Recap: McInerney caps Union 2-1 comeback win over Revs

CHESTER, Pa. — Thanks to another comeback against their rivals from the north, the Philadelphia Union have still never lost to the New England Revolution.

Trailing 1-0 at the half, the Union got a penalty-kick goal from Freddy Adu to negate an early tally from New England’s Saër Sène, before Jack McInerney sent the sold-out PPL Park into a frenzy with a game-winner in the 90th minute to lead Philly to a dramatic 2-1 victory Sunday night.

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McInerney’s fourth goal of the season came on a cross from Sheanon Williams that sailed over New England goalkeeper Matt Reis to McInerney, who was waiting at the back post to head it home — and then leap into the elated Sons of Ben section of the crowd.

Full Highlights: PHI 2, NE 1

The Union (7-10-2, 23 points), who are 3-0-2 all-time against the Revs, are now even in points with New England (6-10-5, 23 points) in the crowded Eastern Conference standings.

The Union tied the game at 1-1 early in the second half when Adu banged home a penalty kick in the 59th minute for this third goal of the season. Philly are now 10-for-10 on PKs in franchise history. The play was set up when New England’s Kevin Alston was whistled for a foul for taking down McInerney right at the edge of the 18-yard box.

The Revs controlled play for the first half, surging ahead on a wicked goal from striker Sène in the 12th minute.

Sène, who had space to roam for much of the night, fired a blast from distance that knuckled past confused Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath for his ninth goal of the season and first in five games.

The Revs had a few more good chances to score — including in the 28th minute when Kelyn Rowe beat Philly’s offside trap and had a wide-open shot skirt just wide — but couldn’t repeat last year’s first-half success at PPL Park when they scored four times in an eventual 4-4 draw. Incidentally, that 2011 game marked the first career start for MacMath, who became the Union’s full-time starter this season.

OPTA CHALKBOARD: Philly wins the possession game

Most of the Union’s first-half opportunities came on runs behind the defense from rookie Antoine Hoppenot, who got his first career start in league play, and on a couple of fine free kicks from Michael Farfan and Gabriel Gómez. But the hosts were certainly fortunate to go into halftime only trailing 1-0.

The Revs kept the pressure on for much of the second half. Shalrie Joseph, who started the game on the bench, had a chip that nearly found the back of the net in the 79th minute, just before fellow sub Dimitry Imbongo Boele was dispossessed in the box by Union captain Carlos Valdés.

Williams, who moved over from right back to left back for part of the second half, also had a terrific sliding tackle on Sène to limit the damage. Later, MacMath made a big stop on Sène in the 89th minute and Valdés had a big clear off the line in stoppage time.

The Union, who have won four straight at PPL Park, will get their passports ready for a Saturday contest at Montreal (4:30 pm ET, MLS Live).

The Revs, who are winless in their last four contests, next host Sporting Kansas City on Saturday (7:30 pm ET, MLS Live).

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