NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS
GILLETTE STADIUM, Foxborough, Mass.
September 16, 2015 (WEEK 29, MLS Game #284)
7:30 p.m. ET (MSG)
The New York Red Bulls travel North on Wednesday for a third and final regular season meeting with the New England Revolution. Kickoff at Gillette Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m., with coverage on MSG beginning at 7 p.m. MSG will also provide a Spanish language broadcast through the SAP function. The New York Red Bulls will provide English and Spanish radio through www.newyorkredbulls.com
After improving to 13-7-6 and taking hold of first place in the Eastern Conference last weekend with a win over Chicago, the Red Bulls enter MLS Week 29 with a chance to clinch a berth in the Audi Presents the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs with either a win at New England Wednesday, or on Sunday in Portland. The Red Bulls can also clinch a playoff berth with a draw in either match, and favorable results at the bottom of the table.
New York is 9-2-1 since snapping a four-game losing streak in mid June. During that stretch the Red Bulls have recorded five shutouts, and scored three or more goals six times, including a season-high 4-1 win over the Revolution on July 11. New York did not score more than two goals in a game over the first 14 matches of the season.
Last week, the Red Bulls overcame conceding two early goals against Chicago to rally for a 3-2 win Friday night at Red Bull Arena. Bradley Wright-Phillips, Mike Grella and Sacha Kljestan continued to rack up the points in the victory. Kljestan found Wright-Phillips for the goal that sparked the come back, and then Grella took a feed from Lloyd Sam, turned and beat Sean Johnson to pull New York level before the end of the first half. Kljestan then put away his third penalty of the season for the game winner.
Kljestan now has points in five straight games – and four goals and nine assists in the last 11 contests. Bradley Wright-Phillips leads the team with 14 goals, and has also chipped in seven assists. Grella continues to produce, and has points (one goal, four assists) in five of the last six games.
New England sits at 12-7-9, in fourth place in the East but just two points behind New York in the standings. The Revolution is 6-0-1 since losing 4-1 at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls came out flying in that contest, setting a MLS record with three goals in the first 12 minutes. Bradley Wright-Phillips racked up three points in that span, while Lloyd Sam added a goal and assist.
Charlie Davies leads the Revs with nine goals, while 2014 MLS MVP finalist Lee Nguyen has a team-leading nine assists. Bobby Shuttleworth has been solid in net for New England, earning 11 of the team’s 12 wins and recording eight shut outs.
After Wednesday, the Red Bulls will continue on to Portland to meet the Timbers on Sunday, September 20. Kickoff in that match is set for 5 p.m. ET, with coverage on ESPN.
The Red Bulls are next home to welcome Kaka and Orlando City to Red Bull Arena for the first time on Friday, September 25. Including that match, the Red Bulls will play four of the final six at home.
2015 records:
NY: 13-7-6; 4-5-4 on the road
NE: 12-9-7; 8-3-4 at home
2015 series: Each team has won once at home. NE 2-1 (5/2); NY 4-1 (7/11)
All-Time Series: NY is 23-27-15; 5-19-7 at NE
