With three wins in their last four matches, the New York Red Bulls have moved into position to reach the MLS playoffs after failing to do so last season for the first time in 16 years.
Needing a similar run with time running out, D.C. United (6-9-12, 30 points) sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference heading into their match with the Red Bulls (10-12-6, 36 points) Wednesday in Washington.
With seven games left, including six over the rest of this busy month, D.C. faces a challenging task, especially considering it begins the stretch without striker Louis Munteanu (six goals, four assists), who has a lower leg injury.
D.C., which has scored the second-fewest goals in MLS, will have to rely even more on Tai Baribo (14 goals) and set-piece weapon Keisuke Kurokawa (five assists).
D.C. United are coming off a 4-0 loss Saturday at Inter Miami. D.C. has won just one of its last 10 matches, going 1-4-5 over that span.
“We have to show a reaction and we want to show a reaction, because there’s another opportunity next Wednesday against an opponent close to our level,” D.C. coach Rene Weiler said of New York.
When the teams met on April 22 in New Jersey, Baribo scored a hat trick as D.C. rallied late to earn a 4-4 draw.
Since then, New York has patched up its defense as Ethan Horvath has collected three clean sheets in the last six matches.
“He’s been really, really good lately — his presence, his quality, his understanding of how to be a calm, strong leader in that part of the field for us,” Red Bulls coach Michael Bradley said.
After a midseason drought in which he failed to score in 12 straight matches, Julian Hall (11 goals, five assists) has tallied in his last two appearances to help fuel New York’s recent surge.
Jorge Ruvalcaba (eight goals) also emerged from a slump Saturday in a 4-1 win against San Diego FC as he notched a goal and an assist. It was Ruvalcaba’s first goal since scoring a brace in a 2-1 win over Kansas City on May 23.
–Field Level Media
