Philadelphia Union x New York Red Bulls
Philadelphia Union put on a confident and composed display on July 12, 2025, dispatching rivals New York Red Bulls 2-0 in front of a roaring Subaru Park crowd. Two first-half goals were all it took for the Union to take control and never look back, in a performance that blended sharp attacking play with rock-solid defense.
The Union wasted no time setting the tone. Just nine minutes in, chaos in the Red Bulls’ box led to a loose ball falling perfectly for Indiana Vassilev. The midfielder didn’t hesitate—he struck it clean through a sea of bodies and into the net, giving Philadelphia an early lead and jolting the stadium to life.
Philadelphia didn’t stop there. They kept pressing, slicing through New York’s midfield with crisp passing and relentless movement. In the 24th minute, it paid off again. After a slick combination between Tai Baribo and Quinn Sullivan, Bruno Damiani picked up the ball at the edge of the box. He took one touch and curled a beautiful left-footed finish into the far corner. It was his fourth of the season, and perhaps his best yet.
Down 2-0, the Red Bulls had no answers. Philadelphia controlled the pace of the second half, shifting into a more disciplined, defensive shape. The Union’s back line, led by Jakob Glesnes and Olwethu Makhanya, completely shut down any attempts from New York to get back into the game. Red Bulls managed just one shot on target all night, a tame effort that never troubled Andre Blake, who collected his fifth clean sheet of the year with ease.
This win was about more than just three points—it was a statement. Philadelphia not only extended their unbeaten streak against New York to 15 straight matches, but they also proved that, even in a physically demanding rivalry, they can dominate on their terms. With the win, the Union continue to build momentum heading into the heart of the season, while the Red Bulls leave yet another road game empty-handed and full of questions.
It was a night where the Union looked every bit like a team with playoff ambitions, and the Red Bulls looked like they were still stuck in first gear.
[Photography by Trey Madara]
