The Philadelphia Union looked to get back to winning ways after their 2-2 draw with Charlotte on Saturday, while the New England Revolution in third place at the start of the game needed points to assure home field advantage. The Boys in Blue would be without Cavan Sullivan for the first time in 14 games. It would be a difficult game, and it brought an end to the Union’s unbeaten streak.

First Half

The Union came out on the front foot, pinning the Revs back during the early minutes and looking dangerous. Vassilev and Quinn Sullivan combined to overload the left. The engine of the Revs’ attack, Carles Gil, was forced to drop deep. The Union had the better chances early in the game. In the third minute, Quinn Sullivan saw his shot beat Matt Turner in goal but skid harmlessly across the crossbar. In the 10th minute, after some scrappy play from a free kick, the final chance fell weakly to Turner. But as the game developed, Gill began to find space and willing runners in between the lines.

The match ranged end to end. Blake was called into action in the 27th minute, saving a strike from Luca Langoni, and moments later, at the other end, Iloksi fired a low shot that went just wide. But New England was finding ways in between defenders, and Blake was forced into another save in the 42nd minute from a snap shot by former teammate, Daniel Gazdag. Indiana Vassilev saw his shot blocked by Ilay Feingold barely a minute later. Then, in the 45+3rd minute of stoppage, after a poorly defended series, Turgeman found the net at the back post to give the Revolution a 0-1 lead going into the half.

Second Half

The union came out needing to be more clinical in front of goal, and they found joy down the flanks, first through Danley Jean Jacques on the right, and then Vassilev on the left. But the Union attacks were marred by uncharacteristically poor passing and miscommunication. What might have been dangerous crosses into the box were easily cut out by Turner in goal. New England’s Langoni was dangerous in attack, finding a hole in the Union defense and forcing Blake into another save.

The parade of physios continued from the first half, when in the 49th and 69th minutes they were called onto the field for the fifth and sixth times to attend to head injuries. In the 80th minute they were called in again when Wynder took out Neil Pierre as he sped down the right flank.

In the 67th minute Anello was subbed in for Vassilev. The Union attacks, while promising, did not result in a goal. In the 72nd minute, Blake was called to make another strong save. In the 82nd minute, Richter subbed off Harriel for Jakupovic to try to add a spark or some bite to the attack. But the promising buildups and runs continued without a final product. In the 90th minute, referee Malik Badawi went to the monitor and reversed an offside call on the Rev’s Carles Gil, who Pierre was adjudged to have fouled in the box. The resulting penalty kick from Gil went in. 0-2, New England.

The final minutes were hectic–and there were 12 minutes of added time. But it looked like the Union would be shut out. Until the 106th minute when Kai Wagner saved a ball off the endline and sent it across. Neil Pierre rose and nodded it home. For the final minutes. the Boys in Blue sent in wave after wave, but the score at the final whistle was the Union 1, New England 2.

The Union travels next to face Nashville on Wednesday, October 28, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV.

Three Points

• Missing Cavan: The Union attack looked too predictable, and defenders were able for the most part to hold their positions. Richter deserves credit for making subs when he had to, but he was missing the depth of Bueno and Cavan Sullivan.
• Andre Blake: Remains one of the best keepers in the league. This game could have been very lopsided
• Striking woes: There was no final product until Neil Pierre’s goal deep in stoppage time.