The Philadelphia Union left Talen Energy Stadium Friday night with a 1-0 victory and a first place spot going into the weekend.

The two teams are close relatively in geography but not much else. Former D.C United forward Chris Pontius faced off against his former team for the first time since leaving in the winter. In a slow, tightly fought contest the Union ended on top thanks to a last gasp goal from center back Richie Marquez.

The game started off rather sloppy, with both teams opting to stay compact and not give up any space defensively. Throw-ins were at a premium, with possession taking a backseat to defensive shape.

As the game began to settle down both teams got a better hold of possession. By the 10^th minute both teams had notched at least one good chance, however neither team was able to hit the target.

Andre Blake had a nervy moment while coming out of his box early on. He beat Alvaro Saborio to a through ball but his clearance ricocheted off of Josh Yaro and out for a corner. The defense did well to clear the initial corner, but Luciano Acosta was given too much space atop the box, but his curling effort nestled into Blake’s midriff.

The Union saw a great chance pass by in the 25^th minute where Tranquillo Barnetta’s snapshot flew just over Travis Worra’s crossbar. Sebastien Le Toux got on the end of a deep cross, and his ball back in the box found Barnetta at the PK spot. Barnetta’s first-time effort was just feet away from the top right corner. Just a minute later Barnetta hit the post off of a free kick near the corner of the 18. His free kick curled past everyone. The smallest of touches would have redirected it but no one was able to latch onto the zesty cross.

Le Toux and Barnetta linked up again in the 33^rd minute in an eerily similar play to the one 10 minutes ago. Keegan Rosenberry played Le Toux in the channel, and his pulled-back cross found Barnetta whose shot curled just several feet from the top corner. The Union continue to threaten the DC goal. Fabinho this time found enough space atop the box and his direct effort forced a good diving parry from Worra. The DC defense failed to close the ball carrier, and instead waited for a pass which never came, in what was the Union’s best effort of the game.

In a subdued first half, the score was 0-0. Both teams failed to create enough to justify a goal, however the few chances that did happen were dangerous. The battle mostly occurred in the midfield, with both teams pressing and not allowing space for the opposing side. This was the first time all year that the Union failed to score at home in the first half.

DC should have had the first goal of the game in the 49^th minute. A perfectly placed back post cross by Patrick Nyarko found Saborio, but he couldn’t get his foot around it and his shot from just feet away sailed wide.

Le Toux had the chance of a lifetime in the 51^st minute. Worra palmed away a Fabinho cross right into Sebastien’s feet 6 yards away. All he had to do was tap it in but he elected to take a touch instead and lost control. The DC defenders closed down quickly and were able to clear away for a corner.

Blake showed why he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world in the 62^nd minute. After a corner kick was poorly cleared, DC was able to get the ball back into the box. Saborio elected for some acrobatics and his overhead kick from 5 yards out was palmed away by a flying Blake in what could be a save of the month.

By the 68^th minute the game started to become end to end. Both teams got stretched on the counter as chances started to appear. Either team could have notched the first goal by this point.

Worra came up with a fantastic save off of a Sapong curler. His diving stop to his left stopped a shot that was likely to end up side netting. After the proceeding corner the Union once again got a fantastic opportunity. Barnetta received the ball after it was cleared back to the Union, and his low cross fizzed across the goal line but no one was able to get the touch needed to score.

As the game and both teams wore down, the chances became few and far between. CJ Sapong had a half chance in the 86^th minute, but his first-time shot off a Le Toux early cross soared well over the net.

The knockout punch ended up coming in the 90^th minute into stoppage time. A beautiful cross by Le Toux to the back post found Richie Marquez unmarked and he made no mistake, slotting it past the DC goalkeeper from 5 yards out.

In the end the Union came out on top. DC United will be extremely disappointed to not leave with a point. United had plenty of chances to get a goal, and in the end were unlucky not to have scored one. Philadelphia visits Orlando City SC next week and DC United visits Kansas City.