C.J. Sapong "Riding the Wave" Toward Union History
By Kevin Kinkead
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- C.J. Sapong broke his face and endured a DUI arrest this spring.
Now he's on the verge of breaking the franchise record for consecutive games with a goal.
Philadelphia's red-hot forward scored the only goal in Wednesday's 1-0 win against Seattle, a much needed home victory after a 5 to 1 loss in Los Angeles last Saturday night. It was Sapong's fourth consecutive game with a goal, tying the record set by Jack McInerney in the fall of 2012.
"Honestly, it's been one where I've been very aware of every moment, and appreciate every moment," Sapong told reporters post-game. "Things happen in life that put reflective moments in front of you and I think it's about how you respond to the adversity. Right now I'm enjoying life off the field and I'm enjoying it on the field as well."
It was seven weeks ago that Sapong was arrested on DUI and reckless driving charges in Philadelphia.
He traveled to California for three weeks of rehab and returned to the Union on May 21st.
In the last 35 days, he's scored five goals in 377 minutes over the course of six games. That's a strike rate of 75 minutes per goal.
It's hard to imagine where the team would be without his June and May production. Sapong is the default starter for a club that is missing Fernando Aristeguieta, Conor Casey, and Sebastien Le Toux to injury.
"I think if you go back, it starts with our best win, the best performance of the year in New York," manager Jim Curtin said of Sapong's form. "He comes off the bench there and gives us a 'holy cow' moment where he just takes over the game and scores the goal and plays like a handful. It sounds cheesy, but he does have a different look in his eye (since returning from rehab). When I put him in that game, it was sort of, he's usually a pretty laid back and smiley and happy-go-lucky kind of guy, but it was the focus and desire that made you take note. I think he's carried that now in every game. Go back to the first game of the year, he breaks his face. He's literally a guy who will put his body on the line for the team. I'm happy for him, but I think that process changed him, and without him right now, we'd be in trouble."
Barring the miracle recovery of the Union strike corps, Sapong looks set for another 90 minutes this Saturday against Montreal.
"I feel really good," Sapong added. "When you're tapping into an energy that is an all-appreciative and 'in the moment' type of energy, it's very different. I was probably fitter in the beginning of the season, but I don't think I could have gone this stretch of minutes without feeling heavy in the legs. I'm just riding the wave right now."