Photo: Rob Simmons
If you’re like me, the postponement of the US Open Cup match against New York Red Bull has you a bit down. What seemed like fun rivalry week – and an opportunity for the Union to rebound in a pair of home matches against a tough opponent – was partially spoiled by the thunder and lightning that rolled through the area last night.
Like the weather, the battle of I-95 has had its fair share of sparks on the pitch to be reflected on. And not unlike I-95 itself, the New Jersey side has certainly been paying the tolls in this matchup of late.
To gear up for the duel between Philly and New York this weekend, let’s relive some of the classic moments that have made this rivalry special… for the Union.
2015 US Open Cup Quarterfinal
Down Conor Casey to a red card in the 40thminute, Eric Ayuk put the Union up with an early second half goal. The Union held the lead until Lloyd Sam scored in the 94th minute to level the affair and send the game to extra time, and eventually, penalty kicks.
John McCarthy and Fernando Aristiguieta played the heros. The former North Catholic keeper denied a pair and Aristiguieta nailed his penalty to send the Union through to the semifinal, while playing with ten men for almost ninety total minutes.
2016 US Open Cup Round of 16
A little less than one year later, the Red Bulls came to Chester for another US Open Cup matchup. After conceding thirteen shots and a goal in the first half, the Union roared back, with Chris Pontius scoring twice in the second half to knock off a Jesse Marsch coached Red Bull side.
This contest certainly brought the heat, as both Union assistant Mike Sorber and Marsch were ejected in the tilt – with Marsch spiking two soccer balls at the Union sideline upon his ejection.
The Ilsinho game
Fast forward to June of 2019, where the Union hosted NYRB in a thriller. After going down two goals in the first half, Jim Curtin turned to his bench and brought on Ilsinho, who cemented his status in Union-lore for years to come.
The Brazilian registered one assist and two goals, sending an electric Talen Energy stadium into a frenzy heard up and down the Delaware River for miles.
2019 MLS Cup playoff win
In a seven goal thriller along the Chester waterfront, it was club record signing Marco Fabian who played the hero this time. His extra time goal off a deflection put the Union in front for the first time in the match.
It also clinched the Union’s first playoff victory in franchise history – one shining moment of very few in the Mexican legend’s short Union tenure.
JP Dellacamera and Alexi Lalas(!) on the call:
2021 MLS Cup playoff win
Arguably one of the most iconic moments in Union history came in the 2021 MLS Cup playoffs. At nil-nil after 123 minutes on a cold early winter’s day, a cleared cross fell to the chest of Jakob Glesnes.
The Norwegian center-back lit a thunder bolt of his own, hitting a dipping volley past Carlos Coronel, punching the Union’s ticket to its first Eastern Conference final appearance. Not only did the strike send the stadium into hysterics, it sparked the most emotion publicly seen from Jim Curtin – a truly special moment.
Outro
It is hard to believe that all of these moments came before the Union even sniffed the MLS Cup. In the future, maybe Union history will be told in BC and AD format – before (MLS) Cup and Anno (Bruno) Damiani.
What moments are your favorite in the storied Battle of I-95?
Some wonderful DOOPS in the ol’ onion bag, there!
My favorite moment is getting to chant “Go Back to New Jersey” at the end of those games!
Hard to beat that first playoff win, but all those are memorable moments. I remember there were RB supporters next to us for the 2021 game and they kept saying it was going to penalties. After Glesnes scored I turned around but they were already gone!
A bunch of great memories. One correction, though. In 2016 it was the round of 16 that Pontius had his shining moment. They then went up to Boston and lost in the quarterfinals at Harvard Stadium.
Andy, good catch. You’re right. Updated it. Appreciate the eagle eye.
No problem, Blake. Only reason I remember was because I took a Greyhound up to Boston for the quarterfinal.
Andy – I had considered that myself and did not. I respect your pain at the time
Yep. We also faced them in the Leagues Cup playoffs. It’s a good local rivalry.
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I was at the rainout. Here’s what would be practical even before the rainout. Why not do Saturday’s match as a twofer for pragmatism and goodwill? It’s good politics for the USOC and MLS.on scheduling and tournament preference sentiments. It also creates less scheduling stress.
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Team welfare matters for human value and competitive purposes in both league and tournament aspects.
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All they’d have to do is play regulation for MLS and USOC purposes. If drawn, then count the draw for MLS and play OT or PKs if needed for USOC QF purposes.
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The QF is already scheduled in August, but that alternative seems the best twofer to be worked out with long-term goodwill and mutual benefit. Even on ticket prices, they could work something out for other gains along those aims.
Biggest issue is the MLS allows 9 on the bench while Open Cup is only 7. Also, I’m not sure if VAR is available in Open Cup (I’m pretty sure it wasn’t in the early rounds).
Never going to happen.
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I’m not sure I’d want it to happen anyway. The competitions are separate. Keep them that way.
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As Andy points out, rules differ.
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What’s wrong with August 13? Union is not in Leagues Cup and has time off. Believe NY is not in Leagues Cup either.
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Why should Union and NY get a benefit (one less game) when other MLS and USOC teams don’t?
I believe that 2015 game was played at noon or Tuesday or something, with the U playing a “minimum amount of rest” card because of a busy calendar. Am I remembering that correctly?
I believe you are right. I don’t recall the context of why it was played during the day on a Tuesday, but it definitely was a midweek day time game.
I think NYRB was playing hard ball with the scheduling of the match and Sakiewicz, to his credit, got them to agree to a noon match which basically negated a lot of the home field advantage. I want to say there was some kind of euro friendly after this. Maybe PSG? I do remember the club organizing a few buses up there. It was also insanely hot. Great game.
It was actually a 4 or 4:30pm game. There was a European friendly that night in the stadium and they had to rush us out afterwards given the OT and PK’s. New Jersey also had a friendly scheduled the next night and those were the two official dates for the Open Cup. New Jersey wanted to move it to the previous week, but the Union already had a friendly scheduled then and rightly said we didn’t f*ck up the scheduling, you did. The Union offered to host but New Jersey said no, we’ll play in the heat of the day.
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My first ever away game (and still only 1 of 3, all in the Open Cup).
That counter attacking goal, with Nog’s dummy that completely froze the Red Bull midfield, is as good as it gets for me.
To me nothing beats the Ilsinho game. It really was for me the most exciting win for the U in the years I have been going to their matches.
+1. Joy.
Most memorable for me, though I attended a bunch of these, was the midday makeup USOC match where the org sprang for buses up to (no longer) Red Bull Arena. it was fun to be part of that caravan. that match was rightfully so eclipsed since. I recall how ridiculous that match time was and then they had a Guinness Cup match like 3 hours later. Chelsea, if I recall correctly
Close, it wasn’t a makeup match, and the Chelsea match was only about an hour later.