MLS New York Red Bulls

MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals Preview

Published on October 28, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls News Release


The New York Red Bulls will look to win their first MLS Cup after qualifying for the postseason for the 10th time in 11 seasons. Led by MLS Coach of the Year candidate Mike Petke, captain Thierry Henry (10 goals, 9 assists) and Australian international Tim Cahill (11 goals, 5 assists), the Red Bulls won their first Supporters' Shield following a comprehensive 5-2 win over the Chicago Fire in front of a sold out crowd of 25,219 at Red Bull Arena in their regular season finale.

By virtue of winning the Shield - given to the team with the most points in the regular season - New York (17-9-8, 59 points):

- Won the Eastern Conference regular season title for the third time (2000, 2010, 2013).

- Earned the top overall seed in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs and would host the MLS Cup Final on Dec. 7 at Red Bull Arena at 4:30 PM ET they advanced to that stage.

- Earned a spot in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League

New York will face either the fourth-seeded Houston Dynamo (14-11-9, 51 pts.) or the fifth-seeded Montreal Impact (14-13-7, 49 pts.) in a two-leg, home-and-home aggregate goal series. In the conference semifinals, the team that scores the most goals in the two legs would advance to the Eastern Conference Final and would take on the winner of the Sporting Kansas City-New England Revolution series.

The Red Bulls were perfect against the Dynamo this season, posting a 3-0-0 record. New York defeated Houston 2-0 at Red Bull Arena on June 30 and 4-1 (Sept. 8) and 3-0 (Oct. 20) at BBVA Compass Stadium. All-time, the Red Bulls are 8-3-7 versus the Dynamo and won the only postseason series between the sides in the 2008 Conference Semifinals. Following a 1-1 tie at Giants Stadium on Nov. 1, 2008, the Red Bulls rolled 3-0 at Robertson Stadium a week later in the year that the club made its sole MLS Cup Final appearance

New York was 2-1-0 versus Montreal this season, falling 1-0 at Olympic Stadium on March 23 and defeating the Canadian side 2-1 (May 8) and 4-0 (July 13) at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls are 4-2-0 all-time against the second-year MLS club and have never faced them in the playoffs.

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