James Nalton
New York Red Bulls remain in post-season contention following a convincing 3-0 win at home to Toronto FC.
The Red Bulls have one game left to play in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference, away to Nashville SC, a team which has already secured a post-season place.
Five teams are fighting it out for two remaining post-season spots, including New York City FC which lost away to DC United this weekend.
DC United cannot qualify despite currently sitting above the playoff line. Unlike the other teams in this area of the table, it has played all its games, so another team is bound to take its place given the way the games fall.
Charlotte FC, meanwhile, has two games left to play, meaning the club from North Carolina has the best chance of claiming one of the remaining spots in two games against the struggling-again Inter Miami.
Red Bulls head coach Troy Lesesne was pleased that his team secured a win in the final home game of the regular season and hopes it won’t be the last home game of the year.
“I’d really like to thank our supporters,” Lesesne said. “We want to recognize them and all the support that they’ve given us this year, through again, maybe the most difficult season in Red Bulls history in the last 10-12 years.
“But I also want to say that hopefully we’re going to provide another home match for them, and that could look like us potentially hosting a play-in match.
“It could look like if we progress in the first round, it’s a home and away fixture. So, our goal is that we’re not done yet. We want to provide another home match.”
Tom Barlow opened the scoring for the Red Bulls just before halftime following good play from Elias Manoel. Toronto was playing out from the back and Manoel managed to rob the ball from Michael Bradley before feeding Barlow.
Luquinhas scored a wonderful individual effort to make it two just after halftime before adding another later in the half from Kyle Duncan’s ball in to seal the win.
“We’re going to a tough place in Nashville, but we’re up for it,” Barlow said of the upcoming task to keep the season alive.
“I think we’ve shown obviously it’s been a crazy year, but we’ve shown we can compete with any team in this league.
“When we’re doing our job, we’re together, and the pressure is good, we can beat anybody, so that’s our mentality.
“We’ll get ready these next couple of weeks for that big game.”
