After weeks where it seemed the New York Red Bulls have played themselves right out of the MLS Playoffs they now find themselves in position to strengthen their playoff seeding. Due to some timely bad play from the teams around them the Red Bulls, who have a game in hand on the first place Philadelphia Union, can move themselves into 2nd in the Eastern Conference with a win Saturday afternoon, 4 p.m. ET start. A win against Sporting Kansas City would set up a potential winner gets first place meeting between New York and Philadelphia Thursday night.
Kansas City also has a shot at first place if they win this game as they currently stand two points ahead of the Red Bulls in the standings. As close as the teams are this season their all time head to head is even closer. Of the forty-two all time matches between the two clubs Sporting has 17 wins, the Red Bulls have 16, and they have tied 9 times. Even more unreal is the fact the two teams have both scored 54 goals in their forty-two games. With both teams battling for a better playoff seed I expect this to be a gritty match where both teams play cautious waiting for the other to make the big mistake.
Past 3 Head-to-Head:
- 8/30/10: SKC 0 NYRB 3
- 10/02/10: NYRB 1 SKC 0
- 04/30/11: NYRB 1 SKC 0
Red Bulls Top Scorers:
Sporting KC Top Scorers: