Thursday, October 1, 2026
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79 ° Clear
Following two consecutive draws against Austin FC and Inter Miami, Ryan Richter’s Philadelphia Union will return home from a short trip up I-95 with three points in their pocket after a 3-1 win against the New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday night.
Philadelphia Union defender Neil Pierre (44) fights for a high ball against New York Red Bulls forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (13) during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Red Bull got off to a strong start at home and almost struck first just three minutes into the game courtesy of 18-year-old Julian Hall, but Andre Blake was up to the task and denied Hall’s attempt to tip the ball around the veteran keeper.
In the 18th minute, Red Bull's Jorge Ruvalcaba got another chance to put the home team up early, but Andre Blake made another strong diving stop on a play that ended up being offside anyway.
Moments later, it was Milan Iloski who put the visiting team in front in the 20th minute with his 11th goal of the MLS season. Danley Jean-Jacques stormed down the right side of the pitch and put a dangerous ball through the middle of the box, evading both red and blue shirts waiting inside the penalty area and finding Indiana Vassliev at the far post.
Vassliev played the ball back across the middle with his first touch into the path of Milan Iloski, who slid into the six-yard box and helped the ball across the line to give Union a 1-0 lead on the road.
In the 31st minute, Red Bull got an opportunity to draw the game level after Andre Blake’s save on a tight-angled bid from Cade Cowell left a rebound in the middle of Union’s box, but the follow-up chance from Ronald Donkor flew wide of the net.
Union called on Andre Blake to make another big save in the 38th minute after Julian Hall found his way in alone after pushing a Union defender off the ball, but Blake once again stood tall to the chance from the Red Bull teenager.
Iloski had an opportunity to double Union’s lead just before the half-time whistle with an opportunity inside the penalty area. Still, the ball was cleared away just before rolling over the goal line, ending the first half at 1-0 in favor of the Union.
Philadelphia Union midfielder Indiana Vassilev (19) celebrates a goal by forward Milan Iloski (10) against the New York Red Bulls during the first half at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
It didn’t take long for Red Bull to put Union under pressure in the 2nd half as Julian Hall got an opportunity to level the game early in the 2nd frame, but this attempt rang the post and stayed out of the net to keep Union’s lead at one.
In the 50th minute of the game, Ryan Richter’s side doubled their lead thanks to Philadelphia’s star boy, 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan. Danley Jean-Jacques gathered the ball in the middle of the pitch and sprayed a ball out to the right wing for Cavan Sullivan to run onto.
Sullivan entered the box, cut the ball to his left, and fired a shot towards the far post that hit the back of the net to give Union a 2-0 lead on the road.
The goal was Cavan Sullivan’s second goal in consecutive games, and his third of the MLS season.
In the 65th minute, the Blue and Gold just about sealed the game thanks to 18-year-old Center Back Neil Pierre, who extended the visitors’ lead to 3-0 on the road.
Kai Wagner sent a cross into the box from a set-piece opportunity originating from Ethan Horvath’s left, which found Neil Pierre arriving at the back post, who nudged the ball into the back of the net for his fourth goal in seven games.
In the 74th minute, Red Bull would get one back thanks to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, but Ryan Richter’s side would stand up the rest of the game and earn a big three points in the standings for the Blue and Gold on the road.
Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan (6) reacts after scoring a goal against the New York Red Bulls during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The 3-1 win against the Red Bulls is the fifth in seven games for the Union, who have yet to lose in league play under Interim Head Coach Ryan Richter.
That’s Union’s 10th win in their previous 15 MLS games against the Red Bulls, with last season’s 1-0 loss at Sports Illustrated Stadium acting as their only loss against the Jersey side dating back to 2019.
The win improves Union’s record to 6W-6D-10L on the season for a total of 24 points, leaving them just one point out of the final playoff spot after 22 games played.
The Union will next face off against CF Montreal at Subaru Park on Saturday, September 5th.
