Though a largely meaningless game, both Red Bull and Union supporters came out in droves for the last regular season game in 2016. Red shirts dominated the entire 133 section, and despite having fewer numbers, out sang the Union fans in the lead up to the game. Following the unveiling of the “Philly’s Savage” TIFO the game went underway, and the Union fans took part in the singing.
The first chance of the game fell to Roland Alberg in the 4th minute. Fabian Herbers, after popping his first touch in the air, which ended up confusing Damien Perinelle, and creating enough space to put the ball on Alberg’s chest. The Dutchman hit the ball as it fell but pulled it just a bit too much, hooking it wide.
After a couple minutes, the subdued Union fans found their voice, drowning out their noisy Red Bull neighbors. It didn’t stop the Red Bull fans, however, as they clapped, jumped and sang despite fewer numbers.
Despite a thunderous shot by Dax McCarty, Blake once again made the difficult look easy, parrying away the shot destined for the top corner. It’s been nothing out of the ordinary for the Jamaican keeper, who has set standards so high that he doesn’t look like ever conceding a goal from outside the box.
A wonderful defensive play from Ken Tribbet kept the scores tied in the 19th minute. Mike Grella dispossessed Ilsinho in the Union half, leading to a counter attack. Grella played it wide for Sacha Kljestan who then put a cross in the box. Tribbet flew past the near post to put the ball behind before Bradley Wright-Phillips could put away the easy tap-in. Should Tribbet have been a half second late, it would surely have been a goal.
The first goal, however, went to the New York Red Bulls. Bradley Wright-Phillips notched his 24th goal with a 1-on-1 with Blake. Richie Marquez stepped up, leaving a gap in the back, which Collin took advantage of, sending a through ball into the space. BWP popped the ball over the on-coming Blake and proceeded to tap the ball into the empty net.
In the 43rd minute, Alex Muyl rattled the crossbar, narrowly missing a second goal. Fabinho stumbled on his clear, gifting the ball to Muyl who picked his head up and placed a shot towards the upper corner. Blake just missed one of his trademarked saves as it flew by him and off the crossbar.
To start off the second half the Union came out firing on all cylinders. Bedoya made a great run to the endline and lobbed a great cross to the back post. Roland Alberg came in making a late run, and smashed the ball of the near post and back into the middle. No Union players were there however, as the Red Bulls were able to clear. The Union then began to pile on pressure, looking for the equalizer. Their attacks lacked precision and, despite having more attacks than the first half, they didn’t seem dangerous enough to really threaten Robles in goal, who was able to hold most of the shots that came his way.
Alex Muyl scored the second goal of the night for the Red Bulls, sealing the game after a well worked play to get him with space in front of the Union net. The initial pass played Dax McCarty behind the Union backline, and he then played the ball across to Kljestan, who played the last pass to Muyl wide open inside the 6. Muyl had the simple job of placing the ball into the far corner. Blake had no chance, and one has to wonder why the Red Bulls so easily outnumbered the Union inside their own box.
The Union failed to create many dangerous opportunities after the second Red Bull goal. Keegan Rosenberry did find Roland Alberg streaking in the box for a great opportunity, but Alberg opted to take an acrobatic shot and popped his shot straight up. Robles came out to claim it easily, letting the Red Bulls off the hook.
The game was well played by the Red Bulls, who looked strong favorites to win the east. Meanwhile the Union has lacked the cutting edge that set them apart in the beginning of the year. Coach Jim Curtin believes that bounces just aren’t going their teams way. Indeed some small things could make a big difference, but the Union just haven’t looked very strong in the past few weeks. Right now the Union are relying on their few good opportunities to end up in the back of the net.
Since they rely so heavily on crossing and finishing it will take a sudden burst from CJ Sapong to turn things around. As it stands the only thing keeping the Union in games is the creativity of Barnetta and Ilsinho. Without these two the Union are just too one dimensional. A good team like the Red Bulls will just sit a bit deeper in their box on defense, and clear out crosses all day. Unless there is that danger from the Union midfield, teams will feel content to sit in their box and just knock out the Union’s crosses.
This is the same problem the Union had in the beginning of the year. After a couple games they figured out to mix in early crosses, runs to the endline, and regular crosses to good affect. Perhaps the playoffs will create a similar change and the Union will get the services that made them so dangerous in the middle portion of the season.
Thoughts:
Ilsinho surely tried to incite Grella into lashing out, and though there was little, if any contact, the ref did well to card both players for riling each other to action.
Don’t know how neither Marquez nor Tribbet picked up BWP. He is known as the danger man for NYRB and it was a real lack in focus to lose him for the first goal.
Despite getting a lot of slack over the course of the season, Ken Tribbet played a good game, and was one of the standout players. Marquez, having played well all season, was a bit shaky today.
Eric Ayuk grew into the game. He looked lost early on, but towards the end made several good runs which created dangerous attacks.
Alberg still isn’t ready. He doesn’t provide much movement, and appears very lazy compared to his teammates. His maturity is also in question, as he can get riled up over mistakes from his teammates.
