Red Bulls host NYCFC, try to get back into playoff race
While a sizable distance separates New York City FC from the top spot in the Eastern Conference and creates a scramble for second, the New York Red Bulls are trying to climb back into playoff positioning.
The rivals will get a chance at improving their spot in the standings when NYCFC visit the Red Bulls on Saturday in Harrison, N.J., for the latest installment of the Hudson River Derby.
NYCFC (9-6-4, 31 points) sit 15 points behind the New England Revolution and are one point behind Nashville for second place. NYCFC also share the same point total with Philadelphia and Orlando City while sitting four points ahead of D.C. United and Montreal.
NYCFC are 6-11-2 all time in the Hudson River Derby but enter this meeting 4-1-2 in their past seven matches since consecutive 2-1 setbacks to Montreal and Columbus July 7 and 17, respectively.
NYCFC scored 10 of their 34 goals in a three-match stretch from July 21-30 but have scored five times in the past four. They are coming off a 1-0 loss on Wednesday in Philadelphia when goalkeeper Sean Johnson got beat off a header in the 67th minute.
Wednesday also continued NYCFC's recent road woes and dropped them to 0-3-2 away from home since a 2-1 win over Los Angeles FC on May 29.
In Philadelphia, NYCFC took 15 shots, but only two were on target.
"It's a good performance in many ways, but they defended the box really well, and that's why we couldn't win the game," NYCFC coach Ronny Deila said.
The Red Bulls (6-9-4, 22 points) enter this weekend in 10th place and five points out of the final playoff spot. New York has made the playoffs in 11 straight seasons and is looking to climb out of its deficit.
The Red Bulls are playing the second of four straight home games and hope Saturday's game goes as well as Wednesday's 1-0 win over Columbus. Coming off consecutive 2-1 losses at Chicago and Montreal, the Red Bulls on Wednesday got a goal from John Tolkin in the 33rd minute and the sixth shutout of the season by goalkeeper Carlos Coronel after suffering four one-goal losses in a seven-game winless streak (0-4-3).
"We have been playing pretty well, but we just weren't getting the results," Coronel said. "Now we have four games at home, and I think playing in our stadium with our fans, we'll give a great game (against NYCFC). We have everything to change our situation."
The Red Bulls are on a three-game home winning streak over their rival and have outscored NYCFC 7-1 in those contests.
--Field Level Media
