THE WEEKLY: Crucial week begins as RBNY face D.C. and Philadelphia

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RED BULLS START CRUCIAL WEEK AT HOME ON WEDNESDAY

After picking up three points at home against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, the New York Red Bulls return to action quickly when they welcome Eastern Conference-leading D.C. United on Wednesday night at Red Bull Arena. ESPN2 will televise the game nationally with kickoff set for 8:00 PM ET. Tickets are available for the match by calling 1.877.727.6223 or logging onto tickets.newyorkredbulls.com.

Following Wednesday's clash with Eastern Conference-leading D.C. United, New York travels to Philadelphia on Saturday for the team's third and final regular-season meeting with the Union. NBC Sports Network will televise the game nationally with kickoff set for 3:00 PM ET.

New York is currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with an 8-8-10 record and 34 points. United leads the Eastern Conference with a 14-8-5 record and 47 points while the Philadelphia Union are currently in the fifth and final playoff position with a 9-9-9 record and 36 points.

New York wraps up its regular-season meetings with both clubs this week. D.C. has taken the first two games in 2014, earning both wins at RFK Stadium. New York and Philadelphia have split the first two games with both clubs earning wins at home ahead of Saturday's meeting.



LAST WEEK

  • New York Red Bulls 2, Sporting Kansas City 1


THIS WEEK

  • Red Bulls vs. D.C. United at Red Bull Arena on September 10 at 8:00 PM (TV: ESPN2) (TICKETS)
  • Red Bulls at Philadelphia Union at PPL Park on September 13 at 3:00 PM (TV: NBCSN)


NEXT WEEK

  • Red Bulls at Montreal Impact (CCL) at Stade Saputo on September 17 at 8:00 PM (TV: Fox Sports 2)
  • Red Bulls vs. Seattle Sounders at Red Bull Arena on September 20 at 7:30 PM (TV: NBCSN) (TICKETS)


WRIGHT-PHILLIPS CONVERTS FROM THE SPOT, CLIMBING SINGLE-SEASON SCORING LIST
Bradley Wright-Phillips scored from the penalty spot against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday at Red Bull Arena in a 2-1 win. Wright-Phillips' 21st goal of the season helped maintain his three-goal lead in the MLS Golden Boot Race over Sporting Kansas City's Dom Dwyer. 
MLS GOLDEN BOOT RACE

  • Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls) 21
  • Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City) 18
  • Erick Torres (Chivas USA) 14
  •  Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy) 14
  •  Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy) 14


The Englishman, who currently leads the MLS Golden Boot race, now has eight regular-season games remaining to break the MLS single-season record of 27 goals set by Roy Lassiter in 1996 and Chris Wondolowski in 2012.


THIERRY HENRY NOTCHES SECOND GAME-WINNING GOAL WITH TERRIFIC STRIKE

Thierry Henry scored his eighth goal of the season in a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday at Red Bull Arena with a goal-of-the-week type strike. Henry whipped a right-footed shot on frame the top of the 18-yard-box that beat a fully-outstretched Sporting KC goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum to the far post.


Henry is second on the team in scoring, behind only Bradley Wright-Phillips, and leads the team in assists with 11. The captain, now in his fifth season with the Red Bulls, is just one goal shy of 50 for his career in regular season play and one assist shy of 40 for his career.


ROBLES SECOND IN MLS IN SAVES

Following a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, goalkeeper Luis Robles remained second in the league in saves with 89. Robles made one crucial save in New York's win over Sporting Kansas City, stopping a Dom Dwyer left-footed attempt to keep New York ahead.


SAVES LEADERS

  • Jon Busch (SJ) 99
  • Luis Robles (NY) 89
  • Bill Hamid (D.C.) 87
  • Donovan Ricketts (POR) 86
  • Stefan Frei (SEA) 81


INTERNATIONAL CALL-UPS UPDATE
Tim Cahill, Ambroise Oyongo, Matt Miazga and Santiago Castano are all away from the Red Bulls on international duty with their respective teams. Cahill and Australia played the first of two friendlies against Belgium on September 4 and play again, September 8, against Saudi Arabia in London. 
Oyongo and Cameroon opened their two African Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 2-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo on September 6 and are slated to play Ivory Coast on Wednesday September 10.
Miazga and Castano will return to the Red Bulls on September 9 at the conclusion of the USMNT U-20 camp.