CHESTER, Pa. -- New York City FC’s winless streak has finally ended.
Second-half substitute Patrick Mullins played the role of hero, breaking a deadlock in the 87th minute with his third goal of the year to lift NYCFC to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park on Saturday night.
Thomas McNamara also scored and Josh Saunders made six saves for NYCFC (2-7-5), who had gone winless in their 11 previous contests.
C.J. Sapong scored his team-leading fourth goal of the year for the Union (4-9-3), who had won three of their last four coming into the match and looked prime for a result until Mullins turned past Fabinho in the box and beat Union goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre to the near post with some help from a deflection.
Things looked much better for the Union earlier in the second half when they opened the scoring in the 46th minute after Sapong controlled a Sebastien Le Toux corner and fired one into the corner of the net. The goal was the third in the last four games for the red-hot Sapong and his second this season against NYCFC.
But New York City found their equalizer just seven minutes later when McNamara took a couple of dribbles in the middle of the field and unleashed a rocket into the top right corner of the net from about 25 yards out.
Along with Kwadwo Poku, McNamara was starting his first game for a New York City squad missing Mix Diskerud for USMNT duty.
Saunders was called into action a lot late in the game with the NYCFC goalie making a big stop on a Le Toux deflected shot in the 78th minute and then another one on second-half sub Zach Pfeffer in the 80th.
New York City FC star David Villa nearly scored one against the run of play in the 86th minute but hit one over the bar after the ball fell to him in the box.
Saturday’s game marked the third and last time this season New York City and Philadephia have met. The two clubs each came away with a win with the third game ending up in a draw
New York City return to action next Saturday for a home tilt vs. Montreal. The Union are off until a US Open Cup home game against the Rochester Rhinos on June 16. Their next MLS game will be will be June 20 at the LA Galaxy.
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.
