A Red Bulls vs Union game never disappoints to be exciting and this match was no different. The match saw 5 goals, world class saves from both sides and a lot of action. However, when looking at this game from just a Union perceptive, it was a tough one to watch.
The First half started with the Union controlling the tempo. Fabian Herbers put the Union up 1-0 in the 15th minute after his shot was deflected. After this goal, New York started to turn the tide by putting pressure on the Union defense. Andre Blake kept it 1-0 after a point blank save on New York’s Mike Grella shot. Then in the 30th minute, Joshua Yaro was sandwiched by Andre Blake and Aurelien Collin in the box, resulting in Yaro needing to be stretchered off the field. Exactly what injury was sustained by Yaro is still unknown. Once again in the 44th minute, Blake made a great diving save to deny Mike Grella a goal. Blake’s save was quickly overshadowed by the Red Bulls tying up the game seconds later due to a goal by Sacha Kljestan.
New York started the second half off the same way they finished the first half with a goal. 66 seconds after the whistle blew, Bradley Wright-Philiips gave New York the lead after a long ball from Dax McCarty gave Wright-Phillips a one v one with Andre Blake to give the Red Bulls the lead. Yaro was not the only player to leave this game with an injury for the Union, in the 52nd minute, Alejandro Bedoya was substituted out due to injury, and his status is also unknown currently. Philly didn’t stay down for long, in the 55th minute, Chris Pontius scored his 12th goal of the season after heading a Fabinho’s cross into the top right corner of the net. A defensive mistake let the game again slip away from the Union, this time Dax McCarty scored in the 66th minute after being left wide open on a short corner kick. Chris Pontius had a great chance to tie the game up moments before stoppage time only to see New York Red Bull’s Luis Robles make a great save. The game ended with the Red Bulls claiming victory with a final score of 3 to 2 and moving into first in the East.
This result puts the Union in a much tighter spot in the playoff race. With the loss, the Union dropped to 5th place after DC jumped ahead with a win over Toronto. The fall could continue if Montreal defeats Orlando on Sunday. New England’s win against Sporting Kansas City puts them only 3 points behind the Union in the standing. With two games left the Union could be in trouble of missing out on the playoffs with a four team race for the last three playoff spots in the East.
Another game down and 2 to go until the end of the regular season. Next week, the Union will host Cyle Larin and Orlando City SC as they continue their journey of trying to make the playoffs.
