Real Salt Lake shook off a slow start to get into playoff position before the MLS season paused for Leagues Cup play.
The New York Red Bulls headed into the break in a sudden slump and out of playoff position.
Real Salt Lake will attempt to resume their roll as the Red Bulls look to reverse their recent struggles on Sunday night in Harrison, N.J.
RSL (9-11-4, 31 points) are 5-1-1 over their past seven league contests after enduring a seven-game winless skid (0-4-3) during the month of May. Real Salt Lake scored five goals during the skid but have scored 10 in the current surge while earning three of those wins via shutouts.
RSL earned their fourth one-goal victory in the turnaround on July 26 with a 2-1 home win over the San Jose Earthquakes on July 26. Braian Ojeda scored the tiebreaking goal in the 81st minute and tallied three times in Real Salt Lake’s three matches during the Leagues Cup when the team went 1-0-2 in the first phase.
“We’re a different team now than what we have been, and it’s led by the players,” Real Salt Lake coach Pablo Mastroeni said. “It’s led by the commitment by their work during the week and the expectation is that we’ll keep doing that regardless of who we face.”
The Red Bulls (9-10-6, 33 points) were outscored 6-1 in their final two matches before the break and are 1-4-3 in their past eight league contests following a three-game winning streak May 24-31.
New York was blanked for the second time in its skid when it lost a 1-0 decision at Chicago on July 26. The Red Bulls put only three shots on target and allowed a goal on a penalty kick following a handball violation by Alexander Hack.
“Everyone is disappointed,” Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz said. “But we have also to be realistic. That’s right now the situation. It was a very important game for us, for the playoffs, that’s clear. And of course, everyone is disappointed, but not angry about the effort.”
–Field Level Media
