Bruno Damiani scored his second and third goals of the season in the span of seven minutes in the second half and the visiting Philadelphia Union rallied from two down to a 3-2 victory over New York City FC on Sunday evening.
Danley Jean Jacques also scored for Philadelphia (5-10-4, 19 points), which has won four matches in a row under interim manager Ryan Richter and two in a row after falling two goals behind.
Sixteen-year-old Cavan Sullivan had two assists in the victory that pulled the Union within five points of the Eastern Conference playoff line despite earning only one victory before the World Cup break.
Benie Traore and MLS debutant Luighi both scored from the penalty spot before halftime for NYCFC (7-7-5, 26 points), which has now lost three straight in all competitions but sustained its first league defeat since a 2-1 loss at Nashville SC on May 23 before the World Cup hiatus.
The Cityzens were thoroughly outplayed during the second half, with Sullivan in the middle of Philadelphia’s fightback.
In the 48th minute, he was the first to reach Kei Wagner’s free kick from the left, guiding a flick-on header into the box in the direction of Jean Jacques.
From there, Jean Jacques made contact with his thigh, then outmuscled defender Max Murray to poke his finish past Matt Freese from close range.
Then in the 69th minute, Sullivan made a run down the right to reach Milan Iloski’s pass after Jesus Bueno’s interception created a transition opportunity.
He could’ve shot, but instead played the ball left to Damiani for his first of two tap-in finishes.
Then it was older brother Quinn Sullivan who won the race to reach another ball from Bueno, reaching it on the left flank and evading a desperate sliding challenge by NYC’s James Sands.
From there, he wove into the penalty area and slotted another pass to the right for Damiani, who guided a second sure-footed finish past Freese for the game-winner in the 75th minute.
That completed the Uruguayan’s first MLS brace in his 52nd league appearance.
–Field Level Media
