This Saturday the New York Red Bulls visit Columbus. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m ET.
Here are the Keys to the Game, presented by TriHonda Dealers:
Arriving to Columbus with Three Straight Away Wins
The Red Bulls are flying high after winning this season’s New York Derby series.
After Sunday’s match, Head Coach Gerhard Struber explained what has changed in this seven-match unbeaten streak.
“We realize more and more what is our clear identity, and we have so many players, new players that come in the team. And we cannot expect that they play from the first second in a style of play with so many rule breakers in a successful way,” said Struber. “It's always that you have some learning moments and yeah, my boys learn the last few months in a very hurtful direction sometimes. But right now, we are, yeah, a big step further in our process and this makes the difference. This is the only one.”
Goalkeeper Carlos Coronel picked up his 11th shutout and fifth in this current unbeaten run.
In his last three games with New York, Cristian Cásseres Jr. has picked up two assists and a goal.
Impeccable Defense
Since August 4, New York has only allowed ten goals, which is the least amount allowed in MLS during that timespan.
The Red Bulls have recorded three-straight clean sheets and have not allowed a goal in their last 343 minutes of play, which is the fifth longest streak in MLS this season.
After the New York Derby win, Sean Nealis shared his thoughts on the team’s defensive performance.
“I think Carlos [Coronel] has done well, he has done excellent actually. He has come up clutch with big time saves and I think just the way we play, the way we press and defend, it takes all 11 guys on the field, and I think everyone is just finally buying in towards the end here,” said Nealis. “We all kind of realize what it takes to win and how we can get these wins and I think on the field today just all playing hard, all playing together. We got the result we wanted.”
In the Struber Era, RBNY Have Yet to Win in Columbus
With Struber at the helm, the Red Bulls have yet to win in Columbus. Both losses have been by a one-goal difference, and in matches in which the Red Bulls got on the scoresheet first.
Since their 2-1 win over the Red Bulls on September 14, Columbus have won their last two home games at Lower.com Field -- 2-1 against Montréal and 4-0 against Inter Miami CF.
Their current top goalscorer is Gyasi Zardes with nine goals, followed by Lucas Zelarayán with seven.
