Talen Energy Stadium, Philadelphia, Pa.
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
7 p.m. ET (Red Bulls Radio)
The New York Red Bulls travel to Philadelphia to face the Union in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday night at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa. The game is a rematch of last year's USOC Quarterfinal between the two MLS teams, when the Union eliminated the Red Bulls on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw at Red Bull Arena.
Kickoff for this year's match is set for 7 p.m., with English and Spanish coverage on Red Bulls Radio on TuneIn.
It will be the first of four meetings this year between the MLS Eastern Conference rivals, and the first of three at Talen Energy Stadium. The Red Bulls will make the trip down I-95 again on July 17, and the sides meet for two of the Red Bulls final three regular season games in October.
The Union lead the MLS Eastern Conference with a 7-5-5 record so far, while the Red Bulls sit in third, just three points back with a 7-8-2 mark. New York saw it's five-game winning streak across all competitions snapped last week with a 2-1 loss at Real Salt Lake, but held on to earn a road point at Columbus with a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
The Red Bulls advanced to the Round of 16 with a road win over the Rochester Rhinos (USL) on Wednesday, June 15. Sacha Kljestan saw New York through with a goal from the penalty spot, while Luis Robles and the defense kept one of five consecutive clean sheets.
Philadelphia defeated Harrisburg City, also of the USL, 3-2 in the fourth round, and earned the right to host when the East Region draw was determined by U.S. Soccer. The winner of this matchup will travel to the winner of the other regional Round of 16 match, which pits the New England Revolution against the New York Cosmos (NASL).
The Union have reached two consecutive U.S. Open Cup finals, falling to Seattle in 2014 and Sporting Kansas City in 2015.
The top team in the East this season been sparked by six goals and five assists from offseason acquisition Chris Pontius. C.J. Sapong has also contributed five goals, while newcomer Roland Alberg has seven goals over his last four games, including a hat trick against Chicago last Wednesday, and two goals in the Open Cup win over Harrisburg, which started his scoring streak.
After Wednesday, the Red Bulls turn back to MLS action and a second meeting of the season with New York City FC. Kickoff at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, July 3 is set for noon, with coverage on ESPN and Red Bulls Radio on TuneIn.
