RECAP: Red Bulls Exit Open Cup, Fall to Philly 3-2
After a month-long delay, the Philadelphia Union and the New York Red Bulls persevered through a two-hour kickoff delay.
After falling behind twice and equalizing twice, Philadelphia Union center back Olwethu Makhanya scored off a rebound to give the Union a rain-soaked 3-2 win over the Red Bulls.
For New York, the result might seal the team’s fate of any positive end to the 2025 season.
Rotated Starters Stun
Emil Forsberg, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, and Carlos Coronel all started on the bench. Wiktor Bogacz, Wiki Carmona, Julian Hall, and AJ Marcucci started on the field.
Here come the teams as we’re just moments away from kickoff here at @Subaru_Park after a 2 hour weather delay! #DOOP #PHIvNYRB pic.twitter.com/YPjHiBxmEW
— Union Nation (@PHLUnionNation) August 14, 2025
The Union started in the usual manner, overloading the right side of the field at the kickoff, trying to play the ball deep into Red Bull territory. In the 8th minute, the unusual happened. A botched Union clearance allowed Wikelman Carmona an unchallenged shot from outside the box, beating Blake at the post. VAR reviewed a possible handball, but the goal stood, and play restarted.
The 22-year-old forward scored his first career USOC goal, assisted by none other than goalkeeper AJ Marcucci. According to TheCup.us, only ten other goalkeepers have assisted on a goal in the tournament’s Modern Era (1995-present), the last coming in 2017 when Drew Shepherd of the USL League Two’s Michigan Bucks (now Flint City Bucks) assisted on a spectacular goal against Saint Louis FC (USL) in the Third Round.
However, the Union had other plans, making it 1-1 with a composed outside of the foot finish by Tai Baribo off of a lasered in-swinging cross from leftback Kai Wagner just five minutes later.
The game was highly aggressive. Two yellow cards were shown, one each to a Red Bulls wing back, Kyle Duncan, and Raheem Edwards. Duncan’s temper continued and forced Sandro Schwarz to use an early substitution for Dylan Nealis.
DPs Impact, Why Not Start Them
The second half saw changes on both sides, but just one halftime substitution with Milan Iloski on for Indiana Vassilev. As the Union began to apply pressure, attacking down the wings, Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz subbed in starters Choupo-Moting and Forsberg in an attempt to turn the tide in the 64th minute. Mikael Uhre later subbed in for Bruno Damiani in the 70th minute.
Just seven minutes after entering the game, Choupo-Moting scored with a left-footed volley off a cross from Dylan Nealis, giving the Red Bulls a 2-1 lead. In the 74th minute, substitute Iloski equalized off a cross from Baribo.
The match appeared heading to extra time when a foul on Mikael Uhre by Dylan Nealis in the 89th minute led to a Wagner free kick from about 30 yards out. Goalkeeper Marcucci erred, trying to punch the ball clear, but it only fell right at the feet of Makhanya, whose shot went into the inside netting for the go-ahead goal.
Marcucci had to be substituted off after the play, replaced by backup keeper Carlos Coronel. The young keeper who has gotten minutes this season in league, Open Cup, and Leagues Cup could not put weight on his leg.
A Metro Exit, A Lost Season
New York losing in heartbreaking fashion is not new.
What is becoming more realized is that New York’s season is probably over. The team is out of both the Leagues Cup and the Open Cup. RBNY is outside of the playoff picture with a difficult end-of-season schedule, including a rematch with Philly this weekend at home.
Both DPs starting the game on the bench makes sense if Schwarz wants to focus on the season. However, the season isn’t guaranteed to end in a playoff appearance. This was three wins away from a trophy. If the DPs aren’t good enough to play a midweek game on short rest, what is the value in having them as DPs?
New York could have started Carlos Coronel. The usual starter looked fine enough to be a backup. He was fine enough to sub on, and potentially go another 30 minutes in extra time, if RBNY equalizes. And a shootout at that. But Marcucci was back in for Open Cup because Schwarz wanted to rest starters. Philly didn’t, and they won.
New York has done well to rotate squads and shock FC Dallas in an earlier round, even in the Leagues Cup.
It caught up.
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