Philadelphia union x new york red bulls

The Philadelphia Union defeated the New York Red Bulls 1-0 in the opening Eastern Conference Round One match of the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday, with Jakob Glesnes scoring a devastating 25-yard half-volley in the third minute of extra-time stoppage time. Glesnes' heroics at Subaru Park were the most recent goal in Major League Soccer history, saving the No. 2-seeded Union, who were the stronger team during 90 minutes of regulation time but had plenty of nervous moments in the extra half-hour. After the Union's 4-3 victory in the 2019 version, the No. 7-seeded Red Bulls were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round for the second time in three years, both in extra time.

Patryk Klimala snuck past the Union defense and forced Andre Blake into a breakaway save in the 95th minute, forcing Andre Blake into a game preserving save. Kyle Duncan also came dangerously close to scoring in the second extra time period, hitting the left post with a shot from within the penalty area.

Following Duncan's miss, the Red Bulls appeared to have forced penalties after Carlos Coronel saved Sergio Santos' one-time shot and Andrew Gutman executed a last-ditch tackle to deny Cory Burke on the doorstep of Coronel. However, after New York cleared the initial threat from a long free kick on the left, the ball dropped to Glesnes, who chested with his first touch and smashed a superb, dipping finish beyond Coronel's dive with seconds left in the match. It's a devastating result for the Red Bulls after they put up a strong defensive effort, but their scoring issues from earlier in the season reappeared again. Philadelphia had a 3-1 advantage in attempts on target and a 2.0 to 0.9 advantage in predicted goals at the end of the 120-minute session.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Trey Madara]