Remembering playoffs as NYRB heads to SKC
by Anna Ferkingstad, New York
When recalling the 2014 postseason, there is nothing short of a bitter taste in Kansas City’s mouth. In an unforgiving and rousing manner, the New York Red Bulls eliminated the 2013 MLS defending cup champions in a series of brutal back to back weekend games. After beating Kansas City 2-0 in the final regular season game, The Red Bulls entered the playoffs as one of the Eastern Conference’s last seeds.
The Red Bulls gained the final regular season win after a frantic game that did not have the odds in their favor. Preceding the match, NYRB was winless in their last seven away games and held at only two victories their entire season on the road. Despite SKC’s home advantage, Bradley Wright-Phillips grabbed two goals that decided the game and tied him for the record of most goals scored in a single MLS season.
In fourth and fifth place, Sporting Kansas City and NYRB were then slotted to face off again the following week in the knockout stage. A single elimination game, the knockout round doesn’t give teams the same flexibility of the aggregates seen in later stages of the tournament. With these teams playing each other only days ago, the wounds were even fresher and the stakes even higher for this knockout round.
Sporting Kansas City came to Red Bull Arena wanting revenge. They played better than New York and looked liked they wanted the knockout round win more. SKC players Aurélien Collin and Matt Besler had strong and improved performances while NYRB’s offense struggled to connect. In a thrilling and seat gripping fashion, the game was at 1-1 scoreline in the final minutes.
NYRB walked away with the 2-1 win only after Wright-Phillips scored a shattering 89th minute header goal. Members of the red and white crowd erupted with passion and excitement while SKC’s playoff repeat dreams came to an end. Although the Red Bulls were later eliminated in the semifinals by the New England Revolution, Sporting’s loss marked the end of an up and down season. After August and leading into playoffs, SKC struggled to turn out results.
The two teams met four times in 2014, but this weekend’s game is the only schedules match up for the two sides in 2015. New York holds a four game undefeated streak against Sporting and has walked away with points the last four times they played at Sporting Park.
Returning SKC players Dom Dwyer, Matt Besler and Graham Zusi will be deciding factors in Sunday’s match up. Sporting has several advantages over the red and white side, including a home field crowd. The Red Bulls have had a tremulous off season filled with uncertainty and change. A new coach, several new players and the arrival of metro-rival NYC FC means that all eyes (and pressure) are on NYRB. It is likely that the red and white side struggles on Sunday against Sporting, a team that has talent and cohesion.
