Philadelphia Union have taken one point from their last four MLS matches, conceding 13 goals along the way, including a 4-6 collapse at Inter Miami. That kind of defensive chaos tends to overshadow individual brilliance, but it also creates a stage where a young playmaker can step up and change the conversation. Cavan Sullivan, the teenager who has drawn attention all season at Subaru Park, gets that chance when New York Red Bulls visit on July 22. René Weiler’s side badly needs a result, and Sullivan is the player most likely to provide the spark.
Cavan Sullivan’s recent form
Specific statistics for Sullivan in recent weeks are not available from the current data, but his consistent inclusion in Philadelphia’s matchday squad through a difficult run speaks to the trust Weiler places in him. The Union have drawn and lost in equal measure across their last five outings, a stretch that has included home draws against Columbus Crew and Nashville SC alongside three defeats. In that kind of environment, a technically gifted young midfielder either wilts or asserts himself.
Sullivan operates in a Philadelphia system that is pressing hard for goals right now, given how freely they have been shipping them at the other end. That attacking imperative suits a player of his profile. He is not being asked to sit deep and manage a lead; he is being asked to create and score in open, often chaotic games, which is as valuable a developmental environment as any teenager can get in MLS.
The tactical matchup
New York Red Bulls arrive at Subaru Park in decent shape, winning three of their last five including away wins at Sporting Kansas City and Chicago Fire. Their midfield spine, which features Emil Forsberg and Edson Alvarez-caliber control through players like Tolani Rosborough, will look to disrupt Philadelphia’s creative rhythm early. Sullivan will likely be asked to operate between the lines against a Red Bulls unit that tends to press aggressively in the opposition half, meaning he will need to be sharp on the turn and decisive in transition.
Philadelphia’s recent defensive numbers are a concern, but the flip side is that Red Bulls matches in this rivalry tend to open up. In five head-to-head meetings since 2024, only one has been a clean sheet for New York. The Union have scored in four of those five, which suggests Sullivan and his teammates will get opportunities if they can move the ball quickly through the press.
What’s at stake for him
Sullivan is at the stage of his career where narrative matters as much as numbers. A string of four winless league matches does not just damage a club’s standing; it raises questions about the players who are supposed to be the difference-makers. For a young player with the kind of hype that surrounds Sullivan in Philadelphia, this is the precise moment where stepping up earns the long-term reputation, and fading into the background confirms the doubters.
The Union’s record against Red Bulls at home is historically strong: six wins, one loss and three draws in ten all-time meetings, and a 2-0 home win in this fixture in July 2025. That history does not guarantee anything, but it gives Sullivan a context where his team has generally found its best version. Weiler needs a performance that stops the slide, and the young midfielder is as central to that as anyone in the squad.
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Our Prediction
Philadelphia’s defensive vulnerability makes this a genuinely open match, but Subaru Park has been unkind to Red Bulls historically and the Union’s attack still carries threat. A Sullivan contribution, whether a goal or a decisive assist, feels more likely in a high-tempo home environment than in the road losses that defined May. Expect a tight game that Philadelphia shades 2-1, with Sullivan providing at least one key moment that keeps the conversation about his development going in the right direction.
New York Red Bulls
Philadelphia Union
Cavan Sullivan