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Red Bulls search for first win against Union

Apr 15, 2014 - 8:30 PM Harrison, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Red Bulls go in search of their first win of the season on Wednesday when Eastern Conference rivals Philadelphia Union visit Red Bull Arena.

It's been a difficult start to the season for the reigning Supporters' Shield winners. Through their first six games of 2014, Mike Petke's club has four draws and a pair of defeats.

Last weekend's match against D.C. United served as microcosm for everything that has gone wrong in the early stages of the season. The Red Bulls played very well against United at RFK Stadium, but were incredibly wasteful with their chances and lost, 1-0.

The Red Bulls fell behind after just four minutes when former Red Bull Fabian Espindola whipped a corner kick into the box that was headed on by Bobby Boswell to Davy Arnaud, who made a late run to tap it home at the back post.

New York responded well after the goal and dominated the second-half run of play, but Thierry Henry's finishing was off all night and United goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra made several quality saves to make sure his side claimed three points.

Despite the loss, New York left the nation's capital encouraged about their game.

"We lost a game that we shouldn't have lost," Henry said. "All credit to DC, took advantage and started better than us. We tried to come back, as you saw, in any way possible. After around 30 minutes into the game, I thought we dominated the game. It wasn't enough to win the game.

"I'm very critical usually, but if you carry on playing like we played in the second half, in the games that are coming soon, hopefully we can get on a good run," Henry added. "There is nothing to say about how we played after 30 minutes. I thought we passed the ball well, we created chances. Sometimes we were a little bit unlucky. I don't think we deserved to lose, but full credit to DC - they won the game."

Philadelphia will be looking to snap a bad habit of giving away late goals and dropping points. The Union have drawn three games from winning positions this season after allowing a tying goal in the 80th minute or later.

It happened again in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake, but the result would have been a defeat if not for Maurice Edu's 90th minute tally to salvage a point.

RSL took the lead in the sixth minute when Luke Mulholland fired home a rebound following a penalty save by Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath, but Andrew Wenger made it 1-1 in the 55th minute.

Some slack defending from Philadelphia five minutes from time allowed Kyle Beckerman to fire home from close range, but Edu's header from a corner kick in the 90th minute handed the Union a point for the third consecutive game.

"We played some good soccer throughout the game," Union manager John Hackworth said. "We possessed the ball, went side to side and made them do a lot of work. Eventually that wore them down a little bit. The hard part for us was I don't think we were really strong with our execution."

In five meetings between the sides at Red Bull Arena, Philadelphia has never won, coming away with one draw and four defeats.