Union fall on penalty kicks in U.S. Open Cup

HARRISON, N.J. — An impressive second-half turnaround that extended into extra time was not enough for the Union to advance in the U.S. Open Cup.
The New York Red Bulls beat the Union by winning, 5-3, on penalty kicks Wednesday night after the teams played to a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes.

New York will visit New England in a July 13 quarterfinal.

"A devastating loss to the guys," Union coach Jim Curtin said. "I thought they put a ton into the game."

The Red Bulls, who kicked first, scored on all their penalty kicks, including the decisive one by Felipe. The difference came when Red Bulls keeper Ryan Meara made a diving save to his right on the Union's third penalty kick by Fafa Picault.

"I thought it was going in," said Picault, who was the best Union player on the field. "He made a fingertip save and I still thought it was going to go back in off him, off the post and back in on him, but he made a good save. There's not much to do."

The Union's leading scorer, C.J. Sapong, started the game at outside midfield but moved to his more accustomed forward position when Jay Simpson left the contest in the 61st minute. Sapong's ability to keep possession and draw multiple defenders with his physical play opened up the field for his teammates.

Trailing, 1-0, the Union almost scored the equalizer when Sapong's shot from just inside the box bounced off the left post in the 72nd minute.

Sapong shot wide on another attempt from inside the box in the 75th minute.

The momentum had clearly changed and the Union tied the score in the 86th minute when defender Jack Elliott found Roland Alberg on a long ball. Alberg quickly fired from just inside the box into the lower left corner.

Andre Blake was hoping to be in goal for the Union, but a rib injury sidelined him. That gave John McCarthy a chance and the former North Catholic and La Salle University keeper had a strong performance.

In the ninth minute, McCarthy stopped Sean Davis from in front of the goal on a spectacular sliding save.

Meara was equally big in the 18th minute, stopping a breakaway by Picault. After the save, Picault headed the rebound toward the goal. Red Bulls defender Damien Perrinelle then headed the shot toward the Red Bulls' net and Meara had to make a diving save to avoid an own goal.

Bradley Wright-Phillips set up the Red Bulls' goal when he spun around defender Jack Elliott and found an unmarked Sacha Kljestan eight yards away. McCarthy had no chance as Kjestan easily directed the ball inside the left post in the 42nd minute.

The Union had to feel fortunate to be down by just a goal in the first half. The Red Bulls dominated play.

"That was a fast-paced game played at a high tempo and I thought the second half and extra time when we had 13 shots, we showed a lot more fight, a lot more grit a lot more heart …" Curtin said.

In the second half, the Red Bulls kept attacking. A one-timer by Wright-Phillips from around the six, just went wide in the 56th minute.

Picault forced Meara into making a diving save on a blast from 25 yards out in the 62nd minute.

The Union pressured early in overtime. Sapong didn't get much on a bicycle kick from close range and his shot went wide. Picault shot wide in the 98th minute from eight yards out on a right angle in the 98th minute.

Near the end of the first extra period, Sapong limped off and was replaced by Chris Pontius. In the 108th minute, Pontius forced Meara to make a diving save on a shot from outside the box.

Moments later, Marcus Epps' one-timer from close range went wide.

Picault hit the right post on an angle from 10 yards out in the 111th minute.