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For the second time this month the New York Red Bulls will face an opponent who is in their inaugural season in the MLS. The Portland Timbers have had a considerably better first season than the Vancouver Whitecaps and find themselves a point ahead of the Red Bulls, while sitting in the final spot for an MLS playoff berth. The Red Bulsl and Timbers meet at Red Bull Arena Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. ET (MSG).
After snapping their losing streak to Dallas on Sept. 17 the Red Bulls fell to Real Salt Lake, at Red Bull Arena, 3-1 on Sept. 20th. They now look to get back on track and continue to keep the playoff hopes alive in this clash of bubble teams.
Despite the fact DC United holds two games on both of these clubs, and an obvious advantage for the 10th seed, Portland currently sits in 10th meaning four of the Red Bulls remaining five contest are against teams currently in the playoff hunt. The last three games of the season are against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Sporting Kansas City (who will always be the Wizards to me), and Philadelphia Union all three games in which the Red Bulls will be steep underdogs. This game is just the first stepping stone to the Red Bulls doing the impossible to steal a playoff berth. Also make sure to be rooting hard for RSL tonight as they take on DC United also to start at 7:30.
Lone Match Up:
6/19/11: Portland 3, NYRB 3
Red Bulls Top Scorers:
- Thierry Henry- 12
- Luke Rodgers- 7
- Joel Lindpere- 7
- Juan Agudelo- 6
- Dane Richards- 5
- Jack Jewsbury- 7
- Jorge Perlaza- 6
- Kenny Cooper - 6
- Eric Brunner- 3
Prediction: Red Bulls 2, Timbers 1
Tune into the game at 7:30 p.m. ET on MSG+.