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Freddy Adu and Brian Carroll scored to help the Philadelphia Union beat the Seattle Sounders 2-0 on Saturday night, giving the Los Angeles Galaxy their fourth Supporters' Shield for the best regular-season record in Major League Soccer.
The Union (11-7-14, 47 points) moved into first place in the Eastern Conference.
Seattle dropped to 16-7-9, while Los Angeles is 18-4-10. The Sounders entered the game with a three-match MLS winning streak.
''It's huge for us to get the win here,'' Philadelphia midfielder and former Sounder Sebastien Le Toux said.
Carroll scored with a low shot in the 70th minute to expand Philadelphia's lead to 2-0. He ran into the clear on the right side of the penalty box and received an on-point pass from Le Toux.
Ten minutes earlier, Union midfielder Gabriel Farfan drove the left side and was able to angle a cross to Adu. Adu one-timed a shot to the top of the goal past goalkeeper Kasey Keller in the 60th minute.
''That goal was all Gabe,'' Adu said. ''Low and behold, the ball popped up exactly where I was and at that point I just have to concentrate on finishing it.''
It was Adu's second goal of the season since being acquired via a transfer Aug. 12 from Portugal's Benfica. Adu finally feels match fit and in sync with his MLS club.
''I'm at that point now, where it comes at a perfect time I think,'' Adu said.
Seattle's best chance came when midfielder Brad Evans hit the left post in the 52nd minute. His clever chip arced over the Philadelphia defense and to the right of goalkeeper Zac MacMath.
''I think it was key when Evans touched the (post),'' Le Toux said. ''I think it changed the tone of the game.''
A minute later, Keller had to make a diving save to his right when Philadelphia forward Veljko Paunovic struck a crisp header.
The first half was quiet. The clubs combined for four shots, with Philadelphia supplying just one.
Evans had a left-foot swing at the ball on an open net in the 36th minute, which he hit high and wide.
''For us it wasn't our best game,'' Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said. ''I know we've been on some emotional highs the last two weeks and sometimes you come out a little bit flat, and they were a little bit flat today especially int the first half.
''But it just serves as a reminder that in this league everything's so tight that if you come and aren't wholly prepared to do all the work you need to do, then you come up short. But thankfully that's not our normal operation style. So we take what is it: We take it on the chin and learn from it.''
Seattle veteran Pat Noonan, receiving a rare MLS start at forward, also had a chance in the box during the first half. Philadelphia goalkeeper MacMath was able to handle the one-bounce shot with ease. MacMath made two saves in the match.
Sounders defender Jeff Parke was removed at halftime because of a concussion. Patrick Ianni replaced him.
Fredy Montero, Seattle's leading scorer, was suspended for the game because of yellow-card accumulation. Montero can return for the Sounders' next match. The Sounders were without their top three scorers, Montero, Mauro Rosales (knee) and Alvaro Fernandez (concussion).
