Atlanta United (15-9-8) will play at New York Red Bulls (13-12-7) at 5 p.m. Sunday in Harrison, N.J.
The Five Stripes were beaten by Red Bulls 2-1 in the inaugural game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Atlanta United took a 1-0 lead in the first half. The Red Bulls scored two in the final 16 minutes to secure the win.
Both teams have clinched playoff berths, but not seeds. Atlanta United is in third, three points behind-second-place NYCFC and three ahead of fifth-place Columbus, with two games remaining. The Red Bulls are in sixth, four points behind Columbus and six behind fourth-place Chicago.
Michael Lewis (@SoccerWriter) of FrontRowSoccer.com answered three questions about New York ahead of Sunday’s game:
Q: What has been the biggest issue with Red Bulls' defense in the past seven games?
A: Individual mistakes, especially at the worst time of the game. For example, with the Red Bulls nursing a one-goal lead in extra time, Fidel Escobar turned a cross into his own net for a 3-3 draw with struggling D.C. United on Sept. 27. A poor decision, which in many respects, has defined the Red Bulls backline and team defense recently. The team will play well defensively for long stretches, but someone makes a mistake at an inopportune time.
The Red Bulls just snapped a nine-game winless streak with a solid 3-0 home win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC Saturday night. The question many media members and supporters have whether that game was a one-off for the Red Bulls or perhaps the team has turned the corner. Atlanta, which has enjoyed a remarkable first season in the league, will be a perfect and challenging opponent to test that theory.
Q: What is the matchup to watch?
A: Striker Bradley Wright-Phillips against whoever is assigned to him. He has proven to be one the league's premier goal-scorers over the past four seasons, thanks to his ability to find space and get open. He can fit the definition of a typical striker: mark him out of the match for 89th minute. But give him some room and he puts home the game-winner. He enters the match with 98 career MLS goals in all competitions for the Red Bulls.
Q: Do the Red Bulls have a preferred first-round matchup in playoffs?
A: I don't think they do. They probably were happy to clinch with two games remaining in the season, so they could get that monkey off the back, given their recent inability to win games.
They were fortunate that the two teams below them in the standings, the Montreal Impact and New England Revolution, experienced plenty of struggles of their own and could not catch them.
If the standings remain the same, the mid-week playoff match would be Atlanta-Red Bulls. So, this game could be a preview or a bellwether on what we might see in Atlanta in several weeks.
If the standings change and New York City FC finishes third, the mid-week wildcard game would be a doozy at Yankee Stadium -- yet another Hudson River Derby. They have met four times prior this year (three MLS, one Lamar Hunt/U.S. Open Cup, with NYCFC leading the series, 2-1-1.
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