Anthony Fontana, Ilsinho and Brenden Aaronson each scored one goal to lift the host Philadelphia Union past Inter Miami 3-0 on Sunday night.
Kacper Przybyłko recorded assists on the first two goals for the Union, who are 4-1-0 in their past five games. The Union (8-2-4, 28 points) picked up three points in heavy rain without captain and midfielder Alejandro Bedoya (suspension for yellow-card accumulation) and right back Ray Gaddis (hamstring).
Union goalkeeper Andre Blake made three saves for the shutout, his sixth of the season. Inter Miami (3-9-2, 11 points) maintained ball possession for 59.4 percent of the game but couldn't beat Blake.
In the 20th minute, highly touted Inter Miami forward Gonzalo Higuaín received a cross in the box and sent a bicycle kick off the post. It was the Major League Soccer debut for the 32-year-old Argentina international.
What could've been!
Bicycle kick from Higuaín hits off the post. #PHIvMIA pic.twitter.com/y2EsdHtg4x— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 28, 2020
The Union took a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute when Fontana ripped a shot into the upper corner of the goal for his fourth of the season.
.@AntFontana99's hot streak continues!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 28, 2020
Higuaín had another strong scoring chance in the 36th minute, but Blake was able to clear the ball after a shot from the corner of the goal.
Philadelphia's Sergio Santos fired a left-footed shot from the top of the box in the 55th minute, but Miami goalkeeper Luis Robles punched the ball out. Inter Miami nearly scored in the 62nd minute when Ben Sweat sent a bending shot toward the upper corner of the net. Blake was able to tip the ball just wide.
The Union extended their lead to 2-0 in the 69th minute when second-half substitute Ilsinho tapped a shot past Robles directly in front.
The buildup by @PhilaUnion players!
Ilsinho taps it in to make it 2-0. #PHIvMIA pic.twitter.com/1c7bPuyvnx— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 28, 2020
After a video review, Inter Miami were awarded a penalty kick for a handball on Przybylko in the box. In the 77th minute, Higuaín shot the penalty kick over the goal and appeared visibly frustrated.
Higuain skies the penalty kick pic.twitter.com/M5yZMMzpgI
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 28, 2020
Nine minutes of stoppage time was added on at the end, and Aaronson capitalized to score the Union's third goal in the 97th minute.
Cookies @AaronsonBrenden swipes the ball and scores to put the exclamation point on it for #DOOP pic.twitter.com/BGak2TFQaX
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 28, 2020
Aaronson, 19, reportedly reached a deal this week to join RB Salzburg in Austria following the current MLS season.
Gonzalo Higuaín Inter Miami MLS Debut Highlights Vs. Philadelphia Union
ICYMI: Gonzalo Higuaín made his MLS debut last night. #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/nA0qqKkRC0
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 28, 2020
