Featured image: Earl Gardner

The Philly Soccer Page is fortunate to be able to share with its readers the work of five staff photographers: Barb Colligon, Daniel Gajdamowicz, Earl Gardner, Michael Long, and Paul Rudderow. Here’s a look back at the Union’s 2013 season including home games, the road games we were able to cover, special events and more. Click on the links in the captions to see the full photo essays.

Preseason

Before the start of the 2013 season, fans welcomed home a favorite.
Photo: Earl Gardner

The open practice at YSC Sports in January gave fans a first glimpse of new signing Conor Casey in Union blue and gold.
Photo: Earl Gardner

Soon enough, it was time for preseason games in Orlando…
Photo: Earl Gardner

…And a preseason game in Jacksonville
Photo: Earl Gardner

It was all a part of the second annual Fan Weekend in Orlando
Photo: Earl Gardner

A good time was had by all
Photo: Earl Gardner

Just a few days before the first game of the season, hundreds of fans gathered at Xfinity live for the unveiling of the Union’s new third kit
Photo: Paul Rudderow

The season begins

The River End erupts at Sebastien Le Toux’s storybook return with the first Union goal of the season in the season opener at PPL Park against Kansas City
Photo: Earl Gardner

But chances went begging and the Union fell 3-1.
Photo: Paul Rudderow

After the snow-delayed road win in Colorado, Jack McInerney scored his second goal in as many games to give the Union a 1-0 win over New England
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

The following week, Michael Farfan scored the winner as the Union defeated Pumas UNAM 1-0 in a friendly
Photo: Paul Rudderow

March closed with a tough 2-1 loss at New York although Conor Casey scored his first goal of the season
Photo: Michael Long

Jack McInerney’s stoppage time equalizer against Toronto at PPL Park came a week after a 1-1 draw in Columbus in which the young forward also scored
Photo: Paul Rudderow

Three first half goals in less than 20 minutes — two from McInerney and one from Casey — were enough to see the Union to a 3-2 road win in DC
Photo: Michael Long

Two goals in 88 seconds from Danny Cruz saw the Union to an ultimately disappointing 2-2 draw with Seattle in a game that had three red cards
Photo: Michael Long

After a one-goal road win against Chicago, the Union were brought back to earth by a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy
Photo: Earl Gardner

The Union bounced back with another 1-0 win over Chicago courtesy of Jack McInerney
Photo: Paul Rudderow

After a 5-3 loss in Montreal, the Union edged out the Ocean City Nor’easters in US Open Cup play with a stoppage time goal from Brian Carroll
Photo: Paul Rudderow

On the road the next week in Toronto, another stoppage time goal from McInerney rescued a point for a 1-1 draw
Photo: Earl Gardner

A Sheanon Williams side volley was part of the comprehensive 3-0 win over Columbus at PPL Park only four days later
Photo: Michael Long

A week later, a lackluster performance in the 3-1 loss against DC saw the Union out of the US Open Cup
Photo: Paul Rudderow

The French Connection celebrate as the Union storm past New York for a 3-0 win
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

The Union squandered the lead against Dallas deep into stoppage time and had to settle for a 2-2 draw
Photo: Paul Rudderow

The Union followed up a disappointing road trip against Real Salt Lake and Houston with a rainy 3-1 win over Chivas USA
Photo: Earl Gardner

Meanwhile, McInerney was with the USMNT at the Gold Cup
Photo: Barb Colligon

The memorable event in the 0-0 draw with Portland was the 53 minute delay to the second half after a nasty storm rolled in
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

All that many will remember from the 2-0 loss to Stoke City in the July friendly was the tackle that injured the USMNT’s Brek Shea
Photo: Paul Rudderow

Sheanon Williams scored three days later against Chicago but the Union fell 2-1
Photo: Paul Rudderow

The Union bounced back with a 2-0 win over DC in a game that featured a Conor Casey brace
Photo: Paul  Rudderow

Solid defending saw the Union earn their first ever point at Red Bull Arena in a 0-0 draw
Photo: Paul Rudderow

After a humiliating 5-1 loss in New England, the Union fought Montreal to a 0-0 draw at PPL Park that saw Kleberson with his first minutes since June
Photo: Michael Long

The string of goalless games for the Union continued with a 1-0 loss in San Jose in which former Union man Shaea Salinas scored the winner in the 15th minute
Photo: Paul Rudderow

Five days later, controversy ensued when a Keon Daniel goal was disallowed and the Union lost 1-0 to Houston at PPL Park
Photo: Paul Rudderow

After ending a five-game winless streak in Kansas City, the ten-men Union were on the verge of a scoreless draw with Toronto until Kleberson’s dramatic 95th minute free kick found the back of the net
Photo: Earl Gardner

Sebastien Le Toux, Sheanon Williams, Michael Lahoud, and Peter Pappas helped guide the Sons of Ben to their first River Cup victory
Photo: Earl Gardner

After drawing with DC and losing to Montreal on the road, the Union’s by now slim playoff hopes depended on a win over Kansas City in the last game of the season. It was not to be.
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz