New York Red Bulls could suffer without Damien Perrinelle

New York Red Bulls have suffered a blow to their play-off hopes with some injury news in defense. The Red Bulls currently have the advantage over D.C United having won the first-leg but are now a man down, ensuring their task of making it into the next round is still a tough assignment.

The French defender was carted off with a serious knee injury during the D.C game that has ruled him out of action for the rest of the year. Despite getting the win, it will feel bittersweet for the New York Red Bulls as a result of the loss of Perrinelle in a side that was beginning to really gel; especially at the back.

Perrinelle was a regular in the New York Red Bulls side this season, being paired up with young Matt Miazga and forming a good partnership. In fact the partnership was so good that when the two were paired up the Red Bulls went 14-3-3. Not bad at all.

Which means the Red Bulls could really struggle without his presence at the back. Without the Perrinelle and Miazga combination; the Red Bulls are 5-7-3. Not really a play-off standard record.

Zubar did feature in the D.C game, coming off the bench as Perrinelle’s replacement. He made his presence known with a heavy challenge on Markus Halsti that could have ended with Zubar being red carded but the Frenchman avoided such punishment.

Alternatively, Head Coach Jesse Marsch could turn to Canadian Karl Ouimette instead. He has started 7 of his 11 games this season, picking up 2 yellows in the process. Only 23, he is far less experienced compared to Zubar despite the latter well known for his questionable decision making.

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New York should be able to hold the lead and progress through at the expense of D.C but the backline will need to give it their best more now than ever to make up for the missing Perrinelle. Similarly, this gives D.C a route back into the fixture that they really should take advantage of.

But everyone knows that Red Bulls have plenty of strength in attack. Bradley Wright-Phillips has 17 goals to his name and Lloyd Sam has 10; Mike Grella only one behind with 9 – D.C can only boast a high of 11 from Chris Rolfe. Espindola and Arrieta sit on 5 goals.

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Also hoping to advance are Seattle Sounders who beat FC Dallas 2-1. Montreal find themselves in the same position as Seattle having also taken first blood with a 2-1 win over Columbus. The only game without a goal was Portland versus Vancouver.