Red Bulls look to extend winning streak against Union
By Harvey Cruz
The New York Red Bulls may be the best team in MLS right now. They look to extend their winning streak against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
New York are arguably the best team in MLS at the moment. Winners of four straight, including three on the road. Their last game was a 3-1 statement victory against Atlanta United, in which they turned in a strong second-half performance to win three huge points.
Ryan Meara stepped in place of captain Luis Robles and kept New York in the game. Two second-half headed goals by Bradley Wright-Phillips catapulted his side into victory. The 33-year-old is currently tied for the league lead in goals with eight, alongside Josef Martinez of Atlanta and Gyasi Zardes of Columbus.
Another player shining for New York is Alejandro Romero Gamarra. He currently leads the league in assists with nine, adding three goals as well. After initially starting on the bench, Kaku is now an integral part of the team. Playing behind Wright-Phillips, his ability to move attacks forward and crossing has been wonderful to watch. The pair have become a fearsome one-two punch, as illustrated by this tweet.
New York are in a groove, beating the top-two teams in the Eastern Conference by an aggregate score of 7-1 (NY City 4-0, Atlanta 3-1). And while the attack is clicking, so is their defense.
During the four-game winning streak, the Red Bulls have conceded just four goals. The main reason? The center-back pairing of Aaron Long and Tim Parker. The two have suffocated opposing attacks lately, and passed their latest test in the frightening Atlanta attack. Expect both to play a major part in New York’s chances of winning a fifth straight game.
Philly are currently on their first winning streak of the season, beating Montreal 2-0 on the road, and Real Salt Lake 4-1 at home.
It’s been a tough start to the season for the Philadelphia Union. After winning the season opener against New England, they didn’t win a game until late April against D.C. United. That was a stretch of five winless games, which then followed two straight losses before winning their next two.
Head coach Jim Curtain has been on the hot seat this season, and desperately needed this two-game winning streak. However, it’s in major jeopardy as they head to Red Bull Arena, a venue they’ve only won once, ever.
Philadelphia’s main struggle has been scoring goals, with C.J. Sapong and Borek Dockal tied for the team lead with two. As a whole, the Union have scored 12 goals, the fewest in the Eastern Conference. They sit in seventh place (14 points), three points behind New England (17 points) for the last playoff spot, seven points behind the Red Bulls (21 points).
By comparison, New York have scored 26 goals, tied with Atlanta for the most in MLS. The best chance Philadelphia has of leaving with a win is if they hit their opponents on the counter-attack. So look for the speedy Fafa Picault to get in behind and expect Sapong to be the team’s main attacking threat.
Prediction: Red Bulls 3-0 Philadelphia Union
A win for the Union will give them much-needed momentum, something they’ve had little of this season. But New York are the better, much more dangerous team. It’s hard to see any team stifle the Red Bulls in their current form. Red Bull Arena has been a fortress as expected, Philadelphia will be on the back foot for most of the contest.