With a 1-0 win in its Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup against the New York Red Bulls, the Impact wants to finish the job this Sunday at 4pm at Red Bull Arena (RDS, TSN, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). Here are 10 things to know on the Red Bulls ahead of the return leg.
Context
For the first time since the early days of the summer, the Red Bulls are looking to rebound after a defeat. The Impact snapped their 20-game unbeaten streak in all competitions with a 1-0 win in the opening leg of this Eastern Conference Semifinal, last Sunday. Matteo Mancosu broke the deadlock for Montreal with a splendid half-volley at the hour mark at Stade Saputo. The Red Bulls now return to their New Jersey home, where they’ve gotten great results this season – with a caveat: they’ve conceded two goals in three of their last four home games against MLS opposition. Something similar happens this Sunday, and they would have to score four to make it to the Conference Championship.
Scenarios
<strong>NY/MTL</strong> |
<strong>0</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<strong>0</strong> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<p>ET*</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<p>NY</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<p>NY</p> |
<p>NY</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<p>NY</p> |
<p>NY</p> |
<p>NY</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
<p>MTL</p> |
*Two 15-minute extra time periods to be played in their entirety, followed by penalty shootout if aggregate score remains 1-1.
New York Red Bulls in the playoffs
1996: Eastern Conference semifinalist, defeated by D.C. United
1997: did not make playoffs
1998: Eastern Conference semifinalist, defeated by Columbus Crew SC
1999: did not make playoffs
2000: MLS semifinalist, defeated by the Chicago Fire
2001: MLS quarterfinalist, defeated by the LA Galaxy
2002: did not make playoffs
2003: Eastern Conference semifinalist, defeated by the New England Revolution
2004: Eastern Conference semifinalist, defeated by D.C. United
2005: Eastern Conference semifinalist, defeated by the New England Revolution
2006: Eastern Conference semifinalist, defeated by D.C. United
2007: Eastern Conference semifinalist, defeated by the New England Revolution
2008: MLS Cup runner-up, defeated by Columbus Crew SC
2009: did not make playoffs
2010: Eastern Conference semifinalist, defeated by the San Jose Earthquakes
2011: Western Conference semifinalist, defeated by the LA Galaxy
2012: Eastern Conference semifinalist, defeated by D.C. United
2013: Eastern Conference semifinalist, defeated by the Houston Dynamo
2014: Eastern Conference finalist, defeated by the New England Revolution
2015: Eastern Conference finalist, defeated by Columbus Crew SC
Current form (MLS and CONCACAF Champions League)
W-D-W-W-W-L
Head coach
Jesse Marsch (34-19-15 as Red Bulls head coach, 46-35-21 all-time; 3-2-0 in MLS Cup Playoffs) 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.
Top scorer
Bradley Wright-Phillips (24)
Players to watch
1. Sacha Kljestan (#16) – The Impact shut down the Red Bulls’ playmaker in the home leg. Kljestan was unable to deliver those killer passes that tormented MLS all season long.
2. Aurélien Collin (#78) – While he does provide an important passing option at the back, Collin can get caught when an opponent (say, Marco Donadel) gets a swift transition going.
3. Chris Duvall (#25) – The right back worked hard in front of Nacho Piatti and Ambroise Oyongo at Stade Saputo. Will he leave some crucial spaces behind him at Red Bull Arena?
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 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 more than a third of their goals on set pieces, with a soft spot for corner kicks. They may be efficient down the middle, but the Red Bulls also manage to exploit the flanks, especially Muyl’s. 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 – but they’re starting to make opponents pay when they leave space behind.
Tactical formation
The Red Bulls are faithful to their 4-2-3-1, which generally does not let them down. Lineup v. Montreal (October 30): Robles; Duvall, Collin, Perrinelle, Lawrence; Felipe, McCarty; Muyl, Kljestan, Grella; B. Wright-Phillips.
Injuries, absences and call-ups (as of November 1)
D Gideon Baah (tibia)
D Connor Lade (anterior cruciate ligament)
D Kemar Lawrence (hamstring – should be available)
D Ronald Zubar (groin)
M Omer Damari (suspended)
