:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50125819/13570297_1268868626459203_663168742_o.0.0.jpg)
Game: Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls
Date: Sunday, July 17th
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Talen Energy Stadium
Referees: REF: ALAN KELLY, AR1: Brian Dunn, AR2: Eric Weisbrod, 4TH: Robert Sibiga
Television: FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes
Streaming: FOX Soccer 2Go, FOX Sports Go
All-time record: Red Bull leads the MLS series nine wins to five with two draws. The Red Bulls also won the last MLS meeting between the two, beating the Union 4-1 in the penultimate match of the season, however the Union defeated Red Bulls 2-1 in U.S. Open Cup play back on June 29.
How the Union will look: The Union are going to look to throw everything they have at the Red Bulls, so look for Jim Curtin to put his best eleven men on the pitch. Andre Blake will be the starting goalkeeper, and look for the back line of Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Josh Yaro, and Keegan Rosenberry to look to hold Red Bull at bay. Expect the midfield of Brian Carroll and Tranquillo Barnetta to pull the strings behind Chris Pontius, Roland Alberg, and Ilsinho while CJ Sapong wreaks havoc up top.
How the Red Bulls will look: Luis Robles will almost certainly get the start in goal, as he has played every minute of every match. Look for the defense of Connor Lade, Aurelien Collin, Ronald Zubar, and either Sal Zizzo or Chris Duvall to be looking to find their rhythm. In the midfield, it will most likely be Felipe and Dax McCarty behind Gonzalo Veron, Sacha Klejstan, and Mike Grella with Bradley Wright-Phillips up top.
What to expect: The Union are riding high off of a great win over D.C. United and a not-terrible-and-no-one-got-injured draw against Crystal Palace. With only Maurice Edu out and Fabian Herbers questionable, this should be the Union at their best. Red Bull on the other hand beat a slumping Orlando City team and hasn’t won outside of the New York Metropolitan area all season. This is a game that the Union should win, but they can’t afford to look beyond Red Bull to the U.S. Open Cup match against New England on Wednesday. They’ll need to go out and do a professional job if they’re to reclaim their place atop the MLS Eastern Conference.