Philadelphia's Danny Cruz is the dirtiest player in Major League Soccer -- and that's a good thing.

Opposing players hate him. Teammates love him. Viewers cringe when they see the 23-year-old, speedy winger steps away from a 50-50 challenge.

Just ask Doneil Henry, who didn't look too happy on Saturday during the first half of Toronto FC's 2-1 loss in the City of Brotherly Love, when Cruz nearly shattered his shin.

"He went in hard," TFC head coach Ryan Nelsen said when asked to address Cruz's dangerous first-half tackle, a staple of the fiery winger's game.

"Ironically, when he goes up for a header he falls down pretty softly," Nelsen continued. "He gets Ashtone Morgan a yellow card. That's the sort of player he is. If he can get away with it he gets away with it. He's just trying to help his team win."

Upon hearing of Nelsen's post-game comments, Cruz took to Twitter to acknowledge the New Zealander's pointed remarks that accused him of play-acting during Saturday's match.

"Not even sure what that last part means," Cruz posted to his official Twitter account. "Let (Nelsen) know I said thanks."

Thanks for the points, that is. The Reds gift-wrapped the Union five points this season, allowing Philly to grab a stoppage-time winner or equalizer in each of three meetings between the clubs this season.

Funny enough, the dirtiest player in MLS is also one of the most effective. Picture former NHLer Sean Avery, only with a bit more talent in his sport.

In TFC's first meeting with Philly in April, Cruz drew the initial caution against Morgan that eventually saw the Canadian international sent off.

When the two sides met at BMO Field in early June, Cruz did the dirty work before forcing Henry into a late tackle that saw TFC's homegrown defender ejected in the first half.

Flashback to Saturday's match at PPL Park, Cruz, true to form, drew a booking against Morgan in the second half after nearly taking Henry's leg off a half-hour earlier.

Think I'm focusing too much on recent history? Well, Cruz, who entered the league in 2009, has quite the past.

He has the ability to bring the worst out of his opposition. He always seems to be involved in controversial moments that make headlines.

Last season, he coaxed FC Dallas defender Jair Benitez into an elbow that saw the Colombian fined and suspended for a game. However, Cruz embellished during the incident so much the league handed Cruz, then with D.C. United, a fine in return.

During this past pre-season, Cruz became entangled in an incident with United's Dwayne De Rosario that saw the Canadian suspended for a head-butt against his former teammate, earning the former TFC fan favorite a two-match ban.

Cruz's antics are something this columnist has chronicled since before he singed an MLS contract.

During his time at UNLV, Cruz head-butted me behind the play during an NCAA match in Las Vegas on Sept. 21, 2007.

His actions worked back then, too. The Runnin' Rebels came back from two goals down to draw Drake University under the bright Vegas lights that night.

Seem like sour grapes? Quite the opposite. Dirty or not, a player's job is to help his side win at all cost.

And Cruz might be the best player in the league at doing just enough to rattle opponents to the point he and teammates can take advantage of those he preys on.

From his days in the NCAA to Saturday night, Cruz's antics have played a role this season in allowing the Union to make a playoff push they looked destined to fall short of at the start of the season.

SNEAKY EJECTION

Toronto FC head coach Ryan Nelsen confirmed late Saturday night that first-choice 'keeper Joe Bendik received a red card following Toronto's 1-0 loss at Philadelphia.

"Joe went over to (the referee after the game) to ask what the foul was for and he showed him a second yellow," Nelsen said. "(The referee) panicked a bit, like they seem to do under pressure."

The sending off opens the door for former No. 1 Stefan Frei to step in late in the season and potentially receive the sending off many fans want to give him.

"It has to," Nelsen said after being asked if Frei will replace Bendik in Chicago. "Luckily we've got Stefan and we've got Chris Konopka who are two No. 1s in this league. It's a big opportunity for Stefan now."

Through five MLS seasons, Frei has started 81 times for Toronto FC, earning 19 shutouts on the way to accumulating a 20-34-25 record.

Two bad injuries -- a broken leg before the start of the 2012 season and a shattered nose in February -- saw Frei eventually lose his starting job.

Due to his high salary, every indication is the Reds will offload the former first-round draft pick at the end of this season before moving forward with Bendik and Konopka in 2014.