Eighteen-year-old Andrew Rick made five saves to record a clean sheet in his third career MLS start and the Philadelphia Union posted a 0-0 draw against the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.
With three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake still sidelined due to surgery on his meniscus, Rick helped the Union (4-9-9, 21 points) snap a five-match losing streak, though their winless run is now at nine matches (0-5-4).
New York’s Carlos Coronel also had five stops while tallying his fourth clean sheet of the campaign in a match that featured far more attacking than the final score showed.
The Red Bulls (9-4-9, 36 points) extended their unbeaten streak to five matches, although four of those results have been draws.
Prior to the match, New York announced that midfielder Emil Forsberg would miss at least four weeks with a lower leg injury.
Rick allowed six goals in his first two starts but returned to the starting lineup on Saturday, getting the nod over Oliver Semmle, who struggled in Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to the Chicago Fire.
On Saturday, the chances flowed throughout the match even though the goals didn’t.
The Red Bulls’ Lewis Morgan missed wide with the goal gaping on the first shot of the match in the third minute. Four minutes later, Coronel sprawled to his left to push Jack McGlynn’s effort from beyond the penalty area wide of the target.
In the 44th minute, Union forward Chris Donovan failed to punish John Tolkin for his misplayed clearance when he headed the ball just over the bar from close range.
Rick reacted quickly at the near post to save Cameron Harper’s one-time effort off a low cross from the right side in the 53rd minute.
On the other end, Coronel made an exceptional save on Daniel Gazdag in the 56th minute.
For the visitors, Elias Manoel missed wide of the target on a sliding one-time effort in the 86th minute, and Dennis Gjengaar poked his shot from close range directly at Rick a minute later.
–Field Level Media
