HARRISON – The New York Red Bulls (12-13-7) close their home slate Saturday against Supporters’ Shield hopeful FC Cincinnati (18-9-5). The clubs will meet for the first time since February 22 when “The Orange and Blue” handed New York a 1-0 loss in Cincinnati.
For 15 straight years, the Red Bulls have reached the playoffs and brought many memorable moments to their supporters. Their streak, in recent memory, was on par with other notable North American sports teams like the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
Now though, the reigning World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, are responsible for the longest active postseason streak in North American sports. Why is that you may ask? Thanks to Chicago Fire FC beating and clinching a playoff spot vs Inter Miami CF Tuesday, the Red Bulls have been eliminated from playoff contention.
While most of New York celebrates the Yankees defeating the Boston Red Sox in the MLB Wildcard round, others are quietly depressed about the Red Bulls. With two matches remaining now in the season, most fans see nothing to play for at this point. Factor in that Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew are playoff bound clubs, it’s hard to imagine New York can earn a win in either contest.
However, Red Bulls manager Sandro Schwarz made it clear to the press on Thursday there’s still a lot on the line. Even with the playoffs no longer being obtainable, New York is trying to beat their mark of 47 points from last season.
“This year we have, right now, with two games to go 43 points, it makes sense for us to have this goal to reach out more points than last season,” Schwarz said Thursday.
Still, the results of the season are still disappointing for the Red Bulls. Coming off a run to the MLS Cup last season, the Red Bulls expected more and got nothing in the process. Captain Emil Forsberg shared his and the club’s disappointment on Thursday with the press.
“It’s been [a] big disappointment in the team of course, not making the playoffs,” Forsberg told the media. “I think it’s a big disappointment for us and in that way we have to show a reaction in those two games coming up, even though it’s not about nothing it’s about pride, it’s about our fans, about every supporter, for ourselves to show how disappointed we are at ourselves, enough to win these games.”
Forsberg did reflect on the points mark and if eclipsing last season’s total would make the season a little better.
“I think it’s a motivation for us to go for, to strive for, to keep the energy up, to keep our motivation up to win those two games because we have the capability to win those two games.”
Onto Cincinnati now, they have been excellent all season. Thanks to one Major League Soccer’s (MLS) best players, Evander, the club has been a contender for the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup all season. Since coming over in a strange trade from the Portland Timbers in February, the midfielder has registered an amazing 17 goals and 14 assists for his club.
Cincinnati has also been one of the league’s best road squads with 28 MLS away wins since 2023. But even with Cincinnati’s impressive record, the Red Bulls have tilted with the league’s best at home this season. Fans will recall New York’s great home victory vs the likely Supporters’ Shield claimers, the Philadelphia Union, on August 16.
It’s not likely, but a win vs a top two club in MLS could ease the pain for a club that has been feeling it all week.
Kickoff for Saturday’s match is set for 7:30 p.m. on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
