Casey’s goal lifts Union to 1-0 win

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Conor Casey scored in the 36th minute, for Philadelphia’s first goal in four matches, and the Union beat Sporting Kansas City 1-0 on Friday night.

It was the first win in Kansas City in four tries for the Union (11-10-9), who snapped a five-match winless streak and climbed into the fifth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

Sporting (14-10-6) had a three-match winning streak broken and missed a chance to take a share of the East lead with New York.

Casey’s goal came on a putback from close range, after Jimmy Nielsen saved Michael Farfan’s shot out of traffic in the penalty area. It was his 10th of the season, tying him with Jack McInerney for the team lead, and the Union’s first in 346 minutes.

Zac MacMath made five saves, including two acrobatic stops in the first half, and recorded his league-leading 11th shutout for the Union.

Sporting midfielder Uri Rosell will miss next weekend’s match in Columbus on his second yellow-card accumulation suspension of the year. Rosell was cautioned in the 33rd minute for a foul on Farfan.