Fontana chip, Blake saves lead Union to another win over New England

It wasn’t pretty but a big night from Andre Blake and another goal for Anthony Fontana against the Revolution led the Philadelphia Union to a 2-1 win against New England on Monday night.

The Revs came out looking like the more dangerous team, seeing a lot more of the ball but the Union took a 1-0 lead when the Revs defense made a meal out of a Kai Wagner cross in the 34th minute and it ended up crossing the goal line after Andrew Farrell dove to stop the cross and goalkeeper Matt Turner was unable to keep it out.

Just before halftime the Revs threatened to find an equalizer and a shot appeared to hit Kacper Przybylko’s hand but unlike in D.C. on Wednesday that saw Alejandro Bedoya penalized the play was not reviewed. Bedoya missed Monday night’s game serving a yellow card suspension and with Jose Martinez also out, head coach Jim Curtin deployed Jack Elliott as a No. 6, a position he played off the bench during the MLS is Back Tournament.

The Revs had another big chance to tie the game when Teal Bunbury headed a ball on frame that Blake was able to keep out in the 65th minute. Four minutes later Jamiro Monteiro found Fontana in the box and he chipped Revs keeper Matt Turner.

Fontana’s goal would be needed after Tajon Buchanan found some space and rocketed a ball in from distance that Blake could do nothing to stop in the 81st minute. Buchanan put the ball in the back of the net again moments later but the goal was taken off the scoreboard after he was ruled offsides.

The Revs had two more tantalizing looks at the goal, both from Lee Nguyen. The first came on a well-taken free kick from Nguyen that Blake dove to stop and the second came when Nguyen danced his way through the box only to have his shot miss the target after Jakob Glesnes made a last ditch effort to stop the shot.

With three more points earned on the road, the Union return home for three of their last four games at home, including Saturday night’s showdown with first place Toronto FC.

GOALS/ASSISTS
PHI – Andrew Farrell (own goal) 34’
PHI – Anthony Fontana (Monteiro) 69’
NER – Tajon Buchanan (Polster) 80’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
PHI – Sergio Santos (caution) 57’
PHI – Jamiro Monteiro (caution) 87’
NER – Matt Polster (caution) 90+2’

LINEUPS

Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Ray Gaddis, Jakob Glesnes, Mark McKenzie, Kai Wagner (Matt Real 89’); Jack Elliott, Brenden Aaronson, Jamiro Monteiro, Anthony Fontana (Andrew Wooten 78’); Kacper Przybylko (Cory Burke 77’), Sergio Santos (Ilsinho 60’)

Substitutes not used: Joe Bendik; Aurelien Collin, Olivier Mbaizo, Michee Ngalina, Cole Turner

New England Revolution: Matt Turner; Henry Kessler, Andrew Farrell, Alexander Büttner, DeJuan Jones; Lee Nguyen, Tommy McNamara (Diego Fagundez 59’), Scott Caldwell (Matt Polster 60’), Teal Bunbury, Tajon Buchanan; Adam Buksa

Substitutes not used: Brad Knighton; Michael Mancienne, Seth Sinovic, Kelyn Rowe, Kekuta Manneh, Antonio Mlinar, Brandon Bye