Red Bulls Lose Late to the Union in Open Cup

The New York Red Bulls traveled back down I-95 to take on the Philadelphia Union to make a second attempt to play their US Open Cup Quarterfinals match. When they arrived, another severe weather delay was put up on the Jumbotron. However, this time they only waited for two hours and finally got to kick off at 9:35 PM. Unfortunately, they conceded a late goal to the Union and fell by a final score of three goals to two.

The Red Bulls got off to a better start against the Union, unlike their last visit in league play, as they quickly struck for the first goal of the match. A.J. Marcucci took a long goal kick all the way down the Union’s side of the pitch. Wiki Carmona blocked the defender, got inside of him, and controlled the ball. When Carmona turned around, he quickly took a shot and beat Andre Blake inside the near post in the 8th minute.

The Union found the equalizer, as the Red Bulls committed a foul along the near side. As Kai Wagner took the free kick and bent it inside the area, the ball took a little deflection, and sneaking through was Tai Baribo, and he quickly side-footed it past Marcucci inside the far post. On the replay, it looked as though there was a hint of offside from Baribo, but it was too tight to see if there was enough to overturn the goal in the 13th minute.

Kyle Duncan put himself in a dangerous position in the first half as he was booked for a late challenge in the 23rd minute. Later on, the Red Bulls were awarded a free kick. He was having a shoving match with Union defender Olwethu Makhanya. As Duncan took the shove, he shoved back harder, knocking down Makhanya. He should’ve known that Makhanya was trying to get him sent off, but the referee never went for the second yellow card.

That’s when Sandro Schwarz decided to make a tactical change. He took out Duncan for Dylan Neails. When Sandro made the substitution in the 35th minute, there was a fiery exchange between Duncan and Schwarz. Sandro did the right thing as he saw Duncan lose his cool and was already on a yellow card, so he had no choice but to take Duncan out or risk being down to ten men.

In the second half, the Red Bulls made their substitutions by bringing in the big guns in Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Captain Emil Forsberg. The Cameroonian gave the Red Bulls the lead when Dylan Nealis was attacking down the far side, and bent a beautiful cross into the front of Choupo-Moting, and he delivered a beautiful half volley side-footer that nailed the upper near 90 in the 71st minute.

Sadly, three minutes later, the Union scored their second equalizer, as Milan Loski was wide open at the far side. As the cross came toward him, Iloski was able to go short side at the front post and just beat Marcucci in the 74th minute, then disaster struck and disappointment as the Red Bulls lost the match, and possibly their goalkeeper.

In the 89th minute, the Union were battling and trying to find a way to get that match winner. As the ball was crossed toward the net, Marcucci leapt and attempted to punch the ball away, but unfortunately didn’t get enough of it on the punch. Then, as he landed, Marcucci fell down in a heap and couldn’t get up. That’s when Makhanya took advantage of the goalkeeper being down and ripped it in.

Marcucci landed awkwardly as it looked like either his left knee buckled or his left ankle twisted. The Red Bulls defenders tried to stop the shot, but it was a free chance on the rebound. Marcucci was helped off the pitch, and Carlos Coronel subbed in to finish the match. The Red Bulls were eliminated once the referee blew his whistle, and the Union are on their way to Music City to face Nashville SC in the Semi-Finals.

“I’m proud of the guys. I’m proud of the way how we play with the intensity against a really good team and the quality of that game. And it was clear that it’s not a ball possession game with both teams, because a lot of the same principles. Both teams want to play with the highest intensity. And that was good. It was good to see that both teams are fighting duels to be strong in the duels,” said Sandro Schwarz. “A little bit of trash talk. That’s okay. That’s normal, and yeah, we are unhappy about the result. But to continue our way, in our form of principles, in form of our behavior on the pitch.

“We had our moments to score the third goal they had. It was a little bit open game then and the set piece moment, this is what we this is what we can take out of this game. But it’s also the quality of Philly, especially with (Kai) Wagner. And the third goal was unlucky, and AJ (Marcucci) played the last games so well, and then he had this situation.

But I’m more disappointed that he got this injury in this situation, and then we have to make the substitution, but that’s life. Sometimes life it’s tough. You can learn a lot, but we can also see how we want to play. And today you have to accept. You have to say congratulations to Philly. On Saturday, you see them again, and then we will see what happens.”

The Red Bulls have one more chance to defeat the Union for the first time in sixteen matches, and that is this coming Saturday at Sports Illustrated Stadium at 7:30 PM Eastern on MLS Season Pass through Apple TV.

2025 US Open Cup Semi-Finals Schedule

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH, Nashville SC (MLS) vs. Philadelphia Union (MLS)

8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT) | GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tenn. | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH: Minnesota United FC (MLS) vs. Austin FC (MLS)

8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT) | Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn. | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network

WIKI CARMONA: Scored his first US Open Cup Goal and his first goal of the season

ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO MOTING: Scored his first US Open Cup goal, and has 16 goals in all competitions this season

A.J. MARCUCCI: Played in his third US Open Cup Match this year, earned an assist on Carmona’s goal

DYLAN NEALIS: Earned an assist and his first US Open Cup Assist.

RELATED ARTICLES: https://bad-dawgsports.com/2025/08/12/take-two-red-bulls-travel-to-philly-for-open-cup-quarters/

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