Red Bulls Fall 2-0 to Philadelphia Union

Published: Saturday, August 31, 2024

by Patrick Corsello

HARRISON, N.J. — The New York Red Bulls (10-5-12), who entered Saturday's match against the Philadelphia Union (7-11-9) undefeated at home this season, suffered a 2-0 defeat during hip-hop night at Red Bull Arena.

Philadelphia's forward Mikael Uhre struck early, scoring a long-range goal in the 4th minute to give the Union a 1-0 lead. The Red Bulls struggled to recover after that, as Philadelphia continued to create opportunities. Mikael Uhre narrowly missed doubling the lead with a shot saved by Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel. 

New York’s Elias Manoel came close to leveling the score in the 11th minute with a shot that hit the crossbar. However, the Red Bulls’ hopes were dashed as Tai Baribo added a second goal for Philadelphia in the 14th minute, again from long range. This put Philadelphia up 2-0. The Red Bulls had multiple chances throughout the first half, but Union goalkeeper Andre Blake made several crucial saves. After three minutes of stoppage time, the first half concluded with Philadelphia leading 2-0.

The second half saw the Red Bulls get off to a fast start as they looked to mount a comeback. They hit the crossbar just one minute into the second half and continued to press for a goal. However, the Red Bulls' frustration continued to grow as they struck the posts twice and the crossbar three times throughout the game. The goalposts were undoubtedly Andre Blake’s best friend on Saturday night, as the Red Bulls’ bad luck continued. 

Philadelphia’s defense, along with Blake’s standout performance, prevented the Red Bulls from capitalizing on their scoring chances. Despite several near misses and blocked shots, including attempts by Elias Manoel and Dylan Nealis, the Red Bulls could not find a way past Philadelphia’s suffocating defense. 

In the final minutes, the Red Bulls had a few more opportunities, with a header from Dylan Nealis and a shot by Cory Burke both failing to find the net. Four minutes of stoppage time wouldn’t make a difference, and the match ended with Philadelphia securing a 2-0 victory.

After the match, Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz commented on the missed opportunities, describing them as “just some unlucky moments” and praising Andre Blake for his exceptional saves. The Red Bulls' loss marks their first defeat at home this season.

New York (10-5-12) will look to bounce back when they face Sporting Kansas City (7-14-6) next Saturday. This upcoming match provides an opportunity for the Red Bulls to regain their winning form and address the issues highlighted in Saturday’s defeat.

Patrick Corsello can be reached at patrick.corsello@student.shu.edu. 

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