The MLS Playoffs are right around the corner. Right now the New York Red Bulls are first in the Eastern Conference with just two matches remaining. If the standings hold, the Red Bulls would have home field advantage throughout the Eastern Conference side of the bracket.
New York Red Bulls Playoff Preview. Possible Match ups and Analysis
Here is a look into the possible opponents for the Red Bulls.
New England Revolution
Current Position: seventh
Results vs RBNY:
4/1: 1-0 New England Win
8/8: 1-0 RBNY Win
This would be an interesting match up. The Revolution are currently three points behind the Philadelphia Union for the final playoff spot with two matches. While it is a tall task, it is not out of the the question for New England to meet the Red Bulls.
Both matches between the two sides this season were certainly less than pretty. The first match saw a Red Bulls defeat in the midst of the worst start to a season in club history. The second saw a very sloppy game won by New York as Bradley Wright-Phillips scored the lone goal in that match.
In the end, I feel Red Bulls would win this match up. New England just hasn’t really gelled as a team this year and they would be facing a New York team that is on fire right now.
Philadelphia Union
Current position: sixth
Results vs. RBNY
6/29: 2-1 Philly Win (U.S Open Cup)
7/17: 2-2 Draw
8/1: 3-2 RBNY Win
This is a pairing that could worry many Red Bulls fans. The Union are a team that has caused many problems for New York over the past two seasons. Knocking out the Red Bulls in the U.S Open Cup both last season and this one, as well as strong MLS League matches against New York, could cause some nerves should the Red Bulls meet Philly.
The matches this season all followed a similar pattern, Philly never goes away. The first meeting in the U.S Open Cup saw the Red Bulls take a 1-0 lead in Philly into halftime, before falling 2-1. The first MLS meeting between the two saw the Red Bulls go up 2-0 on the road, before conceding twice and dropping points on the road. While the third meeting was a win for New York, even when the Red Bulls went up Philly had a fight that could have easily snagged a different result had Philly gotten a bounce or two to go their way.
I would have to give the edge to Philadelphia on this one. Whatever strategy their coaching staff has concocted for the Red Bulls, it is working. While anything can happen in the playoffs, this is a match up the Red Bulls should hope to avoid.
D.C. United
Current Position: fifth
Results vs RBNY
5/13: 2-0 D.C. United Win
8/21: 2-2 Draw
9/11: 2-2 Draw
This is a match up that could go either way for the Red Bulls. In the past two post seasons, the Red Bulls have eliminated D.C. United. However, New York has struggled to pull out victories against D.C. Both draws this season saw the Red Bulls hold a 2-0 lead over D.C. The last meeting between the two was more of shock, as for the first time in the history of Red Bull Arena the Red Bulls failed to win a game when holding a two goal lead. They had previously won 45 straight matches at RBA when holding a two goal lead.
In the end, this matchup is too close to call. Taking away how the regular season went, these teams are bitter rivals. Combine the unpredictability of the playoffs with a 20+ year old rivalry, anything could happen.
Montreal Impact
Current Position: fourth
Results vs RBNY:
3/12: 3-0 Impact win
8/13: 3-1 RBNY win
9/24: 1-0 RBNY win
The Montreal Impact would be a team that the Red Bulls would like to see at some point in the postseason. Other than the first meeting, which was during the Red Bulls horrendous 1-6 start, New York has dominated the rest. In the latter two matches, Montreal’s big star Didier Drogba was held in check. The only man to score for the Impact in the latter two matches was Ignacio Piatti. A playoff meeting between these two would certainly give the edge to the Red Bulls.
Toronto FC:
Current Position: third
Results vs RBNY:
3/6: 2-0 Toronto Win
5/28: 3-0 RBNY Win
9/18: 3-3 Draw
This would prove to be quite the test for the Red Bulls. Each side has taken a win in the three matches they have played against each other. The third and final meeting was an absolute thriller seeing Toronto rally from two goals down twice.
The X factor in this possible meeting would be the health of Sebastian Giovinco. In the final two meetings, Giovinco was not a factor in either of them due to injury. The only game that saw Giovinco in the lineup for the full 90 minutes saw Toronto came away with the win. If Giovinco is at 100%, it could be a tough time for New York.
New York City FC
Current Position: 2nd
Results vs RBNY:
5/21: 7-0 RBNY Win
7/3: 2-0 NYCFC Win
7/24: 4-1 RBNY Win
New York City FC has seemingly beaten everybody this season, expect for the New York Red Bulls. While NYCFC has been on a tear in only their second season in MLS, they hold only one win in the six times they have met their neighbors from across the Hudson. In the three matches this season, the Red Bulls have outscored NYCFC 11-3, one of them including one of the most one-sided matches in MLS history when the Red Bulls dominated NYCFC 7-0.
The edge has to be to the Red Bulls in this match up. The Red Bulls have been the kryptonite of NYCFC. A meeting of these two would get the entire soccer world buzzing and it would certainly be nasty. These two teams do not like each other and their fan bases despise the other even more.
