Two goals from Daniel Gazdag and two assists from 20-year-old Quinn Sullivan helped Philadelphia Union to a 4-0 victory over DC United on Sunday night in Chester, Pennsylvania.

The win moved the Union back to ninth place – the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference – with four games remaining.

Sullivan opened the scoring for Philadelphia (9-12-9, 36 points) in the 13th minute, outplaying two defenders on the right sideline and running around another to lure the defense and make a pass in front of the goal. On the other side, Mikael Uhre was unprotected and could easily slot the ball in.

Less than three minutes later, Philadelphia brought in another cross that DC (8-13-9, 33 points) initially parried. However, Gazdag sprinted into the box to intercept the ensuing loose ball and fired it into the left side of the net from the right side of the 16-yard box.

In the second half, Sullivan got a second assist in the 51st minute when the young winger received a pass under pressure, broke free and ran to the byline. Sullivan sent in a cross that Tai Baribo headed into the net, giving Philadelphia a three-goal lead.

Gazdag’s second goal came when the game was already clearly in the home team’s favor. In the 69th minute, a misplaced back pass from DC United landed at the feet of Baribo, who found the completely unmarked Gazdag, who scored his second goal of the night and his 17th of the season.

Defensively, Union managed to neutralize the play of DC striker Christian Benteke, who entered the game as the league leader with 19 goals scored. Benteke had two shots on goal, and the Philadelphia defense put several defenders on the scorer all night.

Another positive for Union was the return of goalkeeper Andre Blake. The three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year made his ninth appearance of the season after missing the last two games with a right leg injury. Blake was key to the win, stopping all five of DC United’s shots on goal.

Also returning for Philadelphia was 14-year-old Cavan Sullivan, who came on as a substitute in the 88th minute. In the third minute of second-half stoppage time, Cavan Sullivan nearly scored his first MLS goal, but shot just over the bar.

–Field level media