Philadelphia Union recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season by beating New York Red Bulls 2-0 in New Jersey tonight.
Union rode the crest of a wave into tonight's clash after their last-gasp 1-0 win over DC United last week, with Zach Pfeffer grabbing a 93rd-minute winner.
Coach Jim Curtin will have hoped that the victory would prove the watershed moment in a season that had previously spawned four successive defeats.
There was no shortage of confidence evident from Philadelphia in the early stages when Cristian Maidana saw his shot saved by Luis Robles, before Sheanon Williams fired narrowly wide on 26 minutes.
The hosts grew into the contest and Felipe saw his effort come back off the post, while talisman Bradley Wright-Phillips then also went close shortly after as both sides went in level at the break.
Curtin's men broke the deadlock on 57 minutes when Vincent Nogueira turned home Maidana's cross from the six-yard box. Things got better five minutes later when CJ Sapong converted from close range after a superb solo run from Fabinho.
Red Bulls should have made it a nervy last 15 minutes for the visitors, but Brian Sylvestre pulled off a fine save to keep out Wright-Phillips's close-range effort and Union held on for their third win of the campaign.
Shane Callaghan
