Picault and Elliott help Union win in New England
FOXBOROUGH, MASS. » Fafa Picault scored on a penalty kick, and Jack Elliott had his first career multigoal game to help the Philadelphia Union beat the New England Revolution 3-2 Saturday night.
Picault converted from the spot in the 76th minute, after New England’s Antonio Delamea was called for a hand ball, to give the Union (911-3, 30 points) a 3-2 lead. The win moves the Union into fifth place in the Eastern Conference, above the read line for playoff positioning.
Elliott, a 22-year-old defender who came in with one career goal, opened the scoring in the 14th minute. After Cory Burke’s header, off a cross by CJ Sapong, ricocheted off the post, Picault’s shot from the top-left corner of the area was tapped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Matt Turner. Following the ensuing corner kick, Elliott backheeled an entry from Haris Medunjanin into a wide-open net.
Elliott made it 2-0 when Picault’s long-range effort bounced off the post and deflected off the back of a diving Turner directly to Elliott for the tap in in the 24th. He’s the first Union defender to score twice in a match in franchise history.
New England defender Andrew Farrell one-timed a left-footer, which deflected off a defender, in the opening seconds of the second half to make it 2-1. It’s just his second career goal in 182 matches. Wilfried Zahibo’s header, off a free kick by Diego Fagundez, tied it a 2 in the 64th minute.
New England (7-8-8, 29 points) is winless in its last six games.
RED BULLS 1, FIRE 0 » Bradley WrightPhillips scored and Luis Robles had his eighth shutout of the season in New York’s victory over Chicago.
Wright-Phillips opened the scoring in the 55th minute. Daniel Royer stole a pass from Chicago’s Dax McCarty at the top corner of the area and tapped it to Wright-Phillips for the finish with the outside of his right foot. He has 15 goals this season.
The Red Bulls (15-6-2) have won five of their last six. Chicago (6-145) has lost seven in a row.
CREW 1, DYNAMO 0 » Gyasi Zardes scored in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.
Zardes chest-trapped Harrison Afful’s diagonal ball off the first bounce and volleyed it past goalkeeper Joe Willis for his 14th goal of the season.
Zack Steffen made five saves for his eighth shutout of the season.