Red Bull clinched for MLS playoffs
Since early August and coming out New York seemed to have fallen into an unexplainable funk. Red Bulls finally got themselves something to smile about, with a 3-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, the victory at Red Bull Arena clinched New York a spot in the MLS playoffs.
With a six-game winning streak in June and July, everything seemed to be going New York’s way only a few months ago. However, New York’s fortunes completely changed. After defeating F.C. Cincinatti on Aug. 15, the Red Bulls failed to win a game for eight straight matches, the third longest winless streak in club history.
New York ended that streak with a victory on Saturday, nearly two months after the team’s last win in MLS play.
Going into Saturday’s match, the Red Bulls sat in sixth place in the MLS Eastern Conference, the last playoff spot available, and needed just one win in its last three games to secure a seat in the post season.
In New York’s way on Saturday stood Vancouver, ranked first in the Western Conference and holding high hopes heading into the playoffs. However, with a dominant performance from start to finish, and with goals from Daniel Royer, Bradley Wright-Phillips, and Felipe, New York delivered.
With the post season right around the corner now and a frustrating run of results finally ending, Saturday’s win will feel like much more than just three points for the Red Bulls.
“Yeah, it’s a good feeling, because there’s been times where our players deserved to win, but stupid mistakes have cost us, and today we cut that out and we got the win,” Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips said. “This is what it should’ve looked like weeks ago, and hopefully we’ve turned this point.”
Having clinched a spot in the playoffs, New York can finally calm its nerves, at least for the moment, and look ahead to the post-season.
What New York absolutely cannot do, however, is take a break. The Red Bulls have to try to win both of their remaining two matches to give themselves a chance of finishing higher in the standings.
“It’s good in terms of releasing some anxiety about making the playoffs, but the key for us will be to continue to have urgency and hunger to improve and play in meaningful matches because, once playoffs come, you know, now it’s do or die time,” Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch said.
Finishing in sixth place would guarantee Marsch’s team a playoff spot, but it would also signify that New York would have to play in a Wild Card match, away, against the team that finishes third in the East (most likely to be Atlanta United).
Avoiding sixth place will not be easy for the Red Bulls, though. Sitting four points behind the fifth-place Columbus Crew, New York has to win both of its remaining games and also hope for an unlikely slip up from Columbus.
Nevertheless, with Saturday’s win, Marsch and his team now only have to worry about what is in front of them. Despite going into the playoffs off of one of their most disappointing seasons in recent years, the Red Bulls can embrace their role as the underdog this time around as they look to take home their first ever MLS Cup trophy.
“I think the last couple of seasons we’ve won the Supporters Shield and then, you know, going into the playoffs, not really achieved what we wanted to achieve,” Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams said.
“Now, you know, we’re coming in most likely as the sixth seed as we enter the playoffs, and we’re looking to make a real run at it. I don’t think it matters the position you enter the playoffs in.”
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