When you thought the New York Red Bulls were going to put all their eggs into one basket against Atlanta United in the last game to win and your in, well no one expected the opposition to bunker in and hold off the Red Bulls and force them to push the celebrations back to the final day of the regular season.
But here we are at Decision Day which will be held down in Music City, USA as the Red Bulls make their very first visit to Nissan Stadium to face Nashville SC for the right to make the playoffs. The scenarios are really simple, Any form of points for a win or a draw will stamp their ticket to the playoffs.
But if they lose, they must get help by Montreal losing or drawing versus Orlando, DC losing or drawing versus Toronto and Columbus losing or drawing Vs. Chicago or this scenario, Montreal loses or draws Orlando, DC Lose or Draw versus Toronto and the Red Bulls have a better goal difference than the Crew if they win.
Playoff Scenarios For MLS and Red Bulls
The Red Bulls can still get a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference and host a playoff game with they defeat Nashville and get losses from NYCFC, Atlanta and Orlando loses or ties their opponents & having a better goal difference than NYCFC should they win their final match.
There is plenty to digest here, but the most important moment for the Red Bulls is to win the game and allow the other matches to fall into place, but this won't be an easy game for them, as Nashville wants to keep a perfect record at home as they haven't lost a single game this season.
We all know how tough their roster is with former Red Bulls players Dax McCarty and Alex Muyl having played all year long, but nothing describes the fight and claw from their most dangerous striker in Hanny Mukhtar as he continues to run rough shot all over the pitch. Converting 15 goals and assisting 12 times for Nashville shows how good he really is.
Gary Smith's side is going to be a very tough opponent for these Red Bulls and no matter who is on the pitch, Smith's tactics & formations, this MLS Cup-winning head coach from his time with the Colorado Rapids is trying to get Nashville to that level once again.'
"I have a big trust in my roster. I believe in my starting 11 and my boys. Hanny Mukhtar is very important for that team, He grew up with his own style with Nashville. He's always good with set pieces and is always dangerous near the goal," said Gerhard Struber. "It's very, very important to face a tough side like this. We need to be in very good positioning also a clear understanding in our defense and structure when we go against the ball.
"I have a big trust and believe in our defensive structure I think this can also be a big key for our necessary points in Nashville. WE need to create big moments for us and during transition moments. We have a clear idea against them, and at the end, we have some clear keys to our game plan."
This will be a huge moment for this group as they can make a big push to punch tier ticket to the playoffs, then hope certain situations fall in their favor to try and host a playoff match, but until then, the goal is to have a solid 90-minute performance and then worry about the situations they can't control. But as always everything will be done at the same time on the final day of the regular season.
- 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
