Plain and simple, Union v Red Bulls a battle between two bitter rivals who are separated by 1 point in the standings. The Union are currently sitting in 3rd place in the East with 37 points, with the Red Bulls in second place with 38 points. Both are trailing Sporting Kansas City who are top the table with 39 points. If the Union can walk away with a win they can move up to as high as first place. The Union are coming off of a big 2-0 win against rivals DC United and the Red Bulls loss their last match.
The Union are 1-1 against the NYRB this season and have never got a result at Red Bull Arena. Early on in the season the Union loss 2-1 after a late defensive laps that lead to Theirry Henry go ahead goal. The Union got redemption three months later when they defeated the Red Bulls 3-0. Flash forward a few months and the Union are set to take on the Red Bulls in a game that could propel the Union to new heights. If the Union can walk away with three points it would move the Union up the ladder in the East and make them strong contenders for the Supporters shield.
This game is only going to make the already heated rivalry 10x worse. The Union are putting pressure on the Red Bulls in the standings. The Red Bulls were embarrassed last time they faced the Union. On top of that the teams are absolute polar opposites. The Union are a blue collar young team while the Red Bulls are team built of superstars. The Red Bulls have international stars such as Henry, and Tim Cahill. They also have MLS stars such as Jamison Olave, Fabian Espindola, Dax McCarty and Heath Pearce.
This game is going to be insane. With Conor Casey coming off of a 2 goal game just waiting to score goals against NYRB. Casey has scored 3 goals in 2 games this season against NYRB. He will be the focal point for the Union attack. The Union will look to bring the same spirit and fight they did into the last match up. The Union were able to out pace the Red Bulls defense and out work their center backs. The Red Bulls will have stud defender Jamison Olave and star midfielder Tim Cahill this time around. The Union will need to be sharper and quicker which means that the slump for Jack mac has to break. Philly needs him to contribute in some way shape or form. He needs to get more shots off and create more scoring opportunities for him and his teammates.
If the Union win they will be in contention for the supports shield. The winner of the supporters shield goes to the team who has the best regular season record. It is a coveted trophy and the Union are currently sitting in 4th with the Red Bulls in third. A win could put them into 2nd place which would be huge. Every game, every point is crucial for the Union right now. The MLS is so close that that Union can not afford a slip up. If the Union can consistently get results then they could see themselves lifting the supporters shield at the end of the season. The supporters shield will take them as an organization to new heights. It would add a reputable trophy, the Union would be crowned champions and the would earn a spot in Champions League.
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