D.C. United’s 1-0 loss to the Columbus Crew on Sunday evening has helped the New York Red Bulls back into the MLS playoffs, meaning the club is in the post-season for the sixth straight season.
Few could have imagined such luck after the beating the Red Bulls took from Chicago on Thursday, but D.C. United hit the woodwork four times and lost a game it dominated for stretches. I’m not sure what witch doctor Juan Carlos Osorio hired, but they were worth every penny to the Red Bulls.
Now the Red Bulls are alive in the playoffs (the Western Conference playoffs to be exact), but the reward is a date against the defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo. Nobody will give the Red Bulls much of a chance, nor should they, but Osorio will gladly accept the second life.
Not that he needs to be told but Osorio will probably be reminded a million times this week that he better not think about playing Gabriel Cichero or Juan Pietravallo. I think it’s safe to say he’s aware.
The Red Bulls will now play host to the Houston Dynamo in game one of their two-game playoff series on Saturday. Game two is set for Sunday, Nov. 9 at Robertson Stadium in Houston.
Those wondering about the regular season series should know that Houston and the Red Bulls split their series, 1-1, with each team winning the home game. The Red Bulls topped the Dynamo, 3-0, at Giants Stadium on Aug. 24. They lost in Houston, 1-0, on May 31st.
What do you think of this development? Stunned to think the Red Bulls are in the playoffs? Have hope that they can make some noise in the post-season? Think they are doomed to be embarrassed by Houston?
Share your thoughts on the Red Bulls’ playoff qualification below.
C’mon Red Bulls, and dish out some Texas schadenfreude for your bovine cousins in Frisco.
Well. he we go again…… hope we can pass Houston…… lets pray all together…….
Osorio start already his prays
Is Cichero that bad. He’s made some bad decisions sure, but with Parke out I’d like to see Leitch Jiminez Cichero Goldthwaite. And for the love of God two forwards – Angel and Kandji.
—–Angel—Kanji—–
DVDB—–Magee—-Richards
——–Stammler———
Goldy-Jimenez-Boyens-Leitch
———Cepero———–
Although, I do like Hugo’s lineup above…might as well attack them all night with speed
You have to figure Houston will stick to what has worked for them: keeping possession on offense and pressing the other team on defense. RBNY need to score on a counter attack to break them down
I am hoping that Osorio goes for broke with this unexpected opportunity, especially at home, stressing speed in the lineup and an attacking formation to nullify Houston’s home-field “advantage”. Houston will score some goals no matter what, and I’d almost prefer seeing RBNY lose 3-1 at home than 1-0 at home and 2-0 on aggregate.
Hugo-
I like your lineup. If you are going to go out, I say go out firing. When you concider that VDB can move back to play left back, it doesn’t really seem too crazy either. Definitely a line up I would like to see.
-Mike
Can’t wait to see them get pounded…..
Metro Forever!
Red Bull Never!
Kandji—Angel—Richards
———Rojas———–
VDB—————–Mbuta
——–Stammler———
Goldy—-Mendes—Jimenez
———Cepero———-
hey ives, hows Sainey Touray looking for the future? is he impressing at all?
and w/ Mbuta and Richards on the same side they can really dominate and exchange passes to weaken the defense. with this it might b able to free up VDB for those dangerous crosses to ANGEL!
6th season in the playoffs in a row!!!!
We are the best team in the Universe!!!
😉
Great for a couple reasons. 2 more games for JCO to have a look at some of these guys. DC not making it in is a bonus. One I’m not certain of, but do these games count against Parke’s suspension? I would hope so.
The fact that the Red Bulls could limp into the playoffs is a joke. However, they are in, and you never know with this team. Houston is a fantastic team as their trophy case will attest, but perhaps the Bulls show off their split personality and play fantastic soccer to win the first game by a couple of goals. Then it’s all up for grabs. Sure it’s unlikely, but that’s part of the fun of the playoff format because the best team doesn’t always win…
Great, continue the agony another 2 games.
garbage
Please do not play a 4-5-1!!! I’d like to see Kandji and Mbuta in, with Richards coming in for Mbuta in the second half.
Surely the boost our franchise needed to finally sign Zidane!
ps. Saw the movie on Friday in Brooklyn: it was incredible.
Daniel F., I was actually speaking from the Dynamo point of view on the last two seasons (trailing into the 2nd half of the 2nd leg and needing to pull out victories). My Dynamo need to get out with a draw but the Red Bulls have an opportunity that they need to capitalize on when on the turf.
I wouldn’t count on Osorio leaving Cichero and Pietravallo out of the lineup. He continued playing Wanchope last year long after everyone had give up on the man.
Yea I’m looking forward to my last tailgate of the season. Pork Chops marinated for a couple of days or maybe a dry rub and a small case of Guinness. Hecks yea.
Pray for a few RB goals and the line up ‘Brett’ posted (except Mendes is in Germany so Stammler should stay in all night )
See youz saturday
People focus on Houston having won the last two MLS Cups. What they forget is that in neither season was Houston the Supporter’s Shield winner, in fact, not even the best team in the West (that went to first Dallas and then Chivas). Houston is a fine team, but their titles are living proof that anything can happen in the playoffs.
I personally think that the Redbulls will be humiliated and effectively eliminated after the first game. That said, the speed of Richards and Kanji could steal a goal here. Angel is coming up big and making a difference when he gets even a sniff at the goal with mediocre service. But in the end, I just don’t think the RedBulls defense (especially centrally) can shut down Jaqua and Ching or deal with the speed on the wings.
A big thank you to the Columbus Crew.
As I have learned over the last 13 years we won’t be going anywhere in the playoffs. But it is good to get in one final tailgate and let’s face it, any team that doesn’t make the playoffs in this league should be ashamed. So it’s good to be in, even if I have no expectations. Saturday is going to be a blast and hey, maybe we can make a little bit of noise.
(Yes, haters, I would include the Red Bulls in that group of ashamed teams had they not stumbled backwards into the post season thanks to a gift from the Crew.)
J.J. Last years 1st leg QF result against the Revs was a scoreless draw. So the club never trailed, till late in the 2nd half after J.P.A. got concussed by heaps.
Score as many goals as possible on the turf and then worry about the 2nd leg in Houston. At least three to five goals on the field turf. I know that’s asking alot, but we have an advantage at home & it’s the playing surface.
DEMPSEY SCORED late in the game to tie pompey.
Fan of Bulls is right, the Dynamo have been generally terrible on turf with the exception of a win at RSL last year on a bit of a fluke goal (cross that was mishit and went into the goal).
The Dynamo has played very poorly at New York the last two years but played well at home vs. New York. I don’t see Houston scoring many at NY but the key is to try and get out with a draw instead of trailing into the second leg unlike the last two season.
The fact that at the beginning of today, either of these teams (DC or NYRB) had a shot at becoming the MLS CHAMPION after the seasons they’ve had is ridiculous and laughable (if it didn’t hurt so much).
Unfortunately, the playoff games are always the most fun. I just wish they decided something else rather than the winner of the league, perhaps something equivalent to the Copa Del Rey or the FA Cup.
(sigh)
Someday soon, maybe.
No way Leitch should start in a 3-man backline. Not when we’ll be facing a forward tandem of 6’1″ 195 lb Ching and 6’3″ 180 lb Jaqua
——Kandji———JPA————Mbuta——–
-DvdB——–Rojas——-Stammler——–Richards
——Goldy———-Boyens———Jimenez——
———————Cepero———————-
Houston deploys Mulrooney or Waibel at right back, so if Mac plays left FWD, that match-up would definitely benefit us
Richard, I hope you are wrong. In the two matches that I’ve seen him in, Pietravallo has become one of my least favorite players in the league. He is a red card waiting to happen.
18K in NY
30K in HOU
sounds about right…
We’ll prob see:
——-Angel——-Kandji———
VDB———-Rojas——–Richards
——Stammler—-Pietravallo—–
Goldthwaite—Boyens——–Leitch
————–Cepero————–
Obvious switcharoos can include Magee for Kandji (doubt that after JCO’s comments thursday) … Sinisa for Pietravallo … and jimenez or cichero thrown in the back somewhere… HOPEFULLY NOT A 4-5-1!!!
It is always a great day when the DC Scum bit the dust… Don’t count the Bulls out yet…anything can happen… The Dynamo are tough but they play lousy on turf and if the regular season results are replicated in the playoffs the Bulls will advance….
Well….the Bulls dont DESERVE to be in the playoffs, but they’re there. Its a chance to prove everyone wrong. I dont think they’ll get farther than Houston but heck i’ll still watch the game.
Chivas ’till I die.
Class vs. trash. Guess which is which. The sad part is I’m a fan of the trash (oh yeah, and I pay for it).
While the Red Bulls don’t deserve it, I couldn’t be happier to see them get in at the expense of the DC Scum!
And who knows, even if nine times out of ten the Dynamo win this series, anything can happen. Go Red Bulls!!!!
Dale Dynamo!
The MLS standard is so Pathetic, & the teams are so equally crappy that anyone can get into the playoffs.
For the first time in at least a few seasons, New York is further in the playoffs than DC.
A little something to celebrate.
Houston has the edge, but it would be silly to rule RBNY out. A few moments of brilliance from JPA and DVB can count for a lot.
dannyc58,
Celebrate the trifecta. It don’t happen too often, especially when RU is away against a BE opponent, the Gants are in P’Burg and the RedBulls are, well, um, losing.
Rutgers, Giants, & NYRB have good weekends.
But my Hammers having a bad one taints it all…terrible balance by me!
Viva NY, don’t screw it up this time.
I’d like to see a 4-1-3-2 for the home leg, maybe a more conservative formation for the away leg depending on the home result. 4-1-3-2 could look like this:
Cepero
Leitch – Boyens – Goldthwaite – Jimenez
Stammler
Richards – Magee – VDB
Angel – Kandji
Mbuta -> Richards
Rojas -> Magee (eh, maybe Sinisa instead of Rojas)
Mendes-> Stammler
The starting lineup cannot have Cichero or Pietravallo. Rojas should only be used in a substitute role. Kandji and Richards need to be used in a starting role. If Richards is unavailable, use Mbuta in his place.
We need to score multiple goals in the home leg this time. Let’s test Wade Barrett with speed down the right wing.
Make that 111*.
Holy cannoli ives you are the fastest typist in the east! Great coverage thanks. Can I exhale now? JCO should start whomever HE sees fit…okay let me duck down now…just kidding…hope we have 11 whom are fit, lol.
Just bought my tickets. Section 11, row 26.
Anything can happen in the playoffs. Angel and Van den Bergh play fantastically together, and I like what I have seen from Mbuta and Kandji. Realistically, they are a much better team than displayed against Chicago. I don’t expect them to get past Houston, but it wouldn’t be that shocking (If you told me Columbus winning the Supporter’s Shield…that is shocking).
What do Red Bell fans think they should do tactically? What line-ups do you want to see? I think playing with three defenders and trying to push an offensive game might be their best option. I, however, have seen a handful of their game this year.
MAKE IT HAPPEN RED BULLS!
WE’VE BEAT SOME GREAT TEAMS THIS YEAR AND HAD OUR A$$ES HANDED TO US A FEW TIMES AS WELL.
WE ARE A FIERCELY COMPETITIVE TEAM AND WHEN WE COME READY TO PLAY WE CAN BEAT ANYONE IN THIS LEAGUE!
YA’BETTER KNOW THAT
August 24th, 2008: New York 3 – 0 Houston
We’ll do it again.
I’m happy for the Red Bull players. After the poor showing in Chicago, the New York players / coach have a chance to redeem themselves in front of the home crowd on Saturday!
Just remember Houston has been terrible on turf this year and have lost two straight games to NY at Giants Stadium. Although they are probably the best team in the league, they have always seem to struggle on turf (check results at toronto, ny and rsl over the last few years)
Go Bulls
Yeah, Red Bulls fans shouldn’t get their hopes up…
Two losses and out for RBNY.