CHESTER, Pa— Looking for a fresh start after a disappointing first half of the season, the Philadelphia Union returned to action following the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Major League Soccer resumed league play hosting Eastern Conference rival Red Bull New York in front of an energized Subaru Park. On a gorgeous July evening, the Union looked like a team rejuvenated.
It would be a night of firsts for the club as it was Interim Head Coach Ryan Richter’s first time at the helm for the first team, along with Kai Wagner, Quinn Sullivan, and Neil Pierre also returning to action for Philadelphia.
Following an opening goal from Milan IIoski, the Union added two more goals in the second half from Indiana Vassliev and Neil Pierre en route to a 3-1 win over their rival and securing their first home win in league play in 2026. They also continued their streak of being undefeated at home against Red Bull since 2018.
“I want to say congrats and thank you to the players for their hard work and just the overall take everything out of the game from a quality of play standpoint both ways,” Richter said. “But the overall fighting and team spirit was something that I was really proud of.”
“I think we showed it today on the field. I think it was a completely deserved win,” Kai Wagner said about the match. “Even though we didn’t have the greatest possession or we didn’t play the prettiest football, but we win the games at home, and we’re still unbeaten since I’m here at home.” At the last remark, Wagner was joking around, but it was still a fact and his presence brought a considerable amount of quality to the squad.
Ryan Richter’s first starting eleven during his tenure saw Andre Blake make his 14th start of the season. Kai Wagner made his return to Philadelphia’s starting eleven to a roaring ovation from the crowd at Subaru Park. Nathan Harriel started in Olwethu Makhanya’s spot at center back with Japhet Sery Larsen, and Frankie Westfield patrolled the right side of the back line.
The midfield consisted of Indiana Vassilev and Cavan Sullivan up in the attacking position, with Jovan Lukic and Danley Jean-Jacques, fresh off of representing Haiti in the World Cup, pairing as always in the central position of the midfield.
Up top, Bruno Damiani and Milan Iloski paired in the forward spot. The bench featured the return of Quinn Sullivan for the first time since his ACL injury back at the end of September last season at DC. Neil Pierre, who returned from from his loan after helping Lyngby Boldklub get promoted, also appeared on the bench for the first time this season.
The rest of the bench featured Geiner Martinez, Jesús Bueno, Alejandro Bedoya, Ben Bender, Ezekiel Alladoh, Agustin Anello, and Andrew Rick.
The Union had an early opportunity to get on the board as IIoski broke in behind Red Bull defender Justin Che and made a run in on net. The forward then crossed the ball to a streaking Westfield but the defender could not get shot on target, missing wide.
Kai Wagner’s effect was felt on the opening goal of the match as the German defender crossed the ball into the box, forcing the New York keeper Horvath to jump in to attempt to grab the ball however, he would collide with a teammate and spill the ball, allowing IIoski to bang it home for the early 1-0 lead minutes into the match.
The goal would mark only the third time this season the Union have scored in the opening 15 minutes.
Red Bull New York would end up leveling the match in the 38th minute from Cade Cowell. The Union’s back line, which had been solid up to that moment. allowed Emil Forsberg to slip through the defense following a missed tackle from Harriel on the build up that allowed the goal.
“So when we were not organized enough to close the first pass into the six, our sixes jumping a little late and too much space between the strikers and the defenders, so this space was too big for them to jump,” Richter said about the frustration leading to New York’s goal. “Then Nathan has to fly out in a moment where it’s a big space to cover, and the guy can turn and drive at the back line. So, like I said, it’s something that we prepared for to try to avoid, but they’re also they’re playing the game too.”
The Union would try to get the lead back in the 44th minute following a wonderful ball from Frankie Westfield to IIoski, allowing Milan to cross it to Damiani, but the latter could not beat Horvath, shooting it right at him and keeping the match level.
Cavan Sullivan continued to have a solid outing and almost found a goal in the 50th minute with an attempt that beat the keeper but it hit the far post and bounced out.
On the evening, both Westfield and Cavan Sullivan were creating opportunities for the attack and problems for the New York defense as both homegrowns put in a solid shift in my opinion.
“It’s something that you saw a little bit in the first half of the season,” Richter said when asked about their partnership. “Definitely through the preseason games, the way that developed, and then yeah, a lot of good actions tonight. They’re capable of more than what they did tonight, though. I know that. I know that they’re capable of more and causing teams more problems.”
“But yeah, Frankie gets in on the assists,” Richter continued. “Cavan looked dangerous in a lot of moments when he was able to beat his defender 1v1, really sharp in some of his combinations, but the two of them… they have really good understanding of each other, and yeah, we keep trying to build that through the rest of the season.”
Two minutes later, following a turnover from Harriel that allowed Julian Hall, Red Bull New York’s leading goal scorer, to drive to the goal, but Andre Blake stood tall to keep the deadlock.
“We rely on him a lot for his leadership, but also what he brings to the team,” Richter mentioned about his goalkeeper’s performance. “And he saves you in moments. A guy makes a mistake, he’s in on goal. Andre comes up with a big save, and everyone forgets about it, right? And he’s done that for the last 10 years. So the best version of him makes this team really good, and I’m really happy in the place that he’s at right now, and I hope that he feels a really good energy of where he’s at and where the team’s going.”
Neil Pierre would come on for Sery in the 56th minute. Richter said the center back was experiencing some tightness in his hamstring and was taken off for cautionary reasons.
Following the substitution, Philadelphia would score their second goal of the match from a excellent cross from Westfield to Vassilev, allowing Indy to volley the shot into the net and giving Philadelphia the lead back 2-1 in the 57th minute.
Pierre would then get his own moment in front of the home crowd on his home debut, scoring his first goal of his MLS career in the 66th minute on a corner from Kai Wagner for the Union’s fourth set piece goal of the season. Wagner, continuing to make his impact felt, had his first assist in his return, extending the lead to 3-1.
“I’ve come up through the academy,” Pierre said. “So it’s kind of like a dream coming through the game. So to come on the pitch was obviously an honor, and then to score was like wow, what a dream.”
“I’ve worked with him since he was 11 years old, and I have seen him progress in every stage of this,” Richter said about the young center back. “I’ve seen him be successful as an academy player. I’ve seen him be the defender of the year in MLS Next Pro. I watched his games when he went on loan and saw him be successful there and work and fight his way into the team there. And now it’s no surprise to see him come in and be ready for this next step.”
Quinn Sullivan would then be subbed on in the 73rd for Indiana Vassliev for the first time since his injury and would play 17 minutes in his return. As soon as he started making his way toward the bench area from warming up, the crowd started going wild, and gave him an enthusiastic welcome to the pitch. In his post-match interview, he noted how he had chills stepping onto the field, and to him, it felt like when Messi goes to warm up and the crowd reacts.
“I think he can help us always towards the stretch to game at the end,” Wagner said of Quinn. “I think everybody knows he’s not 100 percent yet, but just these minutes, like he will get more comfortable with the ball. He trusts his body more, and just to see him out on the field again helps us a lot. Helps him a lot, and we’re really, really happy for him.”
“I’m just really thankful for everyone involved and happy to be back out on the field and hopefully, you know, get a little bit more sharp and not get pushed off the ball as much, but you know it was a good start tonight,” Sullivan said about being back on the field. “I was happy with my performance, and you know a win at home is something that we didn’t get the fans in the first half of the year. So super special night.”
Jesús Bueno and Ezekiel Alladoh subbed on for Iloski and Cavan Sullivan in the 85th minute, completing Philadelphia’s substitutions for the evening.
Pierre almost had a brace in the 88th minute, however his header attempt bounced off the middle of the cross bar and it the line was cleared out by New York’s defense.
With nine minutes of stoppage time, the Philadelphia Union defense buckled down and rode out the match, earning Richter his first win as a Union head coach and the club’s first home win in MLS play in 2026. He now has a win as a head coach at every level of the MLS pro player pathway: MLS Next, MLS Next Pro, and MLS.
The game was also the first time since February against Defence Force that club managed to score more than one goal in a home contest. It was also the second consecutive match that Philadelphia registered at least 10 shots on target in match, with 23—a season high.
So while there were also positives to take away from the evening’s contest, Richter knows it is only one match.
“It’s one game, Richter mentioned. “We turn around in a couple days and play again, and we have to approach with that same fighting spirit in the next game. But for the for the first game, for me it was it was all positive.”
With the win, Philadelphia reached 10 points on the season, however, while they remain in 30th place in the league, they are now nine points out for the final playoff spot and only two points behind Atlanta United, who currently sit at 12 points. Pierre says he is not worried about the past, just with the task at hand moving forward.
“The first half of season’s done,” he said. “Don’t even think about it. This is a whole new season. Let’s just win this half, and then from there, see where it goes.”
The Union will look to improve again on Saturday as they host Western Conference foe, the Seattle Sounders, at 7:30pm at Subaru Park.
Main article photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union.
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