You Won't Believe What Happens When Red Bull New York II Faces Off Against Philadelphia Union II—Don’t Miss This Shocking Showdown!

HARRISON, N.J. (March 21, 2026) – The excitement is palpable as Red Bull New York II prepares to host Philadelphia Union II for a highly anticipated rematch in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs Eastern Conference Final at MSU Soccer Park on Sunday, March 22. The kickoff is set for 5 PM ET, with coverage available on OneFootball and MLSNEXTPro.com.

Both teams have demonstrated promising starts to their respective 2026 MLS NEXT Pro campaigns. Red Bull New York II currently holds a record of 2 wins, 0 draws, and 1 loss, accumulating 7 points, while Philadelphia Union II stands at 2 wins, 1 draw, and 0 losses, with 6 points. Notably, Dominik Wohlert, head coach of New York, has made history as the first in the club's history to remain unbeaten in his initial three matches.

In their last outing, New York faced NYCFC II, resulting in a 1-1 draw at Belson Stadium on March 14. NYCFC II struck first with a goal from forward Seymour Reid in the fifth minute, leveraging a quick counterattack. However, Red Bulls II quickly equalized in the 21st minute thanks to midfielder Rafael Mosquera, who unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from the top of the box that found the top left corner. The match remained level at 1-1 through regulation time, but New York eventually succumbed to a heartbreaking 4-5 defeat in the penalty shootout.

On the other hand, Philadelphia Union II, while currently unbeaten, faced a setback with a 1-2 loss against the expansion side CT United on March 15 at Subaru Park. Union II initially took the lead in the 42nd minute with a goal from forward Malik Jakupovic, who cleverly faked a shot before placing the ball into the bottom right corner. However, the momentum shifted when Connecticut equalized in the 57th minute, and a red card was issued to Philadelphia midfielder Oscar Benitez Cobo just four minutes later. Eventually, Connecticut clinched the match with a goal in the 86th minute, handing Union II their first loss of the season.

Historically, the rivalry has favored Philadelphia, who boasts a 4-2-2 record against New York across their eight all-time MLS NEXT Pro matchups. However, New York has been on a positive trajectory, remaining unbeaten in their last four matches against Philadelphia across all competitions.

The last time these teams met was during the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs Eastern Conference Final on November 1, 2025, at Sports Illustrated Stadium. In that encounter, Philadelphia asserted themselves first with a goal from forward Sta Korzeniowski in the 38th minute, following a well-placed assist by Edward Davis. New York responded in the 71st minute, when defender Matthew Dos Santos delivered a cross to forward Roald Mitchell, who equalized. The match-winning goal came from Adrian Mehmeti in the 83rd minute, sealing a 2-1 victory for New York.

Among the players to watch is New York forward Mijahir Jimenez, who leads the active roster with two goals scored against Philadelphia in MLS NEXT Pro play. His standout performance included both goals in a 2-0 victory against Union II on August 12 at MSU Soccer Park, earning him the title of MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 22.

Following the upcoming match, Red Bull New York II will travel to Beirne Stadium to take on New England Revolution II on Sunday, March 29, with kickoff scheduled for 2 PM ET. Fans are eager to see how this rematch unfolds, as both teams look to solidify their standings early in the season.