The New York Red Bulls and New York City FC find themselves amid a crowded Eastern Conference race and hoping to create some separation from their competitors.
Each team is in position to secure a playoff spot on Saturday night when the Red Bulls host NYCFC on Saturday night in the “Hudson River Derby” in Harrison, N.J.
The Red Bulls (10-6-14, 44 points) can finish no higher than fourth but hold a one-point lead over Orlando City and a three-point edge on Charlotte and NYCFC.
The Red Bulls can clinch a league-record 15th straight postseason with a win at home, where they are 7-1-7. They are in position for the postseason despite rarely winning of late. They enter with a five-game winless skid (0-2-3) and one win — 3-1 over visiting FC Cincinnati on July 20 — in their past 10 matches (1-2-7).
The Red Bulls took their league-leading 14th draw with a wild finish in last Saturday’s 2-2 outcome against visiting Atlanta. Elias Manoel scored seven minutes into stoppage time after missing a penalty kick in the 87th minute shortly before the Red Bulls allowed Atlanta’s second goal.
“It’s not so easy to come back when you concede the second goal, and to see the mentality at the end,” Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz said. “We can also score the third goal (to get) three points. I’m proud of this mentality, of this behavior, from the whole team today.”
Seventh-place NYCFC (11-11-8, 41 points) are five points ahead of Toronto and Philadelphia but need a win and some help to clinch a playoff spot.
NYCFC are in position despite not getting a win since July 3. Since beating Montreal 2-0 on that date, NYCFC are 0-3-6 in their nine league matches. They are 0-4-4 in eight league road matches since May 25.
NYCFC avoided a second straight loss last week when James Sands scored on a header in stoppage time in a 1-1 tie with visiting Inter Miami. However, NYCFC will be forced to play without midfielder Santiago Rodriguez due to a suspension.
“I’m happy with the goal,” Sands said. “But I’m more happy with what it means to the team. It’s tough when you play Miami, so to get something from the game where we fought hard, I think, hopefully, it can push us for the last couple of games.”
–Field Level Media