The New York Red Bulls completed a nine point week, their third win in a row, with a 2-0 victory over Atlanta United FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
"I'm proud," Head Coach Sandro Schwarz said. I'm very proud of the whole group, our supporters, that we are going all together in the same direction and also when you have some difficult moments in the season, it's normal, and that we are able to answer directly in the way how we want to play. And I'm very proud of the whole group, and with all these rotations which we have done, especially the last two weeks, U.S. Open Cup, Charlotte game, all these games, and it's great. Now we can enjoy it, as well, now, after these three points today and then to keep going after the national break."
Goals from Cameron Harper and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting led the Red Bulls, with Carlos Coronel turning in a three-save performance en route to a clean sheet.
The Red Bulls opened the scoring in the third minute, when an errant back pass by Atlanta found the foot of midfielder Cameron Harper, who drove into the box and fired a left-footed shot past Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
New York added a second in the 29th minute, when Alexander Hack played a through ball past Atlanta’s backline into the path of Harper, who slid a ball across Atlanta’s eighteen-yard box to Choupo-Moting, who placed his shot in the bottom left corner.
"He's a very important player for us, very important, especially with his deep runs," Schwarz said. "And he's able to solve situations in one against one with his speed, as well, to have these deep runs. He's a hard worker in our defense behavior against the ball in our pressing and to come inside from the far side, how we scored the first goal. So very important player. It's good to have him now in a good spot, this is what we have to continue."
Harper scored his third MLS goal of the season and the 12th of his MLS career. Harper has recorded four goal contributions in his last six MLS appearances.
The Roseville, California native reached 5,000 MLS minutes played in tonight’s match.
The goal in the third minute (2:38) was the fastest scored by New York this season and the fastest since June 18, 2022 against Toronto FC, by Lewis Morgan in the second minute (1:50).
Choupo-Moting scored his 10th MLS goal of the season, which ranks tied for third in MLS. Choupo-Moting has scored five MLS goals in his last three matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
The Cameroon international became the fifth different player in club history to record at least 10 goals in the club’s first 17 games of a season and the first since Bradley Wright-Phillips in 2018.
Harper tallied his second MLS assist of the season and the seventh of his MLS career. The midfielder recorded his first career multi-goal contribution match in MLS.
Hack tallied his first career MLS assist and his second across all competitions this season.
Coronel earned his seventh MLS shutout of the season and the 42nd of his MLS career. His seven shutouts this season ranks tied for second in MLS.
Coronel has now recorded four career shutouts against Atlanta United FC.
Kyle Duncan made his 150th career appearance across all competitions for New York and becomes the sixth defender in franchise history to reach the milestone.
The Red Bulls have earned 22 points in their first nine home matches of the season, which ranks tied for the first most points earned at home through the club’s first nine home games in franchise history (2001, 2018).
New York have earned 500 points at home since 2010, which is the most in MLS during that timespan.
"When teams come to Sports Illustrated Stadium with our record, we want to be really aggressive and put them under pressure right away. Kind of makes them have to be a little bit on edge," Harper said.
The Red Bulls have extended their unbeaten streak against Atlanta United FC at home to nine matches across all competitions.
After Saturday’s match, there will be a FIFA International break that will run from June 2 to June 10, following that New York will return to action on Saturday, June 14 against Austin FC at Q2 Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET with coverage on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish, and New York Red Bulls Radio presented by Sports Illustrated in English via the New York Red Bulls app and NewYorkRedBulls.com.
