CHESTER, Pa. — Wednesday night’s matchup in Chester was a renewal of sorts in the rivalry against FC Cincinnati, as it pitted two former Jim Curtin assistants against each other in Pat Noonan and the coach who would replace him, interim head coach Ryan Richter. Both teams were in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff push, as only four points separated the clubs at the start of the contest.

For all intents and purposes, the evening’s match would be a litmus test for both squads in a way. For the road side, could they benefit from the extra rest and bounce back from the 4-0 loss the last time out on the road in Nashville? And for the boys in blue, could they get three points against a team with the quality Cincy had and get points before heading out for a two-match road trip?

With a 16th-minute red card given to Cincinnati’s Obinna Nwobodo, the Union capitalized on playing with the additional man, riding a hat trick of goals from Bruno Damiani and a hat trick of assists from Cavan Sullivan to cap off the evening with a 5-0 victory at home, extending their unbeaten run to nine matches.

“Overall, another positive result, of course, at home, and the energy we played with was outstanding,” Ryan Richter said speaking to the media post match. “The the reality is we got a break early in the game, but there’s still a job to do after that, and we were excellent in that. We continued our work against the ball, the recovery runs, the counter pressing, the focus and organization. We didn’t let that part drop, and probably, yeah, up a man, of course.”

“But one of our best games since we’ve been part of this. With the ball, I thought that we were playing at a really high level, and it was fun to watch. It was fun to be a part of, and thanks to the fans that supported us, and hopefully we put together a fun night and a good night for them. But again, a good win. We’re on a good run. We have to stay focused and make sure we approach the next game in the right way and keep our feet on the ground.”

Wednesday’s starting eleven was pretty much the same as the weekend’s contest except for two changes. First, Quinn Sullivan made only his second start since returning from injury and his first in MLS. He would start alongside his brother, Cavan Sullivan, in the midfield, marking the first time the Sullivan brothers started together in a Major League Soccer match.

The other change saw Ezekiel Alladoh make his first start since their Leagues Cup match against Necaxa, partnering with Bruno Damiani.

Otherwise, Andre Blake returned to the net coming off a clean sheet. Frankie Westfield, Neil Pierre, Nate Harriel, and Kai Wagner made up the defensive back line, with Jovan Lukic and Danley Jean Jacques making up the rest of the midfield.

Agustin Anello returned to the bench after missing the last match, joining Andrew Rick, Milan Iloski, Indiana Vassilev, Ben Bender, Alejandro Bedoya, Jesus Bueno, Malik Jakupovic, and Japhet Sery Larsen.

The Union started the match by advancing the ball into the opponent’s third for a good portion of the opening minutes, attacking down the right side. However, with Frankie being called offside and Cavan missing a feed to him, neither chance really came to be, while their opponent remained patient, waiting to pounce on a mistake.

Both teams traded chances over the next few moments, with Pavel Bucha ripping a cross in to Kevin Denkey, forcing Philadelphia to clear the ball out. The home side retaliated moments later as Cavan’s older brother, Quinn, fed Bruno, who got his head on the ball but was in an offside position.

In the 16th minute of the match, Obinna Nwobodo came down hard on the ankle of Westfield, earning him a yellow card. While the Union homegrown player was getting attention from the trainers, referee Joe Dickerson went to the monitor to check for a possible red card. Upon the VAR check, Dickerson ruled the play from Nwobodo to be dangerous action and issued the central midfielder a red card.

With the home side up a man, the match slowed down, with Cincinnati still looking to force a turnover and counter for a quick goal while giving the Union possession of the ball.

After two corners that the Union were unable to convert, their best opportunity came from a cross from the younger Sullivan right off the touchline, which Alladoh managed to get his head on, but it went wide right of the net for Philadelphia’s best chance to that point.

Evander earned the road side its first corner around the 31st minute of the match, which was cleared along with the ensuing attempt before Philadelphia went back on the attack.

After a foul from Danley on Denkey awarded the away side a free kick that sent them on the attack, the cross rolled just past a sliding Denkey, who narrowly missed it for Cincy’s best chance of the evening so far.

The Union struck first following a foul from Evander on Quinn Sullivan inside the penalty area, knocking Sullivan to the ground and prompting Dickerson to point to the penalty spot. With Iloski, who has been Philly’s primary taker during the season, still on the bench at that point, Quinn stepped up to face Roman Celentano and converted the attempt, putting Philadelphia ahead 1-0 in the 43rd minute of the match.

For the older brother, it was his first goal since May 24 of last year against Inter Miami at home, and it was also his first-ever penalty kick goal.

“For me, it’s been that long. I mean, a lot of months,” Sullivan mentioned to reporters. “But even since being back, you know, I’ve wanted one. I missed a big opportunity the other day after a great action, so you know that’s been eating me alive a little bit, and I got an opportunity tonight and scored it.”

With nine minutes of stoppage time announced, Danley started the play that led to Philadelphia’s second goal as the Haitian fed Quinn, who was on an overlapping run with his brother. Quinn flicked the ball off to him, allowing Cavan to get off a cross to a charging Bruno, who knocked it in to extend the lead to two goals. The assist from Cavan extended his goal contribution streak to six matches, while his older brother picked up his second assist of the season.

“I can’t keep track of it, but he’s balling,” Quinn said of his younger brother. “It’s great to see. He’s playing free, playing playing like himself, and I can’t be happier for him. And you know he’s going to keep pushing.”

The Union kept attacking and almost added a third as Jean Jacques nailed a header that snuck past Celentano but rolled just wide of the goalpost for an excellent opportunity as the half came to an end, with the Union leading by multiple goals at halftime for the first time under Richter.

Cincy made a triple substitution at the half, bringing off its attacking trio of Evander, Denkey, and Ender Echenique for Nick Hagglund, Tom Barlow, and Alvas Powell.

The second half would be all Union for the most part as they continued to keep the pressure on the short-handed team from Ohio.

Damiani netted the Union’s third goal in the 49th minute of the second half. For the Uruguayan, it was his second brace of the season and his second in five matches. Quinn, on the play, netted his second assist of the evening, along with his brother.

The Sullivans became the third pair of brothers in MLS history to each record an assist on the same goal and the first to accomplish the feat twice in a single match.

“I think from the entire team, like we looked really sharp with the ball and Cavin and Quinn combined on the one goal in a great way, and had a couple other really nice plays,” Richter told reporters. “But I can’t just single the two of them out. And as far as the combination play and the timing and some of the movement, it was probably our best game.”

And yet, the night really belonged to Bruno Damiani, as 11 minutes later he blasted home his first hat trick as a member of the Philadelphia Union on a rocket of a shot past Celentano, extending the lead to 4-0 in the 61st minute. A great setup pass from Cavan Sullivan gave him the assist for his club-leading 10th assist of the season.

While Bruno mentioned he was an emotional player, and that he was happy things were going well and happy about his hat trick, he did give the media a tiny insight into his three goals on the night.

“In the first one was more like a striker ball, like a normal cut in finding the right moment to spring and the last moment and score. The other two were like, more smart,” Damiani said.

“His goals were good striker goals in a different variety of the way that he scored,” the Union interim head coach mentioned. “So for him, I’m happy for him. You know, I’m sure he feels a weight off his shoulder in some ways, but also he should be proud of the work that he put in, and he deserved the goals he scored tonight. And for the team, when your striker leads a line like this, then you know he’s he’s doing his job in in the best way possible.”

Fun fact: On five of Damiani’s six goals, one of the brothers has contributed an assist, and it was Bruno’s first professional hat trick of his career.

“I think they they both have a lot of energy,” Damiani said about the brothers. “They have a good competitive mentality. I think with Quinn, I understand really really much the way he plays, the decision he takes with with Cavan, getting used to it today. Gave me two assists, and yeah, I think that’s a good thing to to feel. Like obviously with the teams who go in, who start, who go in as a sub, and I don’t care who gives me assist. But in this case, I feel good playing with them.”

“Bruno does a lot for us, and he does a lot for me,” Iloski told the media. “You know, he battles with guys constantly and lets me kind of, you know, run a bit more free. And you know, he does so much work defensively. But you know, I mean, goals come in bunches, I think a lot of the time. And you know, he scored two against New York, and now three tonight.”

“So I mean, I don’t know how many games we’ve played since the break, but that’s a really good return in this league. They have five goals in, I think eight games, nine. So I mean, probably got a couple assists in there somewhere. I’m not too sure exactly what he’s done, but I mean that’s great contribution. And you know, like a game like tonight, him scoring that hat trick is big for him, and hopefully it’s a snowball. And you know, with me, we’re both firing. That’s so big for the team going down the stretch here towards the end of the season.”

Richter’s first move to the bench saw Vassilev come in for Quinn, Milan Iloski for Alladoh, and Jesús Bueno for Lukic.

Iloski made his impact felt right away with two chances on net, one hitting the side post and bouncing out. Bruno thought for a moment he had his fourth goal of the night; however, after a VAR check for a handball, the goal was overturned as the Union went to the bench yet again.

Malik Jakupovic came on for Bruno, ending Damiani’s evening to the applause of the home crowd, and Alejandro Bedoya came on for Cavan Sullivan.

Philadelphia thought they had their clean sheet ruined after giving up a sloppy goal to Pavel Bucha following a turnover from Philly’s defense. But just like Damiani’s goal that was overturned, Cincinnati’s goal would not stand. Former Union defender Alvas Powell was checked for offside, which VAR confirmed, negating the goal.

The Philadelphia Union added to their lead as Jakupovic attacked into the opponent’s box, drew a foul, and was awarded a penalty, with the young homegrown jumping in the air in excitement following the referee’s call.

Milan would take and convert the penalty for his 12th goal of the season in league play and 13th overall as Philadelphia built a 5-0 lead on the evening, which by the end of the night would be the final scoreline.

“I think both of them did their job in the play,” Richter said of both players. “Malik jumped the pass. It was fantastic the way that he attacked it, drew the penalty, and then Milan’s job is as penalty taker number one to score it. And it’s not a, I don’t care what the score of the game is. We have to continue to execute in the way that we have to continue to stay focused. And I’m glad that Milan took the penalty.”

“You know, I asked Malik if he wants to hit it, and you know, if he would have said, you know, like I really want it, I need it or something, then you know for sure I would be open to it,” IIoski mentioned when asked if there was discussion on Jakupovic taking the penalty. “But you know, also you know it’s important for me to have that confidence hitting PKs because we’re gonna have a PK at some point coming up, and if you know I’m on the field, I’m gonna be hitting all the penalties. So it’s also important for me and for the team that I have a lot of confidence and good rhythm on this spot and feel that.”

So, while the home team walked out of Subaru Park with three points on the evening, it is important to note that this was the first time all season in league play that they had back-to-back clean sheets. They now have three overall since Richter has taken over, and Andre Blake registered his fifth MLS clean sheet of the season.

Sure, they were up a man and got lucky with VAR overturning Cincinnati’s lone goal, but the Union head coach spoke about the importance of that on the evening.

“It was important for us that it just didn’t become a game where everyone’s running wild and and trying to get theirs,” Richter said. “It was also, there’s a job to do in recovering defensively, of organizing when we have the ball, being in position to stop counter attacks, of being really aggressive when we lose the ball to not give outlets, and the guys did a pretty good job of that. We got a little sloppy on the play that got called back from the goal, but I think the guys, like I said in the beginning, the guys did a good job to keep their focus and make sure to execute what the job still was to do over the course of the game.”

The victory bumped the Union up to eighth place in the MLS Eastern Conference, and for the first time this season, they now have a positive goal differential at +2. They are now only one point behind Orlando City and FC Cincinnati in the standings, which was critical heading into the next two matches on the road.

“I think we’re in a good way right now in terms of undefeated since we’ve been back from the World Cup break, and the team knows that it’s not like we’re trying to hide it from us and, you know, not talk about it,” Quinn mentioned on the recent run of form. “We just know Ryan keeps preaching to bring the same energy and intensity that we brought, and then not get complacent, and you know we’re not. I think you keep continuing to see that week in and week out.”

They will first face San Diego FC this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. live from Snapdragon Stadium. San Diego fell 3-2 to the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night but will look to rebound against this Union side that is on a solid run of form over these last nine matches.

The match will be available on Apple TV.

Main article photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union