Carlos Rivas (left) Auston Trusty battle for the ball. (Derik Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports)
CHESTER, Pa. — The Red Bulls’ Lamar Hunt Open Cup run is over.
The Philadelphia made sure of that Saturday night, eliminating New York in the Round of 16 behind a 2-1 victory at Talen Energy Stadium.
Last year the Red Bulls reached the Open Cup final before losing to Sporting Kansas City.
The Union avenged a defeat to the Red Bulls in the Round of 16 in 2017.
“We had the better players today and we controlled the game,” said Haris Medunjanin, who scored Philly’s first goal. “Overall, the guys gave their best and deserved to win this game.”
The loss meant the organization has been eliminated from two tournaments this year, including the CONCACAF Champions League. The Red Bulls still have two trophies to shoot for — the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup.
Medunjanin boosted the Union into the lead in the 52nd minute, latching onto an Alejandro Bedoya pass and launching a 30-yard shot that was deflected past goalkeeper Luis Robles.
Nine minutes later, the hosts were celebrating again. This time Medunjanin assisted on the scoring sequence, feeding Bedoya, who then did the honors to Cory Burke, who beat two defenders and eventually Robles.
Second-half substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips pulled one back for the Red Bulls with a shot to the lower right corner in the 77th minute, but New York could not find the equalizer.
Another second-half sub, midfielder Daniel Royer, came close to tying it as his header hit the post in the 65th minute.
Jamaican international goalkeeper Andre Blake was superb when called upon as he dived to his left to deny Kaku, slapping the ball away with his left hand in the 81st minute.
Head coach Jesse Marsch had said that Ryan Meara would play in the rest of the Open Cup for the Red Bulls, but after the Fordham University product took a knock in Thursday’s practice, Marsch decided to use Robles.
The Red Bulls, who have played five games in 15 days, will get a bit of a break. They won’t have to play again until next Saturday, when they host FC Dallas at Red Bull Arena.
