Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls
2018 U.S. Open Cup - Round of 16
Talen Energy Stadium — Chester
June 16 - 7 pm ET
It could be a long night in Chester when the Philadelphia Union host the New York Red Bulls in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 Saturday with two of the four all-time meetings between the Eastern Conference rivals going to penalty kicks.
That includes last year’s Round of 16 encounter at Red Bull Arena, with the Red Bulls prevailing 5-3 in the shootout after the sides played to a 1-1 stalemate over 120 minutes. This is the fourth consecutive year the Eastern Conference rivals are meeting in the USOC.
This is the second 2018 encounter with the sides playing to a 0-0 draw at Red Bull Arena on May 26.
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Philadelphia Union
The Union scored early and often in a 5-0 rout of the Richmond Kickers in the Fourth Round June 5 in Chester. Jack Elliott opened the scoring in the third minute with David Accam doubling the lead before the half-hour mark.
Anthony Fontana and Marcus Epps tacked on late in the first half to give Philadelphia a commanding four-goal advantage at the break. Jay Simpson closed out the scoring four minutes into the second half.
The Union returned to league play Friday, dropping a 2-0 decision to Toronto FC, their second straight MLS loss after winning three of four games without defeat.
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
- Injury Report: OUT: D - Richie Marquez (sports hernia surgery)
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3–1, right to left)
GK: Andre Blake — Keegan Rosenberry, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Raymon Gaddis — Alejandro Bedoya, Haris Medunjanin — Marcus Epps, Borek Dockal, Fafa Picault — C.J. Sapong
- Notes: The Union are 13-3 at Talen Energy Stadium in Open Cup competition. The last time Philadelphia lost an Open Cup match in regulation at home was July 11, 2012, a 2-0 defeat to Sporting Kansas City in the semifinals. … The Union have twice reached the USOC semifinals … In the last meeting between the teams at Talen Energy Stadum in the USOC, Chris Pontius struck for a brace in a 2-1 Round of 16 win for the Union in 2016.
New York Red Bulls
For a second straight year, the Red Bulls met New York City FC in the USOC Fourth Round at Red Bull Arena and for a second straight year, the hosts prevailed. Unlike a slim 1-0 victory a year ago, this one wasn’t close as the Red Bulls routed NYCFC, 4-0, June 6. It was the same scoreline they won by a month earlier in the first of three league meetings.
Vincent Bezecourt opened the scoring in just the second minute, Aaron Long made it 2-0 a few minutes into the second half and Danny Royer tacked on a late brace as the Red Bulls cruised into the Round of 16.
It was tougher sledding back in league play on Saturday, with the Red Bulls overcoming a sluggish first half and a one-goal deficit to tie Columbus Crew SC, 1-1, on a second-half goal by Alex Muyl before Royer and Bradley Wright-Phillips scored in each half in a 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC on Wednesday.
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: D - Michael Murillo, D - Fidel Escobar
- Injury Report: OUT: D - Kyle Duncan (torn ACL), M - Vincent Bezecourt (right knee MCL sprain)
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Ryan Meara — Ethan Kutler, Aaron Long, Hassan Ndam, Kemar Lawrence — Sean Davis, Marc Rzatkowski — Alex Muyl, Kaku, Danny Royer — Derrick Etienne Jr.
- Notes: In the Fourth Round victory over NYCFC, the eight of the Red Bulls starters have previously played for Red Bulls II, including six this season … The Red Bulls 4-0 Open Cup win tied their largest margin of victory in the tournament against an MLS opponent in franchise history. New York defeated the Tampa Bay Mutiny, 4-0, on July 22, 1998 in the quarterfinals.
All-Time in U.S. Open Cup
- Overall: Philadelphia Union 16 wins, 45 goals … New York Red Bulls 28 wins, 85 goals
- Last meeting: Philadelphia Union 1 (5), New York Red Bulls 1 (3) (June 28, 2017)
