Milan Iloski delivered a hat trick and Indiana Vassilev had a goal and two assists to lead surging Philadelphia to a 4-2 rout of visiting Orlando City on Saturday night.
The Union (11-10-6, 39 points) won a club-record sixth consecutive match and extended their club-record unbeaten streak to 12 in a row. Philadelphia improved to 10-0-2 during that stretch and handed Orlando City (10-13-4, 34 points) its second consecutive league loss and its third straight across all competitions.
The Union remained in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, but created a five-point separation between them and seventh-place Orlando. Philadelphia also avenged a prior 4-3 loss at Orlando on May 13th.
Philadelphia scored all four of its goals within the first 51 minutes of the match, outshooting Orlando 11-2 during a dominant first half in which the Lions did not have a shot on target.
Orlando’s first goal didn’t come until Ivan Angulo scored in the 78th minute. Antoine Griezmann had a free-kick opportunity, and instead of shooting it, passed it wide of the defensive wall to Angulo, who fired quickly past Philadelphia keeper Andrew Rick.
In the 90th minute, Martin Ojeda tied a club record with his 47th goal for Orlando across all competitions.
Philadelphia struck first in the 11th minute on Iloski’s conversion of a penalty kick. Iloski drew the foul just inside Orlando’s 18-yard box as he was challenged by Eduard Atuesta.
A brilliant ball ahead by Vassilev set up Iloski’s second goal. Vassilev took a pass from Nathan Harriel at midfield and fired it ahead and Iloski was able to break free without being offside to set up a one-on-one chance with Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. Iloski then fired the ball under Crepeau’s reach and into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
Jesus Bueno stole a ball and dribbled in front of Orlando’s box, had a pass blocked right back to him and then found Vassilev open. Vassilev then fired a shot past Crepeau in the 47th minute for a 3-0 edge. Iloski’s third goal in the 51st minute was a high-arching shot from over 20 yards out that Crepeau could not stop despite a leaping attempt.
Orlando mustered a few more shots early in the second half, but Philadelphia’s defenders stood their ground as Vassilev and Harriel stonewalled shots by Ojeda and Daryl Dike.
–Field Level Media
