The Philadelphia Union will travel up the I-95 this Saturday to take on the New York Red Bulls for the second time in just four days. The Union will look to repeat their US Open Cup performance and maintain their lead atop the Supporters’ Shield race, while the Red Bulls will look to avenge their Wednesday night elimination and galvanize their stagnating season.

Scouting Report: New York Red Bulls

Last year the New York Red Bulls went into the playoffs on a lull and in just seventh place in the Eastern Conference, but rode a stingy defense and some dynamite counter-pressing all the way to MLS Cup, where they narrowly lost to the LA Galaxy. This season, the team has struggled to build on that model, coming into this game in tenth in the East, just below the playoff line. If the Red Bulls needed any extra motivation for this game, they could look to the Union’s recent domination of this rivalry. Wednesday night’s Union victory marked 16 games since the Red Bulls last won against Philly, a run that includes four knockout eliminations and stretches back almost six years.

But if the Red Bulls want to put an end to that streak, they will have to do so while severely short-handed. The team confirmed on Friday that goalkeeper A.J. Marcucci, who only recently won the starting role, suffered a torn ACL in Wednesday’s USOC game. That means former Union goalie Carlos Coronel will reclaim his starting role. Marcucci joins Lewis Morgan, one of New York’s best attackers, on the long-term injury list. Standout Designated Player Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also suffered a knee injury in Wednesday’s game, and is officially questionable for the rematch.

Player Availability: Kyle Duncan – Suspended (Out), Cameron Harper – Knee (Out), A.J. Marcucci – Knee (Out), Lewis Morgan – Thigh (Out), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting – Knee (Questionable), Ronald Donkor – Illness (Questionable), Tim Parker – Knee (Questionable), Mohammed Sofo – Illness (Questionable), Omar Valencia – Illness (Questionable)

Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union

The treble is still in play for the Philadelphia Union after Wednesday’s comeback victory, which put them into the semifinal of the US Open Cup for the first time since 2018. Back in league action, the Union will look to hold on to their lead in the Supporters’ Shield race, where they sit two points ahead of San Diego and Cincinnati. For those with nervous eyes on Lionel Messi, Inter Miami sit nine points back with three games in hand, but are on a bad run of form, with just one win in their last four.

An interesting question for Bradley Carnell will be whether he rotates his squad for this Saturday’s game, the team’s third this week. With just eight games remaining in the regular season, every point will be crucial in the race for the Shield, but it is equally important to keep the team healthy and fresh heading into the playoffs. Carnell has done well managing his rotation this year, but Saturday’s game presents another interesting challenge.

Two places where that rotation will be enforced are at center-back and in the midfield, where the Union will be without Jakob Glesnes (suspended) and Indiana Vassilev (concussion). Milan Iloski showed great promise after coming on for Vassilev on the weekend, and should be ready to go from the start on Saturday. Center-back is more problematic, where Carnell is likely to turn again to Nathan Harriel to pair with Olwethu Makhanya. Harriel has done well providing cover there this season, but they are an inexperienced duo at the position, and the defense might miss the guiding hand of Glesnes.

Player Availability: Ian Glavinovich – Knee (Out), Jakob Glesnes – Suspended (Out), Indiana Vassilev – Concussion (Out)

Matchup to Watch: Milan Iloski vs Dylan Nealis

With Kyle Duncan suspended and Cameron Harper injured, the Red Bulls are down their top two options at right-back. Meanwhile, Iloski looked dynamic after coming on for Vassilev as the Union’s left-sided attacker.

Player to Watch: Olwethu Makhanya

The young center-back scored the game-winner on Wednesday, making up for an earlier mistake that led to the Red Bulls’ first goal. But all eyes will be on him with Glesnes out.

Prediction: Union 2 – 1 Red Bulls

It’s hard to beat a team back-to-back, especially over so close a time frame, but the Red Bulls’ lengthy injury list and recent struggles in this rivalry make me think the Union will come out on top once again.