Red Bulls Outclassed by the Union

After not playing on Wednesday night’s US Open Cup Quarterfinal due to the severe thunderstorms and lightning in the area, the Red Bulls returned to Subaru Park to play their league match against the Philadelphia Union. Unfortunately, this one was a dud from start to finish, as they were outsmarted by the Union, as they fell by a final score of two goals to nil.

The opening goal came in the 9th minute when the Union won two consecutive corners. The second one was the potent one, as the ball was delivered from the far corner. As the ball bounced off a Union player, Carlos Coronel made the quick reaction save to keep the ball off the line, but the rebound went to Indiana Vassilev, and he roofs it in.

The second goal was scored in the 24th minute, as the Union passed the ball around in the midfield. Tai Baribo received the ball, quickly giving it to Quinn Sullivan within tight passing lanes. Then he sprang Bruno Damiani into an attacking run, chipped Coronel toward the far post, and got the lead to two goals to nil.

Watching this entire match, you could see that the Union was on a different level. They created wave after wave of defensive pressing, then made attacking runs that were dangerous and filled with half chances that were dangerous as well. When the Red Bulls did get an opportunity for an attacking run, they were quickly stopped, and the Union attacked against them again.

But the real culprit for the Red Bulls losing this match was no communication inside the opening 45 minutes. You saw a deer in the headlights look and not tracking the ball. On the second goal, the defense completely fell asleep and allowed Damiani to make a run unopposed, and when it was too late, he chipped Coronel. That can’t happen when you play this Union Team.

For the first time in a very long time, in this recent match between these two clubs, Andre Blake didn’t have to make a wonder save, as his backline made all the necessary stops against the opposition. There were some shots he had to grab, but none of them were that dangerous. An easy night for once for the Jamaican International goalkeeper.

“I would say, when you missed the basics, then it’s not possible to win against Philly. And Philly was, especially in their counter press, very well. And they were very sharp after second ball, then directly deep. And we lost so many times the ball and it starts the first five, six minutes when we have the transition moments when we are passing back and then not sharp enough, not to have the right focus at the beginning and  then it’s difficult.” Said Head Coach Sandro Schwarz, “Set pieces they overload the situation on the far post. We didn’t adapt the positions. The second goal, which you can see was with 10 players. Then second half was better. But we need more in our basics. We need more our intensity. We need more in the duels, one against one, two against one to create two against one situations to have overload situation and then to be very aggressive. That’s the part, and Philly did it, especially in the first half, very well, and we missed it.”

The Red Bulls return home to Sports Illustrated Stadium as they take on the New England Revolution in the midweek at 7:30 PM at MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.