CHESTER, PA – It’s no secret that Subaru Park is a significant nuisance for the Red Bulls. Seeing that their last victory was in 2018, the team faces an uphill challenge as they continue to keep pace with the top teams of the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Union is in a rough patch as of late, winless in five matches, and with their supporters quickly losing their patience with the team’s front office, anything short of a victory would considered a massive disappointment.
So, with two teams heading in opposite directions, they clash for the 36th time in their regular season history on a sweltering Saturday evening on the banks of the Delaware River.
Red Bulls began the match with an excellent scoring chance three minutes in as Dante Vanzeir found Lewis Morgan in the center of the box, but Morgan pushed the ball wide to his left.
Union responded five minutes later as Jack McGlynn took a back pass from Daniel Gazdag and launched a shot that forced Carlos Coronel to make a save with his left hand, deflecting the ball harmlessly away from the net.
Red Bulls nearly got on the scoreboard in the 22nd minute as Dante Vanzeir, who last scored a goal against Inter Miami back in May, took a through ball from Noah Eile, but his point-blank shot was saved by Union goalkeeper Andrew Rick, standing firm in the teeth of the attack, keeping the visitors scoreless.
After a hydration break, the Union wasted no time generating a scoring chance in the 33rd minute. Leon Flach headed the ball to a wide-open Daniel Gazdag, but he blasted his shot high and over the net, drawing loud groans from the home supporters.
Red Bulls nearly put themselves in a pickle in the 44th minute when John Tolkin tried to clear the ball by heading it out of danger but went in the wrong direction. Thankfully for him and the Red Bulls, Chris Donovan headed the ball over the net.
The second half began like the first. In the 53rd minute, Cameron Harper took a great pass from Daniel Edelman in the six-yard box, but his shot was quickly saved by Rick, who dropped down and blocked the shot.
Cameron Harper gave it another try in the 68th minute, but shortly after taking the pass from Edleman, his shot went high and over the bar.
Other than Noah Eile’s blistering long-range shot, even this one went over the bar, but it didn’t miss by much.
The Red Bulls had one last chance to score three minutes into stoppage time, but once again, their efforts were thwarted by Andrew Rick, and when the final whistle was blown shortly afterward, both teams shared the points, still looking for that elusive win against the Union.
STARTING XI:
Philadelphia Union: Andrew Rick; Kai Wagner, Jack Elliott (Olivier Mbaizo, 90’+1), Damion Lowe, Jakob Glesnes ©, Nathan Harriel, Jack McGlynn, Leon Flach (Alejandro Bedoya, 79’), Daniel Gazdag, Chris Donovan (Quinn Sullivan, 55’), Tai Baribo
New York Red Bulls: Carlos Coronel ©; John Tolkin, Noah Eile, Andres Reyes, Dylan Nealis, Ronald Donkor, Daniel Edelman, Cameron Harper (Sean Nealis, 82’), Wiki Carmona (Dennis Gjengaar, 71’), Dante Vanzeir (Elias Manoel, 71’), Lewis Morgan
SCORING SUMMARY:
DISCIPLINE:
45+2′ – New York Red Bulls – Daniel Edelman – Yellow Card
86′ – Philadelphia Union – Alejandro Bedoya – Yellow Card
FINAL THOUGHTS:
By all accounts, this was a winnable match regardless of whether Emil Forsberg was starting. We later found out that he would be placed on the injury reserve list and will remain there for the next month or so. With the Summer Transfer window approaching in two weeks, only the team’s front office will answer the question regarding reinforcements in the midfield and attack.
Reinforcements that can’t come soon enough to jump-start an offense that has stalled to the point where they are collecting one point where they should’ve captured three.