Kai Wagner and Milan Iloski each scored and added an assist, while Tai Baribo notched his team-leading 16th goal, as the Philadelphia Union rolled to a 4-0 home victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night in Chester, Pa.
Danley Jean Jacques also scored for Philadelphia (16-6-6, 54 points), which was the aggressor from the start and bombarded Chicago with 23 overall shots, including a 7-2 advantage in on-target chances. With the result, the Union rebounded from last weekend’s 1-0 loss at New York Red Bulls, extended their home unbeaten run to 9-0-4 and moved back ahead of FC Cincinnati for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, it proved a highly disappointing evening for Chicago (11-10-6, 39 points), which is fighting for a playoff berth and entered on a 3-0-2 stretch.
Philadelphia had two quality chances within the first two minutes of the match, both from Baribo. The first had him alone in front of Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady (three saves), only for the Union star to bounce it off center. In the fourth minute, Baribo again missed an open look, scuffing it wide left.
While Philadelphia continued to pressure Brady, Chicago’s first notable chance came in the 13th minute. Jack Elliott’s deflected ball was pushed over the bar by Andrew Rick (two saves), starting in place of injured veteran Union keeper Andre Black.
Philadelphia, which held nearly 60 percent of the first-half possession, was eventually rewarded shortly past the half-hour mark. Wagner delivered a perfect grounder into the box for a pursuing Baribo to finally convert the match’s first goal.
As the second half progressed, Chicago showed life, especially near the hour mark when Sergio Oregel hit the post. However, shortly after, in the 64th minute, Wagner took a touch from Iloski via a free kick and found the bottom right corner of the net that gave Philadelphia some breathing room.
The Union added some insurance in the 73rd minute when Jean Jacques converted amid traffic in the box. Iloski’s successful driving right-footer came seven minutes later.
–Field Level Media
