New York Red Bulls will be seeking to record back-to-back wins in the MLS when they play host to Philadelphia Union in this all-Eastern Conference encounter at the Red Bull Arena as the hosts look to further cement their place in the top seven of the division.
Overall results so far this season have been fairly inconsistent where New York Red Bulls have been concerned as they’ve won 5, drawn 1 and lost 5 of their 11 matches played to date this season.
However, New York have achieved the majority of this season’s success on home turf at the Red Bull Arena where the hosts have won four of their five matches so far this term which includes victories over Chicago Fire, Toronto, Orlando City and Nashville, so they’ll be in confident mood ahead of Thursday evening’s clash.
Three of these four wins have also seen New York keep clean sheets as well, and the hosts will be keen to avenge a previous 3-0 defeat in their last meeting at home against the Union last September.
Red Bulls are likely to be without Long, Gutman, Roer and Clark who are all sidelined with injuries.
Philadelphia Union were handed a 1-0 defeat away from home at Nashville last time out in the MLS which ended a run of eight matches without defeat, but the visitors have found league wins hard to come by in recent weeks, winning just one of their last four matches overall.
That success came in the shape of a 1-0 home win against Columbus Crew while draws with Atlanta United and Chicago Fire along with the loss against Nashville suggest the visitors are by no means a guaranteed three points here, despite sitting in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia Union have also posted some inconsistent results though away from home as the visitors have won 3, lost 3 and drawn 5 of their last 11 matches on their travels, keeping just four clean sheets in the process.
However, The Union will have to travel to New York without their leading goalscorer, Cory Burke (4 goals), along with compatriots Andre Blake and Alvas Powell who have all been called up to the Jamaica squad for the forthcoming Gold Cup.
With this in mind, New York Red Bulls may just hold the edge in this clash.