New England Revolution moved to the top of the Eastern Conference standings with a comfortable win against the struggling Philadelphia Union.

The visitors were ahead as early as the 13th minute when AJ Soares was played in by Chris Tierney before sending his effort beyond the reach of keeper Zac MacMath.

Midway through the first period, the Revolution doubled their lead when good build-up play between Lee Nguyen and Teal Bunbury saw Diego Fagundez in on goal and the Uruguayan forward netted with aplomb.

Just before the interval, Philadelphia had pulled a goal back when midfielder Vincent Noguiera converted a Danny Cruz cross to give the hosts hope of a comeback.

However, those hopes were extinguished soon after the break when Nguyen was played in by Daigo Kobayashi and the midfielder cut in from the left before wrong-footing MacMath as he found the bottom corner.

A fourth goal soon arrived when Tierney netted again for New England and they had scored their fifth by the 68th minute after Fagundez set up Patrick Mullins to get in on the act, with the final score threatening to become embarrassing for their opponents.

Sheanon Williams pulled a goal back for the Union, but it proved a mere consolation as the Revolution moved three points clear at the top of the Eastern Conference.

For Union, who finished with 10 men after Cristian Maidana's late red card, a third from a Sebastien Le Toux injury time penalty was too late as they stay third from bottom.