The Red Bulls’ possession game is alive and well, thanks to a solid bounceback performance from centerbacks Tim Ream and Carlos Mendes and the twin holding midfielders what has the look of a new 4-2-3-1 formation.

“I hope we can control the game(s),’’ said coach Hans Backe. “We need to do it, because if we get dragged into a physical (battle), we will not survive.’’

Thanks to the tandem of Teemu Tainio and Dax McCarty, the Red Bulls dominated 65.2 percent of the possession last night and won 31 duels to just 17 for Toronto. And McCarty said that’s the style they hope to play every game.

“The defenders are very comfortable with the ball. They don’t want to play it long; they try to find the midfielders and the midfielders like Teemu and myself, we can find the playmakers, Joel (Lindpere) and Thierry (Henry) and Dane (Richards) and Luke (Rodgers), who obviously were fantastic,’’ said McCarty. “That’s our job, keep the ball moving, keep possession and win the midfield battle every game.’’

*** Rodgers (plantar fasciitis) and right back Jan Gunnar Solli (hamstring) both played through injuries last night, but each said they came through fairly unscathed today and expected to be able to suit up against rival D.C. United Saturday (7:30 p.m., MSG).

*** Several Red Bulls climbed their way through the MLS leaderboards, including Henry topping both the Golden Boot race with nine goals and the latest Castrol Index for the third straight month with a 9.33, just 0.06 ahead of FC Dallas defender George John.

Eight Red Bulls outfield players are ranked in the top-100 (including Dwayne De Rosario, who played for the team in June).

Rodgers scored his sixth goal last night, and is now tied for sixth in MLS. Solli’s fifth and sixth assists left him tied for fourth in the league, with Joel Lindpere’s five tying him for 7th-best.

*** Backe said Tainio picking up a yellow card suspension may actually help the midfielder, because he can rest his injured groin for their July 16 road game at Chivas USA.

“Playing him Wednesday and Saturday is not good for that groin. It’s perhaps almost a blessing to get him treatment for four, five or six days and get him ready for Chivas USA,’’ said Backe, who has no intentions of playing his Finnish midfielder in Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal in Chicago. “No way: He’s resting.’’

Rodgers is on warning, and will be suspended after his next yellow card.

*** Chivas USA is also a possible target date for the return of Rafa Marquez, with the Mexican National Team stalwart expected to miss another “week or two” with a strained right hamstring suffered in the Gold Cup final win over the U.S.

*** But right back Chris Albright is still on pace to play Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup game at Chicago. Should the Red Bulls defeat the Fire, they will play an Aug. 30 semifinal either against Sporting Kansas City at Livestrong Sporting Park or at home against the USL Pro Richmond Kickers.