The Red Bulls begin a pivotal three-game homestand on October 4 when they face Eastern Conference rivals Houston Dynamo.
Saturday’s matchup will be the third and final meeting between the teams. In their first outing on April 23, RBNY won 4-0 at Red Bull Arena in a game that featured a Bradley Wright-Phillips hat-trick. Their second match on July 4 ended in a 2-2 draw at BBVA Compass Stadium.
The Red Bulls are 9-3-8 all-time against Houston and are currently on a six-game unbeaten streak vs.Dynamo in the regular season.
Houston currently stands in eighth place of the Eastern Conference standings with 36 points, but have one game in hand on the Red Bulls. Meanwhile, New York are alone in fifth place with 41 points, just above the red line.
In a congested playoff race, only five points separate sixth place and second place in the standings.
Coverage of Saturday’s game at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. will begin at 6:00 p.m. (TV: NBC Sports).
Here are three players to watch in this weekend’s match.
- Forward – Giles Barnes
As a young man, Giles Barnes thrived in the English Championship with Derby County. Not only did he help them gain promotion to the English Premier League, but he was also awarded Derby County Young Player of the Year in 2007.
Due to injuries, Barnes lost playing time and made a switch to West Bromwich Albion. In 2010 they were promoted to the Premier League, but after lack of playing time, he signed a short contract with Doncaster Rovers. In 2012 he signed with Houston Dynamo and won the 2013 Dynamo Budweiser Golden Boot with nine regular season goals. This year he’s scored eight goals and five assists.
- Midfielder – Brad Davis
After two successful years at Saint Louis University, Brad Davis was selected by the MetroStars with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft. After one season with the MetroStars, he moved on to play with the Dallas Burn, San Jose Earthquakes, and finally settled at Houston Dynamo in 2006.
Since then, he has been a 6-time MLS All-Star, has won four Dynamo MVP awards, was MLS MVP runner-up in 2011, and is the Dynamo all-time leader in games, starts, and assists. Davis is also a U.S. international and featured in the final group stage match against Germany at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. There is history between Davis and the Red Bulls, so don’t expect any love-lost in an important match Saturday.
- Defender – DaMarcus Beasley
Arguably one of the best American soccer players ever, DaMarcus Beasley has enjoyed success across the globe. He began his career in MLS with the Chicago Fire where he attracted international attention. He has since played for PSV, Manchester City, Rangers, Hannover, and Puebla. While in Europe, he set the record for most goals scored by an American in UEFA Champions League with six goals.
Perhaps his most notable accomplishments, however, are with the U.S. National Team. He is the fifth most capped player in USMNT history (120), eighth most in assists (13), and tied in ninth for most goals (17). With his selection to the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, he became the first American to play in four World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014). Since returning to MLS with Houston Dynamo, he has started in all seven games he’s played
