In a thrilling comeback at Gillette Stadium, Carles Gil delivered a masterclass performance with a goal and an assist in the second half, propelling the New England Revolution to a 2-1 victory over the struggling Philadelphia Union on Saturday night. The win extended the Revolution's unbeaten streak to seven matches, showcasing their resilience under first-year head coach Marko Mitrovic.
The match started on a sour note for New England when an own goal by Will Sands in the 37th minute handed Philadelphia a 1-0 lead that carried into halftime. But the Revolution, known for their never-say-die attitude, came out firing in the second half.
The equalizer arrived in the 61st minute when Luca Langoni connected on a pass from Gil, slotting home his second goal of the season. For Gil, it was his fourth assist of the campaign, adding to his impressive career tally of 86 assists in 204 appearances. Langoni, meanwhile, notched his seventh career goal in 49 matches, proving to be a valuable asset in the attack.
With the clock winding down and the match seemingly headed for a draw, Gil took matters into his own hands. In the 87th minute, he scored the winner unassisted, his third goal of the season and the 52nd of his career. The goal sent the home crowd into a frenzy and sealed a crucial three points for the Revs.
The Revolution's form has been nothing short of spectacular, going 6-0-1 in their last seven regular-season matches. They've been particularly dominant at home, improving to 6-0-0 at Gillette Stadium, where they are in the midst of a four-game homestand. With 22 points, New England is now tied with Inter Miami, just one point behind Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC.
For Philadelphia, the loss continues a nightmare start to the season. The Union, who won the Supporters' Shield and Eastern Conference title just last year under Bradley Carnell, are now 1-8-3—the worst start in club history. Their lone victory came on April 11 against CF Montreal, and they entered this match fresh off a scoreless draw with Nashville. To make matters worse, goalkeeper Andre Blake was not credited with a single save, highlighting the defensive struggles that have plagued the team.
This result also marks a shift in the rivalry, as Philadelphia had won six of the previous seven meetings between the two sides. But on this night, the Revolution proved that momentum and determination can overcome even the toughest opponents.