With the first week of the Union Top 10 best moments of the 2013 season in the books, we move on to second round play, but not before we thank the over 500 of you that voted in a battle royale (of sort) between Kleberson’s free kick masterpiece against Toronto FC and Zac MacMath’s monster stop against Graham Zusi in the away win over Sporting Kansas City in September.
With 80 percent of the vote, Kleberson now moves onto the “Final Five,” in which your final vote will decide if his moment is the definitive No. 1.
View: Kleberson vs. MacMath Top 10 results
And don’t forget one lucky fan will receive a commemorative jersey from the inaugural Philadelphia Union season. Think of it as us looking back as we look ahead to what is sure to be a monumental fifth season of Union soccer -- currently in the works.
Moving right along…
Next up in the Union Top 10 are a pair of plays that against a pair of West Coast teams and we need you to pick the one that is far and away the BEST.
Sheanon Williams/Amobi Okugo connects vs. Los Angeles (May 15)
Remember the Union’s match against the Galaxy? If you remember the score line it’s one you are probably looking for us not to rehash, but there was still a moment in that game that dominated. Actually, if you recall it was the Union that dominated the first half of that match and was rewarded in the 23rd minute, when Amobi Okugo scored his second of the year in resounding fashion, making a nice run into the box and redirected his glancing header past Galaxy keeper Carlo Cudicini.
But it wasn’t so much the goal as it was the service…
If he wasn’t the starting left fullback for the Union, you have to wonder Sheanon Williams’ chances as professional baseball player. With throws like that, tough to run 90 feet if he’s throwing from right field.
Quote: “I think we had this [Galaxy] team for more than 40 minutes, I think we had a couple of opportunities to go up 2-1 on them to be honest,” Williams recalled. “The difference is that they finished their chances and we didn’t.”
VS.
Farfan fools Kennedy, Chivas USA at PPL Park (July 12)
The way the play matriculated was just as uncanny as its end result.
So, Fabinho puts a great ball into the box from the left flank. Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy mishandles it and the ball goes to a defender who knocks the ball back to Kennedy. Kennedy, thinking it was perhaps touched by a Union player (or not thinking at all) picks the ball up.
Which any soccer player will tell you is a no-no.
So the Union now has an indirect free kick just outside the six-yard box. Chivas’ fidgety wall is literally set up on the goal line and Sebastien Le Toux and Farfan are over the ball. It appears Le Toux is more interested in making sure Chivas’ wall stays its distance as he looks back and forth between wall and referee Ismail Elfath.
Or is he?
Result, Union go-ahead 2-1 en route to a 3-1 win on a night in which the goal, coupled with monsoon-like weather made for one memorable match.
Quote: “I’ve seen a couple goals scored like that and I think that’s probably where I got the idea from [of where to place my shot],” said Farfan postgame. The goal was his first of the season. “[Where I placed it] is probably the most open spot on a free kick like that when you got 11 guys lined up inside the goal, so I figured I would try it and try my best to keep it on frame.”
You decide. Is it the Williams to Okugo alley-oop? Or Farfan’s main squeeze?
Cast your vote and leave your reason why below. Poll closes at noon, Tuesday Nov. 26.
Contact Union digital editor Kerith Gabriel at kgabriel@philadelphiaunion.com
Which moment should move on?
