C.J. Sapong Scores Twice as Union Roll in Home Opener

BOX SCORE

CHESTER, Pa. -- Prior to the Union's home opener Sunday, manager Jim Curtin set his team's goal for home wins at 10, three more than any other Union team has earned.

As far as achieving that lofty accomplishment, Sunday was a good start.

With a pair of goals from C.J. Sapong and the third-career shutout from goalkeeper Andre Blake, the Union dismantled the New England Revolution, 3-0, at Talen Energy Stadium.

"We wanted to show our fans and the rest of the league what we already know within our group -- that were different this year," said Union manager Jim Curtin. "We're happy with the shutout, but at the same time, we think we have more to give."

Sunday marked the first time the Union, now 2-1-0, registered back-to-back wins since May 2015 when they defeated D.C United and the New York Red Bulls. It was the fourth time they've done so since 2013.

"I knew we were coming in here a confident team," said Union forward Chris Pontius. "You get your main striker two goals and get him feeling good. We're a dangerous team going forward. We got our first clean sheet of the year."

The Revolution move to 0-1-2 and have been shutout in consecutive games.

From the start, it was all Union. The club opened scoring in the 18th minute, when the ball found Sapong after a Fabinho cross and a deflected clearing header from Andrew Farrell. The Union forward claimed position in the box and fired off a left-footed shot that deflected off Jose Goncalves and past Bobby Shuttleworth for the 1-0 Union lead.

"It feels great," Sapong said. "It feels great to open the account."

Sapong extended the Union lead off a confident individual play from Warren Creavalle in the 34th minute. In for injured Vincent Nogueira, Creavalle beat his man on the left side of the box before firing in a low cross that Sapong powered home for the 2-0 Union lead.

"Fabinho played me a great ball," Creavalle said. "I continued to go and saw C.J."

Then the contest broke in the Union's favor for good.

Immediately after conceding the goal, Lee Nguyen and the Revs went on the attack, earning a free kick from the top of the Union box in the 35th minute. Nguyen's ensuing shot hit the left post, skittered across the goal line and hit the right post, before bouncing back into the arms of Blake.

"People say you're lucky when the ball hits the post," Blake said. "But for me, I don't really think that way because the post is not inside the goal. It's just what it is. I'm thankful for it not going in."

Two minutes later, Revs right back Je-Vaughn Watson went in on Roland Alberg with an aggressive studs-up tackle that sent the Union midfielder onto the grass in a heap. Nima Saghafi, who was officiating his first MLS match, pulled up the straight red and ejected Watson. Neither coach disputed the call.

From there in, it was all Union. But while the home side put on the pressure, it was Shuttleworth who came up big with a pair of penalty kick saves - one on Ilsinho in the first half and one on Sebastien Le Toux in the 79th minute, which snapped a 13 for 13 penalty kick goal streak from the Frenchman. Shuttleworth finished with five saves.

"You gotta be able to put a team away a little better," Pontius said. "There are things we can do a lot better."

But the Revs' keeper couldn't stop the Union completely, as Leo Fernandes found Le Toux on defensive collapse by the Revs to end the contest, 3-0, in stoppage time.