By Billy Wood
The New York Red Bulls were able to make it to their 12th Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup playoffs. After a rollercoaster of seven months and 34 games later, they were able to achieve the playoff spot on Sunday afternoon.
They played their final game of the season away against Nashville SC at the Nissan Stadium. The Red Bulls got on the scoresheet in 38 seconds with a goal from Fábio Roberto Gomes Netto. Nashville was able to equalize with a goal from Hany Mukhtar in the 37th minute.
Both teams would continue attacking as the Red Bulls would have five shots on target out of 14. Nashville would have four shots on target out of 11. In the end, both teams would settle with a 1-1 draw and a vital point that would see the Red Bulls get the last playoff spot. They would finish seventh place in the Eastern Conference just one point ahead of DC United and Columbus.
“I am very happy, and I am very proud of the way we go with this season, and right now, we stay in the playoffs,” said Red Bulls Head Coach Gerhard Struber.
Many believed that the Red Bulls wouldn’t be able to make it to the playoffs because they started the season with a 1-8-2 record. After suffering an away 2-1 loss to Columbus in September, they were able to go on an eight-game undefeated run. In their last three games, they were able to land five points out of a possible nine to get into the playoffs. On Twitter, the Red Bulls Captain Sean Davis said, “They said it couldn’t be done and we stuck together and went on an unbelievable run.”
The Red Bulls will now face the Philadelphia Union in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs. A date and time have not been announced as of press time. They have played each other three times with two draws and one win for Philly.
When these two teams played during the regular season, the games were heated. There have been two red cards throughout the games, and with a place for the Eastern Conference semifinals at stake, it can only get more intense.
“It is up to us to make it more memorable and again, do well in the playoffs and see how far we can take this because it is a special group,” Davis said. “I think we can really go for the MLS Cup.”