Philadelphia Union II hits the road for the first time in 2026, making the short trip north for a rivalry showdown against Red Bull New York II on Sunday evening. Kickoff is set for 5PM ET, with coverage available on OneFootball and MLSNEXTPro.com.
Union II looks to close out March on a strong note after suffering its first loss of the season against CT United FC last time out. Facing a lineup that averaged three years older per player, Union II struck first, with Malik Jakupovic finding the back of the net to give the hosts a first-half lead.
CT United FC responded in the second half, becoming the first team to score against Union II this season with a Laurie Goddard finish in the 57th minute. Momentum shifted further shortly after, as Oscar Benitez was shown a second yellow card, reducing Union II to 10 men. The visitors capitalized on the advantage late, with Dylan Lacy delivering a long ball that set up Barnabas Tanyi for the game-winning goal in the 86th minute.
Sunday’s matchup marks the first meeting of the 2026 campaign between the rivals, with their most recent clash coming in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference Final. In that contest, RBNY II claimed a 2-1 victory on their way to lifting the MLS NEXT Pro Cup.
The defending MLS NEXT Pro Champions have opened their title defense unbeaten under new Head Coach Dominik Wohlert. After earning wins over Columbus Crew 2 and Inter Miami CF II, Red Bulls II picked up an additional point on the road following a shootout against NYCFC II.
Offensively, 23-year-old forward Roald Mitchell has been a key contributor early in the season, tallying two goals and an assist. He is joined by fellow forward Rafael Mosquera, who has matched that production and adds another dangerous option to the Red Bulls II attack.
With an early-season test against the reigning champions ahead, Union II will look to bounce back and make a statement in its first road match of the year. You won’t want to miss the latest chapter in the rivalry on Sunday, tune in with OneFootball and MLSNEXTPro.com.
