Danley Jean Jacques scored in the 57th minute and the Philadelphia Union remained unbeaten under interim coach Ryan Richter with a 2-0 victory over struggling CF Montreal on Saturday night in Chester, Pa.
The Union (7-10-6, 27 points) moved into ninth in the Eastern Conference and ran their unbeaten streak to eight games (6-0-2) since Richter took over. Philadelphia scored at least two goals for the sixth time in that stretch thanks to a pair of second-half goals and two timely saves from goalkeeper Andre Blake.
Jean Jacques scored his fourth goal this season off a scramble in front and Cavan Sullivan scored for the third straight game when he cashed in during the 75th minute.
Blake made his only two saves on shots by Montreal star Prince Owusu for his 90th MLS shutout and fourth this season.
After Philadelphia took the lead, he easily denied Owusu’s soft shot from the penalty spot in the 69th minute. Five minutes later, Blake denied him again on a point-blank chance immediately before Philadelphia took a 2-0 lead.
Montreal (5-12-6, 21 points) dropped to 2-6-6 in its past 14 games a week after taking a 7-1 loss to Inter Miami. Montreal was blanked for the eighth time this season and finished with five shots – two on target.
Montreal goalie Sebastian Breza made six saves as Philadelphia had 19 shots.
Jean Jacques opened the scoring when he retained possession after getting a shot blocked. He controlled a loose ball from close range in the center of the box and sent the ball into the net after Breza did not move forward to contest.
After Breza denied Milan Iloski’s attempt, Sullivan swooped in for the rebound and lifted a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner. Breza was in no position to stop Sullivan’s shot because he dove to deny Iloski and left the goal line uncovered.
Montreal appeared to get the lead in the third minute, but Owusu’s goal was disallowed when video review determined Fabian Herbers was offside.
Philadelphia’s Bruno Damiani missed three chances in the opening half, sending a shot over the bar in the ninth minute and missing to his left in the 13th before seeing a right-footed shot on an open look drift past the left post in the 45th minute.
–Field Level Media
