Bruno Damiani scored his first MLS hat trick and the surging Philadelphia Union romped to a 5-0 victory over 10-man FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night in Chester, Pa.
Quinn Sullivan converted a penalty kick and had two assists for the Union (8-10-6, 30 points), who won their third straight in the league and improved to 7-0-2 in their past nine MLS matches. His 16-year-old brother, Cavan Sullivan, assisted on all three of Damiani’s goals as Philadelphia climbed above New York City FC to eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
Milan Iloski completed the scoring with his team-leading 12th goal on Philadelphia’s second penalty kick. By then, the other attacking contributors had been given an early curtain call from interim head coach Ryan Richter.
Andre Blake kept his and the Union’s fifth clean sheet without making a save.
Obinna Nwobodo was sent off for his 12th-minute foul on Frankie Westfield as seventh-place Cincinnati (8-8-7, 31 points) sank to 1-6-5 on the road and conceded at least four goals for a second consecutive match.
Referee Joe Dickerson originally issued Nwobodo a caution, but he upgraded his decision after a video review that showed Nwobodo caught Westfield on the legs with exposed studs.
Cincinnati kept the contest scoreless until Quinn Sullivan converted from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute, earning the opportunity himself when he induced Evander into a foul on the edge of the penalty area.
But the night would eventually belong to Damiani, as the Uruguayan doubled his season output to six goals. He had seven last year in his first MLS season.
His first tally of the night came three minutes after Quinn Sullivan’s opener, when he reached Cavan Sullivan’s ball across the box and tapped in a simple finish from close range.
Damiani’s more stylish finishes came after halftime.
Four minutes after the break, the Sullivan brothers combined on the left side of the penalty area before Damiani reached it and guided a first-time, left-footed shot beyond Roman Celentano and into the bottom right corner.
Then in the 61st minute, Damiani used power and placement following more combo play from the Sullivan brothers, beating Celentano under the crossbar from the edge of the box with another left-footed strike.
–Field Level Media
