Bruno Damiani recorded the first hat trick of his Union career as the Philadelphia Union extended their MLS unbeaten run to nine matches with a dominant 5-0 victory over FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night.
Cincinnati was reduced to 10 men in the 16th minute when Obinna Nwobodo was shown a red card following a VAR review. Philadelphia broke through late in the opening half, with Quinn Sullivan converting from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute before Damiani doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time.
The Union kept their foot on the gas after the break as Damiani struck again in the 49th minute before completing his first career hat trick in the 61st. Cavan and Quinn Sullivan also made MLS history, becoming the first pair to each be credited with an assist on two separate goals in the same match.
Milan Iloski put the finishing touches on the victory with an 89th-minute goal as Philadelphia closed out a 5-0 win, collected another three points and pushed its league unbeaten streak to nine matches.
The Boys in Blue wrap up a busy three-game stretch in eight days this weekend as they make the trip out west for a first-ever clash with San Diego FC. The Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire clash is set to kick off at 9PM ET with coverage on Apple TV.
How The Match Unfolded
LINEUP NOTES
Interim Head Coach Ryan Richter made two changes to the Starting XI that opened the match against CF Montreal on Saturday, which was one he'd used for five of the team's eight unbeaten matches since the World Cup break.Â
Andre Blake started in net behind an unchanged backline featuring the young centerback duo of Nathan Harriel and Neil Pierre, plus Kai Wagner and Frankie Westfield outside.Â
Quinn Sullivan made his first start since recovering from a torn ACL. The stadium was loud when his name was read by Public Address announcer Kevin Casey -- a well-deserved welcome back to the XI after almost an entire year of hard work toward the moment.Â
The eldeset Sullivan started alongside his brother, Cavan, joining defensive midfielders Jovan Lukic and Danley Jean Jacques.Â
Richter's other change was up top -- Ezekiel Alladoh lined up for his first appearance in the XI for an MLS match since May 9th, joining Bruno Damiani to make the attacking duo.Â
10', Damiani header chance | Wagner picked off Evander to spur the Union's first chance of the night. In his first match back, Q. Sullivan chipped a ball into Damiani for a header chance but it went over left.
16', Cincinnati red card | Obinna Nwobodo was shown a red for a dangerous high tackle on Frankie Westfield, who required attention from Philadelphia Union training staff. The booking forced the Cincy's defensive midfielder out of the match and the visiors to play down a player for the remainder of play.Â
19', Q. Sullivan shot | The homegrown ripped a shot from the center of the box, attempting to quickly capitalize on the man advantage, but his try was blocked by Cincy's Kyle Smith.Â
27, Union corner chances | The Union found a pair of corners, one from each side, in quick sucession. From the left, Wagner first passed it short on the ground to Westfield, who sent it back for a cross into the box.Â
Two minutes later, Westfield sent one in from the the left and found Harriel, but his whiffed touch bounced it high toward Alladoh who tried to use the height for an unsuccessful bike attempt.Â
36', Close Cincy chance | Evander created a promising opportunity for the visitors, finding Ender Echenique for a low cross across the box to Denkey, who missed the finish.Â
41', Favorable fouls | The momentum quickly shifted back in favor of the Union after a physical sequence resulted in Pierre taking a cleat to the face, and Q. Sullivan taking down by Evander for a yellow to the #10 and a Union penalty.
43', Union goal! |Â After drawing the foul that earned Philly a penalty, Q. Sullivan stepped up to the spot, nailing the ball to the top right for his first goal since his injury.
45+1, Damiani goal! | The Sullivan show was just getting started -- Q. Sullivan passed to his younger brother who found Damiani for the finish from the center of the box, doubling the lead to make it 2-0 before halftime.
45+5', Danley shot | Danley nearly made it three but his shot went just shy of the left post.
Halftime | Philly retreated to the locker room for halftime up two, while the visitors regrouped after a scoreles half, and promptly made a change with Tom Barlow replacing Denkey before the second '45.
47', Philly makes it 3-0! |Â Another goal scored by Bruno Damiani and assisted by both Sullivans -- this time with the younger Sullivan nodding a headed pass to his brother, who split a pair of Cincy defenders to find Damiani for another finish.Â
With the goal, the Sullivans are the first pair in MLS history to each be credited with an assist on two separate goals in the same match!
63', Damiani AGAIN! | Bruno Damiani gets his first Union hattrick with a third goal against Cincinnati, and another assist from C. Sullivan.
65', Union subs | Richter made a trio of subs in the 65th minute, sending on Jesus Bueno, Milan Iloski, and Indiana Vassilev to replace Lukic, Alladoh, and Q. Sullivan.Â
68', Iloski shot | Shortly into his shift, Iloski almost got one for himself, stopped by only the post.
75', Union subs | Richter sent in another pair of subs, swapping in Ale Bedoya and Malik Jakupovic to replace Damiani and C. Sullivan.
89', Iloski makes it 5-0! | Iloski got his goal in the 89th, scoring off a penalty drawn by a strong effort from Jakupovic.
