photo by Stew Milne/USA Today Sports

By CARL SETTERLUND

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — On a day when the pope visited Philadelphia, the pontiff must have sent some inspiration northward to Union goalkeeper Andre Blake.

The young Jamaican goalkeeper had a miracle of a game on the road against the New England Revolution, setting Philadelphia’s single-game saves record with 10 to help the Union secure a 1-1 tie in front of 25,885 at Gillette Stadium.

Blake didn’t have much say in the Revs’ goal, a 36th-minute penalty that Lee Nguyen powered inside the left post just past the reach of the young keeper.

“He saved them good,” said Revs midfielder Jermaine Jones, who had a pair of shots on goal. “I respect it, that he has a great day. But also I’m a little bit upset with the whole situation that we played to 1-1. We get 1-0 in front and we have to learn that we bring that game home.”

It was only the fourth career start for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, who played in college nearby at the University of Connecticut.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get three points, but we’re satisfied with one,” Blake said. “I think we went out there and the guys stuck to the task.”

Fernando Aristeguieta scored the equalizer for the Union in the 65th minute, turning inside on Jose Goncalves and finishing a low shot inside the left post.

Other than that and a late breakaway chance for Sebastien Le Toux, the Revolution dominated the game with 65% of possession, 20 shots and 14 corner kicks.

“Definitely outstanding goalkeeping (by Blake),” said Revs forward Juan Agudelo, who had a pair of shots on frame and a long-distance header that clanged off the crossbar. “I feel like they tied because of his performance.”

The Revs (13-10-8) couldn’t get back in the win column, after having their six-game winning streak snapped the previous weekend against the Montreal Impact.

New England missed a chance to clinch a playoff spot and also to overtake the New York Red Bulls for first place in the Eastern Conference, while their odds of winning the club’s first ever Supporters’ Shield trophy also took a hit.

Nguyen continued his stellar close to the regular season, dribbling through the box until Union defender Fabinho brought him down for a penalty. Nguyen gave a stutter-step and then picked out the left corner to make 1-0 in the 36th minute.

Aristeguieta made it a new game in the 65th minute off a left sideline pass from Warren Creavalle, turning in and finishing decisively past Bobby Shuttleworth.

“It’s a bummer,” Revs coach Jay Heaps said. “We were giving the ball away cheaply and there were some not so great possessions. I would’ve liked to see us tighten it up and be a little bit more from say 55 minutes to 70 minutes.”

The Union (9-15-7) have a busy week ahead, hosting Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday in the U.S. Open Cup final before traveling to play Toronto FC on Saturday. The Revolution will also be on the road next weekend, facing off against the last-place Chicago Fire.

“We put a team out on the field that we thought that could get a result also keeping in mind rest and saving guys legs,” Union coach Jim Curtin said. “The majority of the starters that would start in the final didn’t play more than 45 minutes, so we accomplished that goal.”