Photo Credit: Marjorie Elzey
Who: Philadelphia Union vs New York Red Bulls
What: MLS Regular Season, Matchday 25
Where: Subaru Park, Chester, Pennsylvania
When: Saturday, July 6, 7:30 PM EST
Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Whistle: TBD
Philadelphia return home to host New York Red Bulls for their 36th overall regular season meeting between, with the Red Bulls leading the overall series 14-13-8. New York are currently on a four-match MLS unbeaten streak, while Philadelphia are winless in their last 7, including a five-match losing streak. The Red Bulls will look to capitalize on the Union’s 1-6-3 home record to capture their first win at Subaru Park since 2018.
Scouting Report: New York Red Bulls
Red Bulls have enjoyed a successful 2024 campaign, tied for fourth in the table with 35 points in 21 matches. While unbeaten at home, New York has only lost four out of 11 matches on the road entering Saturday. The Red Bulls will be fully rested, having played their last game June 29 at home against D.C. United.
Midfielder Lewis Morgan is having a breakout campaign with nine goals and four assists, and will be back in the lineup against the Union after featuring for Scotland at EURO 2024. Morgan seeks to become the 13th player in Red Bulls franchise history to record 20+ MLS goals and 10+ MLS assists for the club – he’s two assists away.
Injury Report: N/A
Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union
The Boys in Blue are coming off another setback on the road after Chicago Fire FC rallied back with three goals in the final 10 minutes to win 4-3 at Soldier Field. The franchise-first fifth-straight loss marked the fourth time in five games the Union conceded a stoppage time winner.
According to Jim Curtin’s pre-match press conference, Alejandro Bedoya is healthy enough to come off the bench, and Damion Lowe will return to his defensive duties. Curtin announced 18-year old Andrew Rick will be making his second start for the Union.
Injury Report: Andre Blake (Out), Jesus Bueno (Out), Mikael Uhre (Out)
Matchup to Watch: Union Defense vs Cameron Harper
Cameron Harper has scored goals in back-to-back matches. He has five goals over eight matches, two of them being substitute appearances. With Damion Lowe returning to the back line, will he boost his teammates enough to help defend Andrew Rick in the net?
Player to Watch: Andrew Rick
Making your second start for the first team at 18-years old is intimidating enough, but doing it in the middle of a total collapse of your defensive prowess? Curtin is right in saying it’s not the ideal situation for getting Rick minutes, but how the youngin’ responds to the challenge will give us a better understanding at the type of player he can grow into.
Prediction: Philadelphia Union 2 – 2 New York Red Bulls
Am I delusional enough to think that the Union will magically turn things around in 2 days and win at home against the Red Bulls? Not at all. But I am begging the universe to not throw a home loss to the Red Bulls onto my plate right now if it wants me to maintain any shred of sanity. Abso-freaking-lutely.
Why did we ever let the Harvard keeper go ?
You mean the MLS all star?,,,
I would have been ecstatic to see the LaSalle keeper still here.
Because he was stuck behind Blake, and wanted a chance to earn a starting Goalkeeper job.
What happened with Semmle? Does anyone else remember how happy many of us were that we had found (at that point) a solid backup to Blake? Did he regress or did we just not see the full picture yet?
Semmle has had issues, but the defense hasn’t done him any favors.
At this point, who gives a big fig? The MLS SuperDraft lottery race is on.