The New York Red Bulls will begin their Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoff Run facing off against the current defending champions, the Columbus Crew. New York did what they do best: make the playoffs, with this year being their 15th consecutive playoff appearance, the longest streak in MLS history, and the longest active streak in North American men’s professional sports.
Although the Red Bulls got off to a hot start at the beginning of the season, things started to trickle down due to injuries and losing players on international leave. The club finished the season in 7th place in the Eastern Conference and earned 47 points. This season, New York only earned four more points and one spot higher in the standings than last year.
New York will head to Lower.com Field in Columbus for their first match in a best-of-three series against the Crew. These two clubs recently faced off against each other on October 19th for Decision Day at Red Bull Arena. Columbus was able to pull away with the win after a last-minute goal from Malte Amundsen to end it 3-2.
Looking at the history and stats between these two clubs, Columbus has the edge with an overall record of 40-35-14 against New York. The Crew are also undefeated when facing the Red Bulls in the playoffs in Ohio holding the advantage at home.
This will be Red Bulls captain Emil Forsberg’s first MLS Playoff appearance as well as head coach Sandro Schwarz who are both eager to get this club out of the first round.
“Now it’s our job to be ready for the first game in Columbus,” Schwarz said. “New competition. All the guys told me, it was my first experience with these playoffs but all the guys told me, ‘Okay, it’s now a new competition.’ That’s good. Now the competition is against a good team, but I’m sure, and Columbus knows as well, that they know, okay, we are also a good team, a strong team when we showed our whole quality on the pitch.”
With a win in Columbus on Tuesday night, the Red Bulls would have the chance to advance themselves in front of their home crowd for the second game of the series.
“I mean, it’s a team that likes to have the ball and likes to play, but they also make mistakes, as we could see if we can be a little bit clearer on the ball, good in those situations to create even more chances,” Forsberg said. “I think we can hurt them more. Of course, it’s a good team. But we’re a good team as well so I’m confident, I’m going to Columbus confident.”
The Red Bulls 2024 playoff run will begin Tuesday, October 29th at 6:45 pm in Columbus, OH.
