Philadelphia Union lost to New England Revolution 2-1 on Sunday at PPL Park. Charlie Davies and Teal Bunbury scored second-half goals to lead the Revolution past Philadelphia. Cristian Maidana scored the Union’s lone goal, on a well-taken free kick in the first half.
“Obviously a very disappointing result, we let a huge opportunity slip through our fingers tonight,” Union head coach Jim Curtin said. “I don’t think we played particularly well in the first half but Chaco scored a very good goal on the free kick. They’re a good team and given time on the ball they started to pass well and broke us down for two goals.”
The Union welcomed a few familiar faces back into the starting lineup with C.J. Sapong and Cristian Maidana each starting their first game in more than two months after being injured. Both continued to play integral roles offensively, providing immediate impact.
In the 16th minute, Fernando Aristeguieta streaked through the left side of the 18-yard box and found Sapong near the 6. Sapong sent it right back to Aristeguieta who looked to deflect the ball in past Revolution goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth for the opening goal, but the ball ricocheted off and into the crossbar before bouncing away.
But the Union eventually broke the scoreless tie thanks to Maidana in the 42nd minute with a beautifully struck free kick from about 30 yards out. Maidana bent it over the wall and past a diving Shuttleworth to give the Union a 1-0 lead.
The Revs brought on Bunbury and Chris Tierney about 15 minutes after halftime and equalized in the 64th minute. Bunbury got past Ray Gaddis along the right side and sent in a strong cross that Davies squared home.
Bunbury then put the Revolution ahead 12 minutes later on a similar play along the right side that Fagundez played in for Bunbury, who finished it past a helpless Union goalkeeper John McCarthy.
“We got beat on the one out wide and the second one was actually a miss kick by their goalkeeper,” Curtin said. “It was a punt that we let bounce and then from there it’s a scramble.”
The Union had a few more chances, including a stretch that started in the 77th minute when Maurice Edu sent a screamer for 35 yards that forced a save from Shuttleworth. On the ensuing corner kick, both Aristeguieta and Edu both got quality shots on net that needed to be cleared off the line, but the game remained 2-1, where it ultimately finished.
“It’s not the way we wanted things to go obviously,” Curtin said. “We have to pick ourselves up and look forward to Columbus.”
The Union will next play at Columbus Crew SC on Saturday, April 25 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on The Comcast Network.
BOX SCORE
New England Revolution 2, Philadelphia Union 1
PPL Park
Chester, Pa.
SCORING SUMMARY
PHI – Cristian Maidana 42’
NE – Charlie Davies (Teal Bunbury) 64’
NE – Teal Bunbury (Diego Fagundez) 76’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
NE – Lee Nguyen (yellow) 37’
PHI – Ray Gaddis (yellow) 41’
PHI – Conor Casey (yellow) 84’
PHI – Sheanon Williams (yellow) 90’
NE – Teal Bunbury (yellow) 90+1’
UNION STARTING XI
John McCarthy, Ray Gaddis, Steven Vitoria, Maurice Edu ©, Sheanon Williams, Michael Lahoud, Zach Pfeffer (Conor Casey 78’), C.J. Sapong (Andrew Wenger 63’), Cristian Maidana (Brian Carroll 63’), Sebastien Le Toux, Fernando Aristeguieta.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION STARTING XI
Bobby Shuttleworth, London Woodberry, Andrew Farrell, Jermaine Jones, Kevin Alston (Chris Tierney 60’), Andy Dorman, Scott Caldwell, Kelyn Rowe (Teal Bunbury 61’), Lee Nguyen, Juan Agudelo (Diego Fagundez 71’), Charlie Davies.
OFFICIALS
Mark Geiger (referee), Adam Wienckowski (assistant), Jonathan Johnson (assistant), Robert Sibiga (fourth).
ATTENDANCE
18,106
