Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union
The Philadelphia Union earned a 2-0 victory against the New England Revolution Saturday night at Gillette Stadium to extend its win streak to three games – the first time in club history the Union have won the first three matches of a season. With the win, the Union remain top of the Eastern Conference with nine points.
Forward Tai Baribo joins Ante Razov as the only players in league history to record at least six goals through the first three matches of a season. He leads the league in goals while the Union lead the league in goals (10) and assists (12). Left back Kai Wagner made his 175th appearance for the Philadelphia Union and leads MLS with four assists this season. Finally, a healthy Andre Blake recorded his first clean sheet of the 2025 MLS season.
How The Match Unfolded
Philadelphia Union utilized the same starting XI as their previous two matches. The last time the club started the same lineup in three straight league matches was May 20, May 27, and May 31 of 2023.
The first half remained scoreless with the Union outshooting the Revolution eight to six. Tai Baribo opened the scoring for the Union in the 76th minute, breaking the deadlock with a far-post header set up by Kai Wagner cross. Baribo and the Union needed just the one goal thanks to stellar defense in blistering conditions. Goalkeeper Andre Blake picked up his 79th career clean sheet, being called upon for a diving stop in the 69th minute to deny a long-range Maximiliano Urruti effort. Ten minutes of stoppage time presented midfielder Jovan Lukic the opportunity to add an insurance goal and he delivered. A nice Alejandro Bedoya cross back to Indiana Vassilev provided the setup for the Lukic blast. From the edge of the 18-yard-box the Serbian gathered Vassilev’s lay-off and rocketed his shot off the inside of the far post and into the back of the net in the 97th minute. With that the Union secured all three points on the road.
Lineups
Philadelphia Union (4-2-2-2):
Andre Blake; Kai Wagner, Olwethu Makhanya, Jakob Glesnes, Frankie Westfield; Danley Jean Jacques, Jovan Lukic, Quinn Sullivan ( Indiana Vassilev 64’), Daniel Gazdag ( Chris Donovan 90’); Mikael Uhre ( Bruno Damiani 64’), Tai Baribo (Alejandro Bedoya 81’ ).
Substitutes not used: Andrew Rick, Nathan Harriel, Olivier Mbaizo, Jesus Bueno, Cavan Sullivan.
New England Revolution (4-2-3-1):
Aljaz Ivacic; William Sands ( Noel Buck 83’), Mamadou Fofana, Brayan Ceballos, Ilay Feingold ; Jackson Yueill (Brandon Bye 82’) , Alhassan Yusuf; Ignatius Ganago, Carles Gil, Luca Langoni (Luis Diaz Espinoza 68’) ; Leonardo Campana (Maximiliano Urruti 10’) .
Substitutes not used: Matt Polster, Andrew Farrell, Wyatt Omsberg, Tanner Beason, Alex Bono
Scoring Summary:
PHI – Tai Baribo (Wagner) 76’
PHI – Jovan Lukic (Vassilev, Bedoya) 90+7’
Disciplinary Summary:
PHI – Daniel Gazdag (yellow card) 45’
NE – Luca Langoni (yellow card) 52’
PHI – Tai Baribo (yellow card) 78’
PHI – O. Makhanya (yellow card) 90+2’
NE – B. Ceballos (yellow card) 90+11’
