Red Bulls to Play FC Dallas Weds. October 26

Just a few short days after locking up a postseason berth following a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union, the New York Red Bulls will now prepare to take on FC Dallas in the Wild Card portion of the 2011 MLS Cup playoffs.

The history of these two teams meeting in the postseason is limited, with only two games in the 2000 MLS Cup playoffs standing as the sole history of postseason matchups between New York and Dallas.  The first match took place on Sept. 15 in Game 1 of the Quarterfinals, a meeting where New York walked away winners in a 2-1 finish that required sudden death overtime. The series headed back to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas five days later where New York walked away victors once again with a 2-1 victory. With the loss, Dallas was eliminated from the playoffs and New York advanced to the semifinals. They’d eventually fall to the Chicago Fire in a three-game series.

In addition to New York’s 2-0 all-time postseason record against Dallas, the Red Bulls are coming off a season where they finished 1-0-1 in two meetings against FCD.

The teams first played to a 2-2 draw on July 23 at Red Bull Arena. Juan Agudelo kicked off the scoring in the 39^th minute to give New York a 1-0 lead heading into the half. It was FC Dallas who came out on fire in the second half with two straight strikes from Marvin Chavez in the 51^st and 78^th minutes. But before Dallas could pack up and head back home with three points, Red Bulls captain Thierry Henry scored the equalizer in the 85^th minute to ensure one point for New York after all was said and done.

In the second meeting of the season, Sept. 17 in Frisco, Texas, Dallas was without Brek Shea, who served a suspension for yellow card accumulation, and Chavez, who sat out with an ankle injury. The end result was a strong defensive effort and a 1-0 win that came courtesy of a Luke Rodgers goal in the 36^th minute on a beautiful pass from Agudelo.

New York and Dallas will face off once again in the Wild Card match on Fox Soccer Channel Wednesday, Oct. 26 at Pizza Hut Park for a 9 pm ET kick off.