• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Philadelphia rolls to 3-0 win over New England

Jul 18, 2011 - 1:24 AM Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - New England made it easy for Philadelphia to move into first place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference on Sunday.

Carlos Ruiz and Carlos Valdes scored in the first half - the Revolution failed to take a shot in the opening 45 minutes - and the Union won 3-0 at Gillette Stadium to overtake Red Bull New York in the standings.

Philadelphia (8-4-7) leads the Eastern Conference by two points and has played two fewer matches than New York. The Union are unbeaten in five straight games after their third shutout in the stretch.

New England (3-9-7) is now 16 points off the pace in last place in the East as its winless streak stretched to nine matches, dating back to a 1-0 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on May 14.

The Revolution were lucky not to enter the match with the fewest points in MLS after Vancouver's home game against Real Salt Lake was postponed Saturday, but they did nothing to distance themselves from the Whitecaps.

With just a two-point cushion on Vancouver, which has the worst record in MLS, New England was dominated from the early stages and Ruiz and Valdes made sure Philadelphia didn't waste its advantage.

Justin Mapp's cross was headed at the left post by Keon Daniel back across the goal, and Ruiz lunged to stab the ball over Matt Reis' goal line for his sixth goal of the season in the 12th minute.

The Union added their second goal in the 24th when a free kick was played into the area to Sebastien Le Toux, who headed the ball into the middle for Valdes to poke home from close range for his first MLS goal.

Chris Tierny hit the frame early in the second half for New England, but its frustrations boiled over later in the half when midfielder Benny Feilhaber was sent off for a second yellow card.

Feilhaber didn't leave the field until having a few choice words with a number of Philadelphia players, and the Union got even more comfortable with the man advantage.

Although chances were limited, Sheanon Williams added a third goal in stoppage time for his first MLS goal, giving the Union three goals in a match for the third time this year.

Philadelphia's 31 points and eight wins equal its total from last season, its first in MLS. New England lost for the third time at home, and has just three wins in 10 home games this season, which is quickly spiraling out of control.