Photo courtesy of Marjorie Elzey
Who: Philadelphia Union vs New York Red Bulls
What: MLS Regular Season, Matchday 30
Where: Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
When: Saturday, August 31, 7:30 PM EST
Watch: Apple TV Season Pass
Whistle: TBD
The Philadelphia Union visit the New York Red Bulls with hopes of stopping a four-game road slide. Saturday’s game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The last meeting, in July, finished tied 0-0. The Red Bulls have posted a 7-0-5 mark at Red Bull Arena this season and remain the only unbeaten team at home in MLS. Saturday’s match marks the final fixture before another international break, and only eight regular season matches remaining.
Scouting Report: New York Red Bulls
Under Head Coach Sandro Schwarz, New York Red Bulls sit near the top of the Eastern Conference at 10-4-12. So far this season, 27-year-old Scottish MLS veteran Lewis Morgan has led their attack with 12 goals and four assists.
New York Red Bulls haven’t been beaten in their last nine MLS matches, and they’ll enter this weekend looking for their first victory vs. Philly since 2019.
Injury Report: Roald Mitchell (injured), Serge Ngoma (injured), Peter Stroud (injured), Wikelman Carmona (injured), Andres Reyes (injured), Emil Forsberg (injured)
Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia currently sits one spot below the playoff line (27 points), but are joined by Montreal (27 points) and four other teams (26 points each), making for a congested bottom of the Eastern Conference table.
Injury Report: N/A
Matchup to Watch: Union Defense
The last time Philadelphia and NYRB met in July, the Union’s lineup looked a bit different. This time around, while Andre Blake will be back in goal, midifielder José Martinez and Damion Lowe will be replaced by new faces like Sam Adeniran and Danley Jean-Jacques.
Player to Watch: Dante Vanzeir
Vanzeir has become a frequent facilitator, tied for fifth-best among MLS forwards with nine assists so far this season, watch to see how the Union defense control him.
Prediction: Union 1-1 NYRB
Please beat the Pink Cows !
We all hate Red Bull !
At least Bueno has understanding of the Diamond and more importantly his fellow team mates abilities. Jaques does not. At this point he is Lost. Do not start him Jim . Mcglynn needs to start
in place of Flach and so does Uhre. Uhre has some chemistry developed with Baribo. Let Sullivan play for Bedoya. Go back to the Diamond this game. At the very least you will see a better attack with this linee up. I don’t think I could stomach the system and line up you played against Columbus.
Agree with Joe. Danley has shown flashes but needs time to understand his mates and the system. It shows a departure (whether this is good or bad) from the usual Union approach of “shiny new player comes in… doesn’t see the pitch for three months” we are used to. Same with Adeniran. The Union are doing one of 2 things. 1- They are desperate. 2- They think DJJ & Sam are game ready difference makers. God, I hope we are just desperate because the latter just speaks to a blindness of what quality is defined as in MLS today.
My view aligns with Tim Jones, who speculated in another recent PSP article that Union are using the remaining matches to evaluate Adenoran. They only have these matches to decide whether they want him on the roster next year. Hence, the minutes he is getting.
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Danley has a longer contract, so that’s a more interesting decision. The chances of making the playoffs are slim, as well-explained (again) by Tim. Danley clearly has the skills. If they think the season is slipping away, why not play him to accelerate getting him acclimated on the pitch with the rest of the squad and worry less about the results? Most of these matches are on three days rest, so practice time is limited.
I hope you are wrong. I’ve see enough of Adeneran. He has little to no touch. His Shots are powerful but many went directly at keeper.Danley should come on as a 60th minute sub. It’s totally ludicrous and a disservice to the team and fans to not put the best squad that has a chance to win the game.. It destroys the morale of the team and those who earned minute and worked hard for the bulk of the season. If Curtin does what you imply nobody on the team will lise respectful him. What you have suggested or reported on is a Morale breaker for sure.
Danley was one of the best players on the field tonight……..
+1
Thtrr points: information that became available later.
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Whistle & Flags: REF: Jair Marrufo
AR1: Lyes Arfa
AR2: Ben Pilgrim
4TH: Luis Diego Arroyo
(As per Professional Referees Organization.)
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Yellow Card accumulation warnings, i.e., one more means a suspension in the following match. (As per MLS website)
Alejandro Bedoya
Jack Elliott
Kai Wagner
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Player availability report, (As per MLS website.)
Isaiah LeFlore – out (knee)
Nathan Harriel – questionable (back)
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Union are due for a loss to NJ and it is likely to be a big one. Final score: 4-0.
Ouch !
Couldn’t have been more wrong
Oh joy; Inquirer reports Uhre met incentives and he’s here for 2025, too. Lucky us…
Had a goal and an assist in this one….