The New York Red Bulls pulled off the upset and snatched game one on the road against the second-seeded Columbus Crew. The 1-0 win put New York ahead in the best-of-three series of the 2024 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. After just a week since heartbreakingly losing to Columbus on Decision Day, the Red Bulls got their revenge.
Head coach Sandro Schwarz spoke briefly about the match.
“It was a tough game today and I would say that we defended very well most of the time, that we found a good switch to be aggressive in our pressing,” Schwarz said. “To find the right moment. This is the main part when we are looking at the difference to the game last week. To find the right moment for our pressing, and not only to stay in a deep block. We had some moments where we defended deep, but all together. That’s the key. When you play against such a good team, especially in ball position, then it’s the key that you have to do everything against the ball together.”
Captain Emil Forsberg spoke in the week leading up to the match about how the club was going into Lower.com Field confident in playing and winning. The Red Bulls earned the first upset of this year’s playoffs as a seven-seed beating a two-seed. Although Columbus dominated in the possession game with 73.3%, New York created chances when it mattered and forced the opponent to make mistakes. The match’s lone goal came in the 25th minute off of a Red Bull corner kick. Forsberg sent it in from the left side which found Lewis Morgan for a header that found its way to Felipe Carballo for a perfect volley into the net. This was Carballo’s first MLS goal after the Uruguayan was acquired late in the season and seemed to be the perfect time for it.
In the remaining 75 minutes New York seemed to park the bus, protecting the lead and playing a more defensive game than adding to the lead. The club only had three shots on goal compared to the Crew’s eight.
Goalkeeper Carlos Coronel put on a display saving all eight shots on goal and earning himself a playoff clean sheet. This performance tied Coronel’s career best in saves as well as the second-most saves in a playoff match in club history.
“It was definitely a great week, like I said,” Coronel told the media. “I prepared myself. I know I was not in my best form before the playoffs, and this week, I worked very hard. Also, this was the key for me to help my team today. I’m very happy with my performance, but we know that this is only the first step. We have another big game on Sunday, and we must prepare for that.”
The Red Bulls will head back to Harrison, New Jersey for game two where they will look to finish the series in front of their fans. Schwarz and the whole team expect a big turnout from fans to help New York close out the series and move on to the next round.
“We analyzed our last game in the regular season against them and what we needed, Schwarz said. “So, this was today, a good game, a good reaction, but now we must prepare very seriously tomorrow. We have our recovery training, then we analyze the opponent as well for Sunday, and then we must repeat it. But what I can say is we need everyone in our stadium, everyone in our stadium to support the whole team, because it’s a big opportunity.”
Game two will be at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 4:30 pm ET.
