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MLS: Top 5 performances from Week 29

By Matt Coles

PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 18:New York Red Bulls players celebrate Kyle Duncan's goal during the game between the New York Red Bulls and the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on September 18, 2019, at Portland, OR. (Photo by Diego Diaz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 18:New York Red Bulls players celebrate Kyle Duncan's goal during the game between the New York Red Bulls and the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on September 18, 2019, at Portland, OR. (Photo by Diego Diaz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). /
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 15: Aaron Long #33, Michael Murillo #62, Bradley Wright-Phillips #99, and Amro Tarek #3 of New York Red Bulls celebrate after scoring a goal in the 27th minute during the match against the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field on September 15, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Sounders top the New York Red Bulls 4-2. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 15: Aaron Long #33, Michael Murillo #62, Bradley Wright-Phillips #99, and Amro Tarek #3 of New York Red Bulls celebrate after scoring a goal in the 27th minute during the match against the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field on September 15, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Sounders top the New York Red Bulls 4-2. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

1. New York Red Bulls

Our best performer of the week is not a single player but a whole team. The New York Red Bulls won twice in four days to secure their spot in the 2019 MLS playoffs. And that is worthy of the number one spot on our list. Two wins, two clean sheets for the Red Bulls, they beat both the Portland Timbers and the Philadelphia Union by a 2-0 scoreline to get the ‘x’  by their name in the standings.

They scored early and late on Wednesday evening at Providence Park with Kyle Duncan opening the scoring inside just three minutes against Portland. They were never comfortable in the match, needing a 96th-minute insurance goal to make sure of the victory, Daniel Royer scoring from the penalty spot to do just that.

Come Sunday afternoon, the Red Bulls knew a victory would be enough to secure a playoff spot. That is precisely what they got with an excellent performance. Tom Barlow scored the opening goal of the match just after the half-hour mark with Royer scoring in the 96th minute for a second-straight game to seal the win.

dark. Next. Atlanta United: 5 things we learned from Cincinnati, San Jose wins

The New York Red Bulls have now booked a spot in the postseason for a tenth consecutive year. They will be looking to go deep into the playoffs once more, and with performances like these, they might just upset the apple cart.

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