This Saturday at 7pm in Harrison, New Jersey, the Impact takes on the New York Red Bulls for the last time of the regular season. Here are 10 things to know about the residents of Red Bull Arena.
Context
After a rough start – six losses in seven games –, the Red Bulls found their groove, dropping only five of the following 24 points available. New York is now unbeaten in 15 games in all competitions and only trail Eastern Conference leaders Toronto FC by two points – though TFC does have a game in hand. But there is reason for concern in how head coach Jesse Marsch’s team can get caught late on: the Red Bulls have recorded eight ties during this stretch, five of which saw them blow a two-goal lead – most recently last Sunday in Toronto (from 1-3 to 3-3). New York can be happy, however, with forward Bradley Wright-Phillips tallying 20 goals in two different seasons – a first in MLS.
Current form (MLS and CONCACAF Champions League)
D-W-W-D-W-D
Head coach
Jesse Marsch (30-19-15 as Red Bulls head coach, 42-35-21 all-time) has been New York Red Bulls head coach since Jan. 7, 2015. He won the 2015 MLS Coach of the Year award after leading the club to its second-ever Supporters’ Shield and to the Eastern Conference Final. Marsch became a coach after a 14-season playing career that started with D.C. United picking him up in the third round of the 1996 MLS College Draft and ended with a trophy haul of three MLS Cups, two Supporters’ Shield and four U.S. Open Cups.
Current top scorer
Bradley Wright-Phillips (20)
Players to watch
1. Sacha Kljestan (#16) – No one has provided more assists in MLS than the former Anderlecht and Chivas USA man.
2. Alex Muyl (#19) – This tireless winger works extremely hard on the defensive side and contributes well to the attack.
3. Sean Davis (#27) – While Dax McCarty was away from the starting XI (will that change on Saturday?), this young man won his spot next to Felipe with a series of brilliant outings, including goals in successive games against Los Angeles and Montreal.
Team profile
The Red Bulls want to play in the opposition’s half. They love having the ball, even on the road. Their midfield mainstays, Kljestan, Felipe and Davis/McCarty, enjoy moving the ball quickly with short passes, but will play a more direct ball into space. The aim is to play forward as much as possible, which can translate into costly lost balls or clear chances down the middle. This is the gamble that the Red Bulls are prepared to take. These situations can release the wingers, who enjoy cutting inside (especially Grella), or centre forward Wright-Philips. BWP is also useful in the air, in transition and on set plays, one of New York’s favourite weapons; they have scored nearly half of their goals on set pieces, with a soft spot for corner kicks. (This being said, the Red Bulls’ production on set plays has slowed down in recent weeks, while they have been conceding more on defensive dead balls than at any point this season.) They may be efficient down the middle, but the Red Bulls also manage to exploit the flanks, especially Grella’s, as this undisputed starter brings stability on that side. However, his penchant for the goal makes his flank more vulnerable than the one defended by right back Duvall, particularly on crosses. Defensively, the Red Bulls’ play has followed their season’s trends. With six early losses, they had to commit numbers forward to try and mount comebacks, which allowed the opposition to punish them on the counter. Conversely, now that they have returned to form, they are more likely to concede when the opponent is pushing the game into their half. On the flip side, the Red Bulls defend set plays quite well – but they’ve started to make opponents pay in transition when they commit numbers forward.
Tactical formation
The Red Bulls are faithful to their 4-2-3-1, which hasn’t let them down. Lineup v. Toronto (September 18): Robles; Duvall, Collin, Perrinelle, Lawrence; Felipe, Davis; Muyl, Kljestan, Royer; B. Wright-Phillips.
Most recent games against the Impact
After two nights to forget against the Red Bulls in 2015, the Montreal Impact turned the tide on March 12 with a 3-0 win against the Red Bulls at the Olympic Stadium. But the Bleu-blanc-noir wasn’t so successful on August 13 at Red Bull Arena; after Ignacio Piatti opened the scoring, New York replied with a Bradley Wright-Phillips brace and an insurance goal from Sean Davis – but let’s not forget about Ambroise Oyongo’s harsh sending off and a forgotten penalty kick call on Didier Drogba.
Injuries, absences and call-ups (as of August 11)
D Gideon Baah (tibia)
D Connor Lade (anterior cruciate ligament)
D Ronald Zubar (groin)
F Omer Damari (abdomen)
Next games
Antigua v. New York Red Bulls (CCL, September 27)
New York Red Bulls v. Philadelphia Union (MLS, October 1)
New York Red Bulls v. Columbus Crew SC (MLS, October 16)
