Sergio Santos was the hero as Philadelphia Union came from a goal down with ten men to draw 1-1 in New York.
Santos was a second-half substitute and managed to squeeze his header off the inside of the post and over the line after a great cross from Olivier Mbaizo.
The Union were down to ten men after Matt Freese pulled a New York player away from the ball as he tried to turn away from danger. The hosts were awarded a penalty, and Freese received his marching orders. Patryk Klimala took the spot-kick and slotted it into the bottom corner, sending substitute goalkeeper Joe Bendik the wrong way.
Jim Curtin made two enforced changes to the side that lost to Nashville on the weekend. Matt Freese and Jose Martinez came into the starting XI as they replaced Andre Blake and Cory Burke, who were with the Jamaica National Team. Daniel Gazdag started the game upfront.
New York made one change following their victory over Orlando as Amro Tarek replaced Sean Nealis.
The game kicked off 30 minutes late due to a rain delay, and the opening 15 minutes were quiet, with neither side creating a chance of note.
Freese was called into action in the 16th minute and came off his line to close down Patryk Klimala's shot inside the penalty area.
The Union had a half-chance in the 30th minute following some nice build-up play. The ball eventually came out to Martinez 30 yards from goal, but he blazed his shot well over the bar.
Leon Flach tested Carlos in the New York goal moments later, but it was a comfortable save for the host's goalkeeper.
The Union had a pair of great chances to take the lead on the stroke of half-time. A Kai Wagner corner caused problems for New York, and Kacper Przybylko managed to loft the ball back across goal. Jamiro Monteiro aimed a shot towards goal, which was blocked with what may have been an arm or shoulder. The follow up came to Alejandro Bedoya, but he sliced his effort away from danger.
HALF-TIME: New York RB 0-0 Philadelphia Union
Monteiro came close to giving Philadelphia the lead at the start of the second half. He managed to get some space on the edge of the area and shot with his left foot. His effort was towards the top corner, but Carlos was equal to it and pushed it wide for a corner.
In the 57th minute, Freese was sent off. Jakob Glesnes' back pass was under-hit, and it forced Freese to rush to the ball. Instead of clearing it, he tried to turn out of danger and instead had to pull the New York player away from the ball. The referee, after a few seconds, awarded a penalty and gave the keeper a red card.
Klimala stepped up to take the penalty and sent substitute Joe Bendik the wrong as he slotted his spot-kick into the bottom right corner.
Omir Fernandez was brought on in the 79th minute and almost made an immediate impact. Tolkin's cross into the box allowed Fernandez to run onto it and strike the ball first time. It fizzed just wide of the post as Bendik was scrambling to try to save it.
Sergio Santos became the super sub in the 85th minute as he headed Philadelphia back on level terms. The Union did well to get the ball back in play quickly, and Mbazio swung a deep cross into the box. Santos did brilliantly getting in between the New York defenders and directing a header towards the goal. His effort hit the inside of the post before bouncing over the line as he brought the Union level.
Santos continued to spur the Union on and forced Carlos into a save in stoppage time. He won the ball in the middle of the field and drove towards the penalty area. He tried a shot with his left foot, but the New York keeper was able to get down towards it.
FULL-TIME: New York RB 1-1 Philadelphia Union
New York Red Bulls: Carlos, Duncan, Edwards, Tarek (Egbo 78'), Tolkin (Pendant 88'), Casseres, Yearwood (Amaya 52'), Davis, Carmona (Fernandez 79'), Klimala (Barlow 88'), Fabio
Unused Substitutes: Harper, Meara, Valot
Philadelphia Union: Freese, Mbaizo, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner, Martinez, Bedoya, Flach (Santos 73'), Monteiro, Gazdag (Bendik 59'), Przybylko
Unused Substitutes: Real, Findlay, McGlynn, Harriel, Aaronson, Sullivan, Collin
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