially get their third-straight win against the rival Red Bulls, a team who desperately seeks its first win.
“I expect a lot of people down there Saturday, especially with the afternoon kickoff,” said Le Toux. “We take pride in the fact that it’s a rivalry match against a bigger team that we don’t really like too much so it’s nice to have them behind us when we’re away. It’s going to be a great atmosphere and we just need to get a win for them [the Sons of Ben] over there.”
The match kicks off at 3:30 on the NBC Sports Network.
