The New York Red Bulls ride in on a derby day-high to take on the Colorado Rapids. Can Jesse Marsch’s squad keep up the momentum after a phenomenal win?
Over the past eight years, the New York Red Bulls have enjoyed their fair share of success in MLS.
They have won five Eastern Conferences since 2000, four of those coming in the last eight years, were runners-up in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in 2017, and have enjoyed CONCACAF Champions League outings also.
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Their opponents on Saturday, on the other hand, have not had the same enthralling ride in recent years.
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The Colorado Rapids have struggled since their 2010 MLS Cup campaign. They have qualified for the postseason just three times since that MLS Cup victory, failing to make the semi-final stage on every occasion. In the last four years, they have finished 8th, 10th, 2nd and 11th in the West, and currently sit tenth in this year’s standing.
But, it is the Rapids who continue to have New York’s number in home fixtures, beating the Red Bulls five times in their last seven meetings. In those past seven meetings, the Rapids have outscored New York a whopping 17-4. This has not been a very close match-up whatsoever, despite the two team’s differing successes.
With history working against them, the Red Bulls hope to build on their 4-0 win vs NYCFC with road points. A good result is critical, especially with a rested Atlanta United waiting by the wayside.
But the Rapids will not be an easy fixture, and if history is any more of an indication, not only have the Red Bulls struggled against the Rapids, but they also did not fare well the last time they won 4-0 the previous week and visited the Rocky Mountains. That last time was Tim Parker’s first MLS start for the Red Bulls, where his new team lost 1-0 to Real Salt Lake.
With another chance to get a result on the road, Parker is now looking forward to the challenge:
"“When you go on the road, especially to the Western Conference, you have to make sure you get as many points as you can,”"
And that, for the Red Bulls, is crucial. Currently sitting fifth in the horribly competitive Eastern Conference, a position that is perhaps contorted somewhat given Toronto FC’s slow start to the season, New York cannot afford to drop any more points behind the likes of Atlanta, who already boast a seven-point advantage.
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The momentum that they built in the terrific win in the Hudson River Derby is invaluable to this team. They have the ability to reel off a series of victories. But they need momentum on their side. That comes with wins, starting on Saturday against the Colorado Rapids.