Philadelphia Union v New York Red Bulls: Carnell urges hosts to show bravery and aggression

Bradley Carnell desires the Philadelphia Union to be “courageous and aggressive” once they tackle the New York Purple Bulls in MLS on Saturday.

Philadelphia had been purported to host the Purple Bulls at Subaru Park within the U.S. Open Cup quarter-final in midweek, but it surely was postponed because of extreme climate warnings within the space.

The Union have due to this fact had per week to organize for his or her match in opposition to New York as they give the impression of being to get again to successful methods after struggling back-to-back defeats in opposition to the Columbus Crew and Nashville SC.

These losses have seen Philadelphia drop from high of the Jap Convention to 3rd, and Carnell desires to take the combat to his former aspect.

“They’ve been fairly energetic in transition within the final couple of video games, and so they’ve been a bit bit extra scientific in transition the final couple of video games,” Carnell stated of the Purple Bulls.

“We’re going to must nullify that and actually be courageous and aggressive within the counter press, and to step on the entrance foot and defend forwards.

“We have to set the tone in our stadium. I do know what it’s like firsthand, being on the other aspect of all of it these years, and I do know the sensation coming into this stadium.”

The Purple Bulls, in the meantime, are on a four-match winless streak in MLS and sit eighth within the East, 10 factors behind the Union.

New York have drawn their final three matches, giving up the lead in all of these video games, and head coach Sandro Schwarz is aware of they’ve a troublesome check forward of them on Saturday.

“The thought of Bradley and his gamers is evident,” he stated. “They’ve a transparent route, particularly in transition moments, and that’s what now we have to defend.

“I anticipate a really intense recreation, and now we have to indicate our high quality. We’ve to play very clear with out danger, particularly within the ultimate third. We should be organized and be very aggressive within the duels.”

One aim in thoughts #DOOP | @GiantFoodStores | @opencup pic.twitter.com/YwgGp9iX4y

— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) July 9, 2025

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Philadelphia Union – Tai Baribo

Tai Baribo has scored in three straight regular-season dwelling matches for the Union.

The one Union participant with an extended streak because the begin of the 2023 season was Daniel Gazdag (5 straight in 2024, eight straight in 2022-23).

New York Purple Bulls – Emil Forsberg

Emil Forsberg scored his seventh aim of the season within the Purple Bulls’ 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Forsberg, who scored 9 targets in his first season with New York, is the second Purple Bulls participant within the final 20 years to attain a minimum of seven instances in every of his first two seasons with the staff (Mike Grella – 2015-16).

MATCH PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN

Philadelphia Union are unbeaten in 11 straight matches in opposition to the Purple Bulls in regular-season MLS play (W7 D4), with New York’s final league win over the Union coming in September 2019. That is the Union’s longest unbeaten run in opposition to any opponent in regular-season MLS play in membership historical past.

After going unbeaten in 11 straight regular-season matches, the Union have dropped two in a row in league play, each on the street. Philadelphia do stay unbeaten in eight straight at dwelling in regular-season play (W5 D3), although, having not misplaced at Subaru Park in league play since March.

The Purple Bulls have drawn their final two regular-season away matches, together with a 1-1 draw at San Jose on Saturday. That is the primary time the Purple Bulls have averted defeat in consecutive away league video games since a run of 4 straight attracts in June-July 2024, together with one on the Union on July 6, 2024.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Philadelphia Union – 57.1%

Draw – 22.2%

New York Purple Bulls – 20.7%