The Ryan Richter era of the Union begins with a win against rival Red Bull New York

After a 59-day break for the FIFA World Cup, the Union picked up their first home win of the season behind a 3-1 final over Eastern Conference rival Red Bull New York at Subaru Park on Wednesday night.

Milan Iloski opened the scoring for the Union (2-10-4, 10 points) in the ninth minute. Indiana Vassilev scored the second, and 6-foot-6 defender Neil Pierre scored off a pinpoint set-piece header in just his second career game for the first team.

Cade Cowell scored the lone goal for New York (6-6-4, 22 points) in the 38th minute.

In his return from six months at England’s Birmingham City, Kai Wagner was instrumental in creating Iloski’s goal and was credited with the assist on Pierre’s. Wagner took his familiar spot at left back five days after the Union announced his return to Chester.

The Union’s win over New York was their second win of the 2026 season, and their first league win at Subaru Park in 269 days. Before Wednesday, the Union’s most recent home MLS win was a playoff victory over Chicago Fire FC on Oct. 26, 2025.

It also marked a win in the first team debut as interim manager for Ryan Richter. Richter, the longtime Union assistant and former player earned the role after the club parted ways with Bradley Carnell in May.

“It’s a good way to start, but it’s one game,” Richter said. “But it is nice to get some positive momentum going in to the second half of the season.”

Quinn Sullivan made his return from a torn ACL, coming on for the first time in 10 months, to replace Vassilev in the 73rd minute. It was Sullivan’s first match since September, when he suffered the injury in a 6-0 win over D.C. United.

“I’m just really thankful for everyone involved and happy to be back out on the field,” Sullivan said of his return. “Hopefully [I will] get a little bit more sharp and not get pushed off the ball as much. But it was a good start tonight. I was happy with my performance.”

Wagner’s impact was felt before play started on Wednesday. He was welcomed with raucous cheers from Union fans during the introduction of the team’s starting 11.

Kai Wagner gets a loud welcome back to Subaru Park:

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In the ninth minute, Wagner sent a cross in from the left flank that Red Bull goalkeeper Ethan Horvath tried to catch out of midair.

Horvath collided with a New York defender inside the 18-yard box and spilled the ball to Iloski, who capitalized on the error with a right-footed blast to put the Union up, 1-0.

It was Iloski’s team-leading eighth goal of the season across all competitions.

Cowell pulled New York level with a goal in the 38th minute. Ronald Donkor made a run through the center of the Union defense before passing to Emil Forsberg near the top of the 18-yard box.

Forsberg laid the ball off to his right, sending Cowell in behind the Union’s defense. Cowell finished the chance with a right-footed shot that beat Andre Blake and tied the match at one.

The Union nearly reclaimed their advantage in the 44th minute, but Bruno Damiani was unable to finish a one-on-one chance against Horvath, who stopped the striker’s shot at close range.

Cavan Sullivan created the Union’s first chance after halftime, launching a curled shot from the right side of the 18-yard box that Horvath tipped onto his left post.

Blake made a crucial save in the 54th minute to keep the match even, coming up with a save against Julian Hall after the 18-year-old forward sped past Nathan Harriel.

Richter’s first substitution came in the 56th minute, when Pierre replaced Japhet Sery Larsen at center back. Pierre spent the first half of the 2026 season on loan at Danish club Lyngby.

Vassilev put the Union up, 2-1, with a goal in the 57th minute. Frankie Westfield played a cross to Vassliev from the right wing, and Vassilev tucked away the chance with a left-footed shot that snuck past Horvath.

It was Vassilev’s second goal of the MLS regular season.

As for Pierre, the 18-year-old homegrown player used all of his 6-6 frame to score his first goal with the Union from a corner in the 66th minute to give the Union a 3-1 lead.

Wagner whipped a cross toward the back post from the left corner flag, and Pierre rose above a crowd of Red Bull defenders to slam a header past Horvath. With his family watching on from the stands, Pierre called scoring his first goal for the Union “a dream come true.”

Richter made his final changes in the 85th minute, bringing Ezekiel Alladoh and Jesús Bueno on to replace Cavan Sullivan and Iloski.

The 3-1 score line held through nine minutes of stoppage time, and the Union broke an eight-game, 102-day winless streak.

“It’s so important for us to start this in the right way,” Richter said. “But, again, it’s one game. We turn around and play again in a couple days, and we have to approach with that same fighting spirit in the next game. But for the first game, for me, it was all positive.”

Up next …

The Union will return to Subaru Park to face the Seattle Sounders on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).

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