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More than playoff berth at stake for Union

The Union are virtually in the Major League Soccer playoffs, with just one regular-season game remaining, but Sunday's 4 p.m. matchup with the New York Red Bulls at Talen Energy Stadium certainly has meaning.

The Union are virtually in the Major League Soccer playoffs, with just one regular-season game remaining, but Sunday's 4 p.m. matchup with the New York Red Bulls at Talen Energy Stadium certainly has meaning.

That's because the Union (11-13-9, 42 points) are desperately seeking momentum after a serious late-season slide.

The Union hold a 12-goal differential on New England in the second tiebreaker that might be needed to officially clinch one of the six Eastern Conference playoff berths.

So in reality, the Union will earn their second playoff berth in their seven-year history and will play a single-game elimination game either Wednesday or Thursday.

The Red Bulls are in a similar situation, having virtually clinched first place in the East Division, with a 13-goal differential on NYC FC. In addition, the Red Bulls can't clinch the Supporters' Shield for best regular season MLS record.

The Union are 0-4-2 in their last six games. They lacked energy, passion and urgency in Sunday's 2-0 loss to visiting Orlando City, a second-year franchise that had already been eliminated from playoff consideration.

The Union simply looked flat, which was surprising because they had been off since a 3-2 loss to the host Red Bulls on Oct. 1, in a game that had a true playoff feel to it.

"I probably won't use the word flat, but it was not one of our best games," keeper Andre Blake said about Sunday's performance. "It was, I think, one of our worst games of the season, if not the worst."

No argument here.

Blake said there could be something positive taken from that disappointing effort.

"I think it happened at the right time, so to speak in a sense, so we could get a wake-up call to realize from here on, it is going to be business and if we go out there and are not ready, then we will lose games, no matter what team we play," he said.

The Union players are determined to enter the playoffs on the right foot. There was a team meeting on Monday to discuss matters. A principle speaker was Alejandro Bedoya.

"When we're playing well, when we're on our game, we can compete with anybody in this league," Bedoya said.

Bedoya left the Oct. 1 game at Red Bull Arena with a rib injury. He said he still feels pain, but not enough to keep him from playing.

Both Bedoya and Blake said Sunday's game is extremely important for the Union to gain some needed momentum heading into the postseason.

Sunday, 4 p.m., at Talen Energy Stadium

TV: The Comcast Network.

Records: Red Bulls, 15-9-9/54 points; Union, 11-13-9/42 points.

Coaches: Red Bulls, Jesse Marsch (45-35-21); Union, Jim Curtin (27-33-21).

Goals against: Red Bulls 59; Union 52.

Goals against: Red Bulls 44; Union 53.

Most recent MLS game: The Red Bulls beat visiting Columbus, 3-2, on Sunday. The Union fell to Orlando City, 2-0, on Sunday at Talen Energy Stadium.

This year: The Red Bulls are 1-0-1 in MLS play against the Union. The teams played to a 1-1 draw on July 17 in a Union home game. The Red Bulls won, 3-2 at Red Bull Arena on Oct. 1. The Union also won 2-1 over the Red Bulls in a U.S. Open Cup game on June 29.

About the Red Bulls: New York has virtually clinched the No. 1 seed since it has a 13-goal differential in the second tiebreaker that could come into play over second place New York City FC. . . . The Red Bulls have clinched a first round bye. . . . New York can't win the Supporters' Shield for most regular season points. . . . Bradley Wright Phillips leads MLS with 23 goals. Midfielder Mike Grella has seven goals while midfielder Sacha Kljestan has six goals and leads MLS with 19 assists. . . . Keeper Luis Robles has appeared in all 33 games and has a 1.33 goals against average.

About the Union: The Union have virtually clinched a playoff berth, with a 12-goal differential lead over New England in the second tiebreaker, which could come into play. . . . Depending on Sunday's results, the Union will finish in either fifth or sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Union are 0-4-2 in their last six games. They have lost two consecutive games for the third time this season. . . . The status of forward C.J. Sapong, who suffered a concussion in Sunday's loss, is uncertain. Defender Josh Yaro, out since suffering a concussion Oct. 1 against the Red Bulls, also has an uncertain status. Chris Pontius, who leads the Union with 12 goals, suffered hamstring tightness last game, although coach Jim Curtin feels he can be available. . . . Keeper Andre Blake has a 1.55 goals-against average in 31 games.