Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls | 2017 MLS Match Preview

MLSsoccer staff

Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls
2017 MLS Regular Season
Talen Energy Stadium – Chester, Pennsylvania
Sunday, June 18 – 5 pm ET
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The Philadelphia Union can only hope a second visit from the New York Red Bulls Sunday provides the same spark as their first.

Jim Curtin's side entered that previous meeting in early May at Talen Energy Stadium without a win to its name. One CJ Sapong hat trick later and Philadelphia was off to 3-0 victory and a four-match winning streak that took them out of the Eastern Conference basement.

However, consecutive away losses at Real Salt Lake and New York City FC have again taken the Union near the bottom of the East table.

Meanwhile, the Red Bulls have won only once in their previous six matches, including that defeat at Philadelphia, and have not won away from Red Bull Arena since a season-opening victory in Atlanta United FC's inaugural match.

But NYRB's confidence should be boosted by a 1-0 Open Cup victory Wednesday against derby rivals NYCFC, in which both the Red Bulls' Jesse Marsch and City's Patrick Vieira opted for a lineup of mostly regulars.

Philadelphia Union

US U-20 national team regular Derrick Jones hasn't featured in a league match since the U-20 World Cup, but after scoring in Wednesday's 3-1 Open Cup victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders, could square off against US teammate and New York midfielder Tyler Adams.

"He has a little bounce in his step in training. He’s been really good," Curtin said. "Now he steps on field vs. Red Bull and Tyler Adams is out there — two young guys who showed really well at the World Cup and they’ll want to get the better of each other in this game coming up. Derrick's done a great job for us when called upon. He’s a guy I have no problem throwing out there. I think he has grown in maturity from his experience at U-20 World Cup."

Curtin has not completely ruled out Alejandro Bedoya after picking up a hamstring injury in qualifying duty with the US national team, though it seems unlikely he would start. Warren Creavalle and Fabian Herbers aren't expected to feature.

Suspended: None
Int’l Duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Maurice Edu (left ankle/left tibia surgery recovery), M - Brian Carroll (lumbar disc herniation); F - Fabian Herbers (right adductor partial avulsion), M - Warren Creavalle (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE: M - Alejandro Bedoya (hamstring)

Projected Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1): GK: Andre Blake — Raymon Gaddis, Jack Elliott, Oguchi Onyewu, Fabinho — Haris Medunjanin, Derrick Jones — Chris Pontius, Ilsinho, Fafa Picault — CJ Sapong

Notes: Bedoya has committed the most fouls in the league this season with 33. Bedoya’s foul rate of 2.5 per game is the highest of any player who has played in multiple games this year. ... After going winless in their first four home games (2L-2D), the Union have won three straight home games. The last time they won at least four straight home games was Sept. 20, 2015-Arpil 23, 2016 (five games).

New York Red Bulls

Marsch's men continue to battle offensive inconsistency during a middling start to the season that has them right on the edge of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

New York's 15 goals are the second-fewest scored by an Eastern Conference team, ahead of only a D.C. United quad that entered the weekend last in the table. Bradley Wright-Phillips has a respectable six goals in 15 matches, but that's well off the pace of the His 0.68 goals per appearance during his first three MLS seasons.

There was certainly promise in Wednesday night's performance, in which the Red Bulls dominated a formidable NYCFC side and were rewarded with substitute Daniel Royer's 67th-minute winner. Still, the offense has yet to erupt in any real way, having failed to score more than two goals in any match this season.

Suspended: None
Int’l Duty: None
Injury Report: OUT – D Gideon Baah (broken leg – out for season)

Projected Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1): Luis Robles – Sal Zizzo, Damien Perrinelle, Aaron Long, Kemar Lawrence – Tyler Adams, Felipe – Daniel Royer, Sacha Kljestan, Mike Grella – Bradley Wright-Phillips

Notes: Felipe is the most fouled player in the league this year having been fouled 51 times so far, 10 more than any other player. Felipe is being fouled 3.4 times per game the highest rate among players who have played in at least four games. ... The Red Bulls' six straight away losses constitute the fourth-longest regular season road losing streak in Red Bulls franchise history.

All-Time Series

Overall: Philadelphia 5 wins (24 goals), New York 11 wins (33 goals), 3 draws
At Philadelphia: Philadelphia 4 wins (16 goals), New York 4 wins (17 goals), 2 draws