With six regular-season matches remaining, Red Bull New York controls their playoff destiny.
Lately, the eighth-place Red Bulls have been in strong form, going 4-0-1 over their last five games. Keep in mind that one of those games was a 3-0 defeat to St. Louis CITY SC, where New York pressed on without 12 first-team players who were either away on international duty or injured.
Last Saturday’s 4-1 home victory over San Diego FC was proof that the Red Bulls can be a dangerous side when they’re at full strength.
Red Bull New York will look to continue their momentum on Wednesday against 12th-place D.C. United, who trail their Atlantic Cup foes by six points in a tight race for the final playoff seeds.
“We hope that it carries forward in a really good way,” Red Bull New York head coach Michael Bradley said during his prematch press conference. “That’s the plan. We spent a little bit of time going through the game and making sure the players can see and feel and understand all of the good things that went into it.
“When you get to this time of year, the hope is that you can put all of the work, all of the experiences, all of the qualities together in the best way and find a way to create real momentum and move forward as the games get really important.”
Bradley, Red Bulls Aware of Tai Baribo’s Dangerous Presence
Audi Field will host the 93rd all-time regular-season meeting between Red Bull New York and D.C. United.
Bradley outlined the threat posed by D.C. United forward Tai Baribo.
“They look forward quickly, they find moments of being more direct where they can use the qualities of a guy like Baribo and look up towards him and take advantage of his speed, his strength, his presence and try to create danger from that,” Bradley explained.
Baribo has scored 14 goals through 21 MLS matches in his first season with D.C. United.
Red Bull New York midfielder Ronald Donkor recorded two assists last time out against San Diego FC. His eight MLS assists are tied with Cade Cowell for the team lead.
Forward Julian Hall has scored in five of his last six matches for club and country.
Red Bull New York and D.C. United Lineup and Injury News Ahead of Wednesday’s Match
Red Bull New York added Red Bull New York II defender Connor Faello on short-term agreement ahead of tonight’s match.
After defender Devin Padelford cleared concussion protocol, there are no players listed on the MLS Player Availability Report ahead of Wednesday’s contest.
Padelford underwent concussion protocol late in the second half of Saturday’s win. On Monday afternoon, Bradley said that Padelford “is feeling 100 percent.”
Winger Cameron Harper wasn’t listed on the injury report, but he was held out of Saturday’s match, though he recently recovered from a hamstring injury. He could return to the matchday squad on Wednesday.
UPDATE: 6:30 PM ET:
Red Bull New York announced the following starting XI vs. D.C. United:
Horvath, Nealis (C), Bazán, Che, Padelford, Mehmeti, Donkor, Sofo, Ruvalcaba, Hall, Cowell
Subs: McCarthy, Choupo-Moting, Dos Santos, Faello, Forsberg, Harper, Kone, Marshall-Rutty, Mosquera
D.C. United will be without at least three players on Wednesday. Midfielder Hosei Kijima is dealing with a lower-body injury while Louis Munteanu and Gabe Segal are sidelined due to lower-leg injuries.
UPDATE: 6:50 PM ET:
D.C. United announced the following starting XI vs. Red Bull New York:
Johnson, Nono, Bartlett (C), Hefti, Kurokawa, Baribo, Rowles, Dozzell, Servania, Hopkins, Avilez
Subs: Bono, Peltola, Peglow, Stroud, Nealis, Ordaz, Markovic, Castillo, Turner
OUT: Hosei Kijima (lower body), Louis Munteanu (lower leg), Gabe Segal (lower leg)
Kickoff for Wednesday’s match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Chris Wittyngham will provide English play-by-play alongside match analyst Lori Lindsey. Sergio Ruiz will call Spanish play-by-play with Walter Roque joining him.
Matt Harmon will call the action on Red Bulls Radio starting with “Countdown to Kickoff” at 7 p.m. ET.
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