Fresh off a three-week suspension following a DUI arrest, the forward played with purpose in helping the Philadelphia Union beat the New York Red Bulls.
C.J. Sapong had played in more than 100 professional matches before Sunday, and had scored more than 20 goals as a pro before the one he tapped home to help his Philadelphia Union upset the New York Red Bulls. None of that history seemed to matter much to Sapong, as walking on the field at Red Bull Arena just felt different because of the eye-opening events of the past month.
Sunday's match was Sapong's first since returning from a suspension served after his DUI and reckless driving arrest May 1, and after completing the MLS Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program. Sapong returned from his three-week suspension in time to join the Union for Sunday's clash with the rival Red Bulls, and he made the most of it, scoring a goal and causing problems for the Red Bulls defense over the final 36 minutes of the 2-0 win.
Not a bad showing for a player who had gone through so much this month.
"It's been a whirlwind of a last couple of weeks," Sapong told Goal USA. "I can simply say I've grown a lot, and I'm very thankful for that. It's obviously not the circumstances I would have liked, but life comes in ebbs and flows and I think you've just got to ride the waves and try to grow as much as you can."
Sapong entered the match in the 54th minute and immediately created issues for the Red Bulls with his combination of speed and physicality. New York coach Jesse Marsch credited Sapong's insertion into the game as one of the keys to the Union victory.
"For a guy that's been away from the team for three weeks to come in and train for three or four days and then give us a performance like that is big," Union coach Jim Curtin told Goal USA. "You go around and shaking the hands (of the Red Bulls) and (Karl) Ouimette has a bloody nose, the other guy's limping off. (Sapong) is a pain in the butt to play against. He's is a physical presence and you hate getting into battles with him because he has a way of coming out on top."
Sapong played with energy and purpose. After the match, he acknowledged that being forced to step away from the game, even though temporarly, was enough to give him a new-found appreciation for what he has.
"Coming on the field today, it almost felt like my first game," Sapong said. "Starving and hungry to provide an impact for the team, but also prove to myself that I do love this sport, and I do love playing, and I need to, from now on, carry all my activities on and off the field in that regard."
A former MLS Rookie of the Year widely known for having one of the most outgoing personalities in MLS, Sapong acknowledged that he prides himself on enjoying life, but readily accepted that his arrest put things into a new perspective.
"Sometimes in life we go through it, we think we've got it all figured it out, we think that because we have pure intentions that it's all good," Sapong said. "What I realized was with every decision I make there's a lot of other people that can be affected as well. It was a mistake that provided a lot of opportunity for growth and I've grown a whole lot in the past couple of weeks."
Sapong, 26, credited the Union's technical staff with helping support him through a messy situation that happened to also come at a time of turmoil for the club, which was mired in a winless slide at the time.
"It actually grew my confidence in talking to (Curtin) and Chris (Albright) and the rest of the staff," Sapong said. "As a player, sometimes you fall into the trap of thinking 'That's just the coach and the staff. They don't need to be hearing about my personal things.' But the way they handled it, I really felt like I had friends. That just makes me want to build that trust back up."
Things are looking up again for both Sapong and the Union, who have won two straight against tough Eastern Conference opponents. Sapong took a step toward regaining the trust of his teammates, coaches and fans Sunday, in a match that helped remind him just what he stands to lose if he doesn't learn from his mistake.
"I think he's a better man and will become a better player because of the (league protocol) process," Curtin said of Sapong. "He's a very intelligent kid, a smart kid. He knows a mistake was made and the process is one. I had a good discussion with him. He knows the parts I wasn't happy with. Being out that late, and the choices he made, but I think he's going to grow from it. He's learned a lesson and to see him empty it all out on the field today was good for him."
MLS Review: Union stun Red Bulls
San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski notched his 100th MLS goal, while the Philadelphia Union stunned the New York Red Bulls.
Chris Wondolowski became the ninth player in MLS history to score 100 goals, converting a second-half penalty to secure a 1-1 draw for San Jose Earthquakes against Orlando City.
The United States international slotted a spot kick past former Houston Dynamo teammate Tally Hall in the 68th minute Sunday, just four minutes after Kaka's penalty had put Orlando in front at Levi's Stadium in California.
Orlando played the last 39 minutes with 10 players after Brek Shea received a straight red card, but the visitor held on for a point.
Wondolowski started his MLS career with the Earthquakes in 2005 before relocating with the team to Houston when the Dynamo was founded in 2006. The California native scored four goals for Houston before moving back to San Jose with the recreated Earthquakes in 2009, and after three goals that season, Wondolowski began to find his scoring touch at home.
Nineteen goals followed in 2010, while his best season came in 2012, scoring 27 times as the Earthquakes won the Supporters' Shield for the best regular season win-loss record.
Sunday's goal was the 32-year-old's seventh of the 2015 campaign and his third in three matches.
Landon Donovan (144 goals) holds the record as the league's most prolific marksman, with Jeff Cunningham (134), Jaime Moreno (133), Ante Razov (114), Jason Kreis (108), Dwayne De Rosario (104), Taylor Twellman (101) and Edson Buddle (100) the other players to have notched a century.
In Sunday's earlier match, the Philadelphia Union notched their second straight win, triumphing 2-0 away to New York Red Bulls. Vincent Nogueira opened the scoring for the Union in the 57th minute, and CJ Sapong doubled their advantage five minutes later.
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