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New York Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz believes his side must improve against a “tough” Philadelphia Union side ahead of their meeting at Subaru Park.

The Red Bulls maintained their four-match unbeaten streak with a 2-2 draw against DC United last time out, helped by Cristian Dajome’s early sending off for the visitors.

Schwarz’s team sits fifth in the Eastern Conference and is part of a tight group of teams in the middle of the division, with every win important at the midpoint of the season.

The Red Bulls coach praised his side’s mentality to secure a point against the Black and Red last time out but expects a tough game against the Union.

“I think what we need to improve, especially in our ball position, is the structure that we lost at certain moments and that we will analyse before the match,” Schwarz said.

“But the mentality of coming back was good to not lose the last game and to get this important point at home. We have analyzed this and it is very clear how we want to play, and we want to create these situations and these moments.

“They are a very good team with a good structure, they are aggressive in their pressing and also have this individual quality.

“They have the quality to build with the centre-backs and make good runs from deep, and it will be a difficult game for us.”

For Philadelphia, their winless streak continued against struggling compatriots Chicago Fire, where they were eliminated by a seven-goal margin and are now winless since a 3-0 victory over the New England Revolution in May.

Union led 3-1 entering the final 10 minutes of play before conceding three goals in nine minutes to lose 4-3, marking the first time in the club’s history that they had lost a match in which they were leading by multiple goals entering the 80th minute.

Their latest defeat is their fifth in a row and leaves them second-to-last in the Eastern Conference standings, level on points with DC United at the foot of the table.

Curtin was hurt by the defeat and highlighted their inability to defend set pieces as something to work on before facing the Red Bulls.

“The guys did well to come back 3-1, from there it was pretty comfortable until about the 82nd minute and we started conceding corners that we didn’t need to concede,” Curtin said.

“Then the little details became big problems. We have been very good over the years in defending set pieces, but we were very weak and we were punished.

“It hurts, but again, I repeat myself like a broken record, but the group will have to quickly pull itself together and go against New York.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Philadelphia Union – Daniel Gazdag

After returning from his Euro 2024 campaign with Hungary, Daniel Gazdag found himself on the team sheet once again in Union’s 4-3 defeat to Chicago Fire last time out.

Gazdag’s goal and assist at Soldier Field gave him 12 goals in 17 MLS appearances, and his attacking influence will be needed if Philadelphia is to return to winning ways.

NYRB – Cameron Harper

After scoring in three straight MLS games in May, Cameron Harper has rediscovered his goalscoring skills for Schwarz’s team.

The American has scored twice in his last two games against Toronto FC and DC United and if he finds the back of the net again he will become the first player since Bradley Wright-Phillips in 2016 to have multiple goal streaks of three or more games in a single season.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Although Philadelphia edged out the simulations based on Opta’s data, their recent form suggests the encounter at Subaru Park will be an evenly contested affair.

The Union have lost their last five league games for the first time in club history after a 4-3 defeat to Chicago Fire on Wednesday.

However, Curtin’s team can rely on their recent record against their opponents. Philadelphia are unbeaten in their last 12 meetings with the Red Bulls in all competitions (W8 D4) dating back to 2019.

But New York can build on its 2-2 draw with DC United. It’s the 12th time this season the Red Bulls have scored multiple goals in a game, after doing so just eight times in the entire 2023 season.

OPTA WINNING PROBABILITY

Philadelphia Union – 38.9%

Zero – 26.5%

NYRB – 34.5%