Matchday is almost here. You took the full week to get that nasty, disgusting, horrible salty taste out of your mouths after that debacle of a forty five minute period down in South Florida to Inter Miami and now the boys are getting ready for a three game stretch within a week to climb back to the top three positions in the Eastern Conference. They will be home to New England, on the road at our nation’s capital, and then on their first trip to Queens in the battle for the Hudson River Derby.
They will be taking on the last place side in the New England Revolution who have fallen from grace so fast and quickly from a Supporters Shield champion to a debacle of a coaching change, and while they had a decent start in their CONCACAF Champions Cup run this year, their league play has been atrocious. This Revolution side still has some dangerous players in Thomas Chancalay, Carles Gil, DeJuan Jones, and so on, under new head coach Caleb Porter, they finally won a road match in six tries against the Chicago Fire. While that could light a fire for their opponents from New England, the Red Bulls must end that hope very quickly.
Then in their first midweek match of the season, a trip down to our nation’s capital to take on their oldest rival in the league against DC United. while they are in ninth and under a new head coach in Troy Lesesne, DC United has somewhat improved, but not enough. while Christian Benteke has looked dangerous and scoring goals, the rest of the club has been lacking. Like the last time these two sides faced each other in the torrential rain at Audi Field, it was Benteke’s hat trick that kept United afloat until the damn broke and lost it in the second half. Three all at Half time, then goals from Sean Nealis and John Tolkin in the closing half gave the Red Bulls a much needed victory.
Of course, Troy will be using this match as a rallying cry after the Red Bulls went toward Sandro Schwarz, but the main focus will not just be on Lesesne, it will be on the possibility of reigniting this long standing derby to the rest of the league that it will be back and all eyes should be on these two sides. Schwarz and company must be on their game and dominate on the road at Audi Field.
Then back to the NYC area and the club’s first trip to Citi Field in Flushing Meadows Park, Queens to face NYCFC. While the club has had improved play on the pitch and went from the bottom to seventh, their big pothole was losing to Chris Armas and the Colorado Rapids at home two goals to nil. While Nick Cushing should be commended for getting the club back up, he will be tested very well against their next two opponents before facing the Red Bulls. So for Schwarz, roster rotation will be key depending on how well they face the Revs, DC, and then take on NYCFC.
Now is the time where Sandro Schwarz must get his players ready to go and take down these next three big opponents as all of them will be derby rivals and to get the club back to challenge Inter Miami for the top spot in the conference, and the league. While Schwarz and the players have shaken off the bad taste in their mouths, the hope is that they will be ready to start another unbeaten streak after a loss and march down the pitch. Buckle up and get back on the train.