C.J. Sapong's offense and the goaltending of Andre Blake helped the Union snap a 15-game regular-season winless streak that began last September.
Sapong's second-half hat trick in a span of 11 minutes and Blake's acrobatics in goal provided the Union with a 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls Saturday night before 16,297 at Talen Energy Stadium.
The Union (1-4-4) became the final Major League Soccer team to earn a win this season. They had been 0-9-6 dating to last season. The Union's previous win was a 2-0 triumph over visiting Sporting Kansas City on Aug. 27, 2016.
New York (5-5-1) suffered its second straight loss and is 1-5 on the road.
"You can't put into words [what this means]," said Sapong, who scored his first career hat trick. "It has been a long, hard working road for us to get this first win."
Sapong opened the scoring in the 74th minute. He dribbled about 20 yards and, between two defenders, bought himself enough room to fire a shot from inside the box that deflected off defender Aaron Long and inside the far post.
"Finally, a deflection and the ball went in our way," Sapong said.
In the 80th minute, Blake preserved the lead with a diving save on a one-timer by Bradley Wright-Phillips from just outside the 6-yard line.
"I am just thankful, and this win should be a stepping-stone for us," Blake said.
Sapong then made it 2-0 by scoring in the 81st minute. Fabian Herbers sent a cross from the right side that was headed by teammate Chris Pontius in front of the net to Sapong, who finished.
Sapong then earned his hat trick by scoring on a penalty kick in the 85th minute.
The Union were inching up on the longest winless streak in MLS history. That dubious streak is 19, set by the New York/New Jersey Metro-Stars in 1999.
The Union played without center back Richie Marquez, who was out with a stomach bug. It snapped a string of 41 consecutive starts for Marquez. Oguchi Onyewu, who started the first five games but hadn't played in the previous three, started for Marquez.
It was the second straight shutout for the Union, who played the host Los Angeles Galaxy to a scoreless draw last week.
"I am really happy with the way the team stuck together, the work they put in," coach Jim Curtin said.
Blake made his first big save in the 20th minute, when he stopped a shot from in front of the goal by his Jamaican national team teammate, Kemar Lawrence.
In the 42nd minute, New York's Wright-Phillips deflected a shot from close range just wide.
Blake kept the game scoreless with a save on a bicycle kick by Alex Muyl from inside the box in the 61st minute.
Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles, who made his 151st consecutive start, made a diving save on a Sapong header off a feed from Pontius in the 71st minute to thwart the Union's best scoring chance to that point.
As it turned out, Sapong, who has seven goals, was just getting warmed up for his big finish.
@sjnard