Consistency is Key
Coming off an unbeaten week where New York earned a come-from-behind 2-2 draw with Charlotte FC and toppled Atlanta United FC, 4-0, the club is picking up momentum as it continues its second-half playoff push.
The Red Bulls’ five-match unbeaten streak across all competitions in May was their longest since last season, but the club has struggled to find consistency since then.
Saturday will be New York’s second-straight match against a top-five Eastern Conference team. Will the Red Bulls be able to use their building momentum to continue towards consistent success?
Return to the Road
Three-straight home matches combined with an 18-day break have kept the Red Bulls off the road since May 31, when they claimed a 1-0 at Inter Miami CF.
New York has played to a 1-4-4 record on the road this season. Meanwhile, Columbus has been nearly unbeatable at home. The Crew are 7-1-2 at Lower.com Field, with their only loss coming to Inter Miami in April.
With the Red Bulls returning to the road for the first time in over a month, how will the club fare against a club who has been almost perfect at home?
Holding It Down on Defense
New York has had one of the strongest defensive lines in the MLS, allowing only 18 goals in 19 matches, the second lowest in the league.
Goalkeeper Carlos Coronel has contributed to the Red Bulls’ success, holding second place in club history for most clean sheets.
Coming off yet another clean sheet on Saturday against Atlanta, one of the top goal-scoring clubs in the league, New York’s backline will be facing another challenge in Columbus.
Columbus leads the MLS with 38 goals and 42 assists, boasting an offensive side that has been consistently successful this season.
Still, considering defender absences and the strength of the Crew’s attacking line, the Red Bulls will have to rely on versatile players like Cameron Harper and key defenders Sean Nealis and Andrés Reyes to hold it down against Columbus.
