A month ago, the Red Bulls appeared destined to miss the playoffs, the biggest bust in MLS history. But after tonight’s 1-0 win over Philadelphia to close their regular-season clinched the postseason, they’ll go in playing their best soccer since the spring and dreaming of a darkhorse run to MLS Cup.
This $13 million roster underachieved for most of the year, a two-month winless skid over the summer leaving it in the predicament of needing a win or draw last night. But they’ve found their form at the right time, Dane Richards forcing an 8th-minute own goal and GK Frank Rost and the defense keeping a clean sheet.
In front of a crowd of 25,044 at Red Bull Arena _ their third straight sellout _ they sealed at least the fourth and final wild-card berth, and a road playoff tilt Wednesday or Thursday. The last two MLS Cup champs _ Real Salt Lake and Colorado _ were the last teams in; now the Red Bulls look to emulate history.
“We have one match away and if we win this match, then everything is possible,’’ said Rost. “The last years I think the teams that came late in the playoffs, they won the MLS Cup, ja? Maybe this year we are the team.’’
The Red Bulls (10-8-16 for 46 points) had to earn it the hard way, against their bitter rivals from down the Turnpike and sans superstar Thierry Henry.
With their captain and leading scorer suspended due to his ill-advised red card in Saturday’s loss at Kansas City, Richards got the start up top. Dax McCarty filled in for Richards on the right wing, and played right back Jan Gunnar Solli through on an overlapping run. The Norwegian sent in a perfect cross that the 5-foot-7 Richards headed off the left post and off keeper Faryd Mondragon’s back.
“Now is the best time to find form, to make a run for MLS Cup…Maybe do-or-die situations we step up, and that shows good team character,’’ said Richards. This week he’d said he wanted to score and lift the team into the playoffs as a hero, but admits he wouldn’t have believed it’d come off as header.
“I would’ve laughed at you. But things happen,’’ said Richards. “(All summer) we couldn’t score a goal, couldn’t get a point. But now we’re managing to get victories.’’
Beset by injuries and Gold Cup absences, the Red Bulls mustered just five points in an eight-game slump from July 9 through Sept. 10. But they’ve tightened up their heretofore-leaky defense _ largely by moving Rafa Marquez from centerback to central midfield _ and earned 13 points in their last seven.
“We’re kind of looked down upon this year instead of bring on top of the hill. I think it’s good for us, to come in and be in do-or-die situations. We seem to respond pretty well,’’ said centerback Tim Ream, who admits this team simply had to be pushed to the brink to respond.
“Yeah, I think so, as crappy as that sounds. We could’ve locked it up long ago. That’s frustrating as a player and as a team. But it says something about the team and what we can accomplish when our backs are against the wall. Everybody
Philadelphia (11-8-15, 48 pts) mustered little offense, striker Sebastien Le Toux shackled all night. Mondragon stoned Joel Lindpere in the 44th minute, and Luke Rodgers missed an open net off a rebound in the 60th, while the Union had a 67th-minute equalizer by Carlos Valdes _ caught ball-watching on the own goal _ waved off.
If the Red Bulls end as the fourth wild-card team, they would face the No. 1 wild card on the road Wednesday or Thursday. But Houston is also on 46 points, and if the Dynamo loses to Supporter’s Shield-winning Los Angeles Sunday at 7 p.m., the Red Bulls would edge them on goal differential and play at the No. 2 wild card. They could face Colorado, Real Salt Lake or Dallas.
Henry _ whose 14 goals are two one off the leaders in the Golden Boot race _ got himself suspended for an ill-advised red card in Saturday’s loss at Kansas City. But he’ll return rested for a playoff that seemed unlikely a month ago.
“This was a very big game for us to get into the playoffs,’’ said coach Hans Backe. “If you look at the last month, we’ve been on a nice run….It looks like we hopefully are closer to a peak when you go into the playoffs.’’
