New York Red Bulls vs. Philadelphia Union
Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One | Subaru Park – Chester, PA
Saturday, November 20, 2021 – 2:30 p.m. ET | Univision, TUDN, MSG+, MLSsoccer.com, New York Red Bulls Radio
PHIvRBNY
All-Time Playoff Series: Union lead, 1-0-0 | At Philadelphia: Philadelphia leads, 1-0-0
HARRISON, N.J. (November 19, 2021) –The New York Red Bulls (13-12-9, 48 points) will go into the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs as the seventh seed and travel to second-seeded Philadelphia Union (14-8-12, 54 points) for a Round One match on Saturday, November 20 at Subaru Park. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET with coverage on Univision, TUDN, MSG+, MLSsoccer.com and New York Red Bulls Radio in English and Spanish via TuneIn, the New York Red Bulls app and NewYorkRedBulls.com.
Coverage on MSG+ begins at 2 p.m. ET with the Red Bulls Pregame show. Steve Cangialosi will have the primary play-by-play responsibilities and will be alongside Shep Messing and Michelle Gingras.
New York Red Bulls Radio begins at 1:30 p.m. ET with Countdown to Kickoff, presented by Honda, hosted by Matt Harmon and Steve Jolley. Stefano Fusaro will carry the Spanish play-by-play responsibilities, beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
The Red Bulls have earned their 12th consecutive playoff appearance and the 22nd time in franchise history. New York’s 22 playoff appearances are the most in league history, only having missed the playoffs four times. This will be the second postseason meeting between New York and Philadelphia, with the Union winning the first meeting in 2019 at Subaru Park. The Red Bulls will meet the Union for the fourth overall time this season, with the Union winning the series posting one win at Subaru Park and two draws at Red Bull Arena.
This season New York was 3-1-1 in matches that were aired nationally, including being unbeaten in their last four nationally televised matches. Since 2017, the Red Bulls have posted an 8-3-3 mark in their MLS matches that were aired on Univision or UniMas, including their 1-0 win against Inter Miami CF on October 9.
New York picked up 25 points in their last 12 matches to secure a playoff spot, which was the most points earned in the final 12 matches amongst Eastern Conference playoff teams. Red Bulls conceded 33 goals this season, which is tied for the lowest in MLS, and the second lowest in a 34-game schedule in franchise history. New York allowed 22 goals on the road this year, which is the lowest in a 17-game road schedule in franchise history. In their last six road matches, the Red Bulls only conceded three goals and recorded three clean sheets.
Midfielder Sean Davis finished the year in the top 10 of many statistical categories in MLS. He finished first in possession won (329), distance covered (386 km), recoveries (329), tied for fourth in tackles won (54), and tenth in interceptions (57). Davis became the third New York Red Bulls outfield player to play every minute of every game during a single season alongside Tim Ream (2010) and Steve Jolley (2001). The Holmdel, New Jersey native is set to make his tenth career playoff appearance, which would be tied for first among active Red Bulls players.
The winner of Saturday’s match will play the Round One winner between third-seeded Nashville SC and sixth-seeded Orlando City SC on Sunday, November 28.
