As the regular season reaches its conclusion, this game had distinct ramifications on the playoff picture. A win for the New York Red Bulls would take them to the top of the league (at least until the conclusion of the later game between Toronto F.C. and D.C. United), a win for the Philadelphia Union would cement their post-season place.
The home team Red Bulls began brightly, attacking the Union, wave after wave.
...but it was the Union who drew first blood, with Fabian Herbers knocking the ball in the back of the net to make it 1-0
From then on, it was mostly the Red Bulls attacking, with the Union scrambling to clear the ball when they could.
In the 31st minute the Union's Joshua Yaro was clipped by the knee of his goalkeeper - Andre Blake - as he was going up to prevent the Red Bull's Filipe from getting to the ball. Both Filipe and Yaro ended up on the floor, but while Filipe was up within minutes, Yaro required the services of the stretcher crew to help him off the pitch.
After the restart, the Red Bulls returned to their attacking ways...
...with Blake preventing each and every one that was headed goalbound...
...up until the 44th minute, when Sacha Kljestan found a way through, to even up the scores.
Two minutes into the second half, Bradley Wright-Phillips latched onto a long ball from Dax McCarty
...slotting it past Blake to make it 2-1 to the Red Bulls.
The Red Bulls continued to attempt to extend their lead, which left them open to the counter attack...
...and in the 55th minute Chris Pontius slotted home to equalize at 2-2.
Wright-Phillips almost restored the lead a few minutes later, but his shot hit the inside of the post...
In the 66th minute, the Red Bulls' pressure paid off, and Dax McCarty powered a header...
...into the goal, making it 3-2.
The Red Bulls continued to attack, with Wright-Phillips failing to connect with a through ball across goal to make further increase their lead...
...and Blake catching another shot between his legs.
Despite the continued pressure, the Red Bulls were unable to score another, but the Union were also unable to break down the other end and score an equalizer...
...so the game ended 3-2 to the Red Bulls, putting them top of the Eastern Conference, a place they retained after Toronto F.C. lost to D.C. United 2-1, a result that moved United to 4th place, above the Union, with 2 games left for each team.
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