Revolution Snap Philadelphia's 15-Match Unbeaten Run, Move Into Second in the East and Get Two Home Games to Finish the Regular Season

The Revolution did something no team had done to the Union since a club-record unbeaten streak began: they beat them. New England won 2-1 at Subaru Park on Saturday, ending Philadelphia's 15-match run and moving into second place in the Eastern Conference at 17-10-4 and 55 points, the club said. The Revolution already clinched a playoff spot on Oct. 14.

Dor Turgeman scored in first-half stoppage time on his 23rd birthday for his 10th goal of the season. Carles Gil sent a pass to Peyton Miller, whose header redirected the ball into Turgeman's path at the back post for a tap-in. It was Gil's 12th assist of the year and the 99th of his MLS career, according to the club's recap. Gil converted the second-half stoppage-time penalty after Philadelphia's Neil Pierre fouled him, his career-high 13th goal this season. Pierre scored 12 minutes into stoppage time to make it 2-1, and Matt Turner's punch save in the final minute preserved the lead.

Philadelphia had the better of the first half-hour, per the recap. Milan Iloski nearly scored in the 22nd minute and Turner denied him. Dániel Gazdag, Philadelphia's all-time leading scorer, tested Andre Blake twice, starting against his old team. Turner finished with six saves and matched his own career high and club record with his 17th win of the season.

The clinching win on Oct. 14 at Cincinnati, 3-2, was the more chaotic one: Turgeman scored twice, Wynder scored his first MLS goal and Turner made eight saves and passed 500 career MLS saves, according to the club. Gil's 10th assist that night made him the second player in MLS history with 10 or more assists in six straight seasons, joining Preki. It was New England's sixth come-from-behind win of the year, and the team led MLS with six wins after conceding first. Coach Marko Mitrović was suspended for the next match, against Chicago, after a third yellow card. The milestones are worth listing. New England's 17 wins are tied for the second most in a single season in club history, and its 55 points tie for third most. It is the Revolution's first victory at Subaru Park since 2021 and just the fifth overall there. The club has two players in double-digit goals, Turgeman and Gil, for the first time since 2021. Gil is 24-for-27 on penalties in MLS and moves into sole possession of the fifth-most penalty goals in league history, and with three games left he needs one more goal contribution to match his career high of 26, set in 2023.

The backline is young. The recap noted the Revolution's back four on Saturday were all 22 or younger: Miller, 18, at left back, Ilay Feingold, 22, Ethan Kohler, 21, and Josh Wynder, 21. Miller has assists in four of his last five appearances, and New England is 10-0-2 this season when he records a goal contribution. Defender Mamadou Fofana returned after missing three matches with a lower-body injury.

The standings are tight, so the last three games matter for seeding. According to Wikipedia's table updated through Oct. 24, Nashville leads the East with 70 points, New England and Inter Miami each have 55 and Chicago has 51 with every team having played 31 matches. Nashville entered the playoffs as Supporters' Shield and East champion. The first round is a best-of-three series, and the lower-seeded team hosts the second game, so seeding is worth chasing.

New England is at home for both remaining home games. Red Bull New York visits Gillette Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV, then Inter Miami visits on Sunday, Nov. 1, the club said. Miami is level on points with the Revolution right now, so Sunday's match carries seeding weight. The playoffs begin Nov. 18.

I'd say this team is hard to read because it's so streaky: a 0-3 home loss to Seattle on Oct. 10, then three straight wins, per ESPN's results. But a backline of 21- and 22-year-olds that holds a 15-game unbeaten side to one stoppage-time goal is worth taking seriously. Wednesday's match against New York will tell us whether it's a trend.