The New York Red Bulls have made the impossible, possible. After going thru this full season not knowing if they would reach the playoffs, have done so with an unbeaten streak of 11 games, with the last 12 of the season as they stamp their ticket to the MLS Cup Playoffs with a one-goal draw at Nashville.
Their lone tally came within the opening 35 seconds as Caden Clark sent a long ball towards the rushing Cristian Casserers Jr. along the near side, when he made the turn and cross to Fabio inside the Nashville area, the ball was brought down by his first touch, then bunted past Joe Willis for the opening goal.
All match long Fabio took advantage of the passing lanes and the open channels as he put himself into position to convert chances, but Willis was there to make the saves and keep his team in the match. Then in the 37th minute, it would be Hanny Mukhtar the leveled the score with a fabulous goal.
As Andres Reyes fouled his man just outside the Red Bulls Area, Mukhtar delivered a solid ball right at goal that deflected off the head of Fabio and hits the top shelf. That sent the home fans at Nissan Stadium into a frenzy. But all match long it was a battle royal, both sides looking strong and hungry to earn that second goal.
Some timely saves from Carlos Coronel to keep the ball out of the net, and after the entire 90 minutes was played, referee Drew Fisher blew his final whistle and it signaled that the New York Red Bulls who many thought they weren't going to make it to the postseason, have punched their ticket for the 12th consecutive season as a road trip down I-95 will come their way to take on the Philadelphia Union.
"Hello together and I think the feeling right now, the mood in the dressing room is on an outstanding level. I hope you understand that I will not go so much deeper in analysis in this game. 100% we deserve this point, we have in the second half, I think a lot of very good chances. In the end, the draw and the draw gives us one point and the point gives us the playoffs," said Gerhard Struber. "Yeah, 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. This was the goal over the whole season, and we realize this on the last game day, and the feeling is outstanding today. Yeah, with me and with my whole team, we will celebrate that and looking forward in the playoffs."
Some Rest Before Red Bulls Take On Playoffs
So now the club will take a week off to rest and relax, they will get Patryk Klimala back from suspension, and they will look at their first opponents in the opening round of the playoffs which are the Philadelphia Union down at Subaru Park. After all the negatives being thrown at them, the positive has finally come up big.
- Red Bulls Reunite Nealis Brothers - December 16, 2021
- John Wolyniec steps down as Red Bulls 2 head coach - December 10, 2021
- Red Bulls transfered and signed Carlos Coronel to three-year deal - December 6, 2021
