A huge step for the New York Red Bulls -- winning their fourth road match in a row -- as the push to the playoffs continues.Â
"The win, in the end, extremely deserved," Head Coach Gerhard Struber said. "Our energy, our power, our spirit today and the belief -- also after the penalty -- the boys show me they will win today and I think this was, in the end, the most important thing."
The Red Bulls opened the scoring in the 7th minute, when defender Tom Edwards delivered a corner kick into Columbus’s eighteen yard box, which found the head of Cristian Cásseres, Jr. Cásseres, Jr headed the ball down and into the back of the net.Â
"This means a lot for the team," Struber said. "I am very proud of my boys today."
New York found the game-winner in the 87th minute, when Casseres delivered a ball to Columbus’s far post and forward Patryk Klimala headed the ball across the goal for defender Sean Nealis, who fired it in the back of the net.
"I was able to get a foot on it and next goal, I need a better celebration," Nealis said. " I got stomped on my calf, so I was just checking on that. I should have been celebrating with the fellas."
The Red Bulls have earned 36 away wins since 2015, which is tied for first in MLS.
"When we speak about resilience, what we need in some difficult moments, and now we realize, we have completely a different mindset in difficult moments," Struber said. "When we get sometimes a hit in the face, now we can manage that, now we can handle that."
With the victory, New York moved to 43 points on the season and into sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
After starting the season with a 1-8-2 record on the road, New York has won their last four road matches, outscoring their opponents, 8-1, in those matches.
"We have been dominant, and it started with everybody, everybody in practice has been switched on and engaged," Nealis said. "I think we need to keep going here with two more games this week."
New York extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches for the first time in a single season since 2013, which ran from August 31 to October 27. The Red Bulls have won four matches in a row for the first time since 2018, which ran from September 22 to October 21.
The Red Bulls have four matches remaining -- and no rest for the weary. New York will play their remaining four matches across 12 days, starting away at D.C. United on Wednesday, before returning home for CF Montréal and Atlanta United, before finishing out the season with Nashville SC in Tennessee.
"Obviously, we have a young team, and everyone has had to step up in their own way," Nealis said. "I think my performance has only grown under Gerhard and the coaching staff, so I’m grateful for them. Over the last three years, I have grown tremendously here at New York Red Bulls and I’m thankful to be here and hopefully we can continue this streak and continue this run into the playoffs."
