ATLANTA, G.A. – New York Red Bulls suffer a major loss in their hopes to claim a home playoff advantage in the 2024 playoffs after a 2-1 loss to Atlanta United on Saturday night at Mercedes Benz Stadium. The game was a frustrating offensive endeavor for both clubs before a second half red card to Dylan Nealis and a penalty for Atlanta decided the game.
New York attempted to start the game with a different strategy. Three centerbacks lined up on defense and no Emil Forsberg to dictate the offense. What ensured for the first fourty-five minutes was a frustrating display that saw Atlanta control over 60 percent possession of the ball. While they peppered goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, Red Bulls kept them to few major chances as most efforts were wide or too high over the net. To their credit, New York did create a few chances with Dante Vanzeir and John Tolkin missing the net.
Head coach Sandro Schwarz changed up his game plan in the second half by bringing on Nealis and going back to his traditional four-man backline. Forsberg also made his way into the game with 30 minutes remaining but didn’t have enough time to make an impression before Nealis was ejected for stopping a goal-scoring opportunity. Minutes later an Atlanta player was pulled down in the box, giving United a penalty and their game-winning goal.
Red Bulls did nearly draw even when Elias Manoel caught up with a pass from Daniel Edelman. Unfortunately for the club, the goal was reviewed and marked as offside. From there it was a chippy affair with both teams resorting to physicality, slowing down any flow in the game. Tyler Wolff tacked one a stoppage time goal from Tyler Wolff to put a period on the game.
The loss drops New York to seventh in the Eastern Conference which is as far as they can sink this season. While it is an improvement over 2023, their inability to find a unique goal-scoring threat, and missing star-man Forsberg for significant periods of time, has cost them a home playoff advantage. New York will avoid the play-in game but have been unable to find momentum heading into the playoffs.
STARTING XI:
New York Red Bulls: Coronel; Harper (80′ Ngoma), Reyes (46′ D. Nealis), S. Nealis, Eile, Tolkin (85′ Stroud), Donkor, Edelman, Carballo (59′ Forsberg), Vanzeir (59′ Manoel), Morgan
Atlanta United FC: Guzan; Hernandez, Gregersen, Williams (60′ Abrams), Amador, Silsz, Fortune, Lobjanidze, Miranchuk(90′ Dax McCarty), Mosquera (84′ Wolff), Thiare (84′ Rios)
SCORING SUMMARY:
75′ (Atlanta United) Alexey Miranchuk (3) – PK
90′ (Atlanta United) Tyler Wolff (2) assisted by Alexey Miranchuk
90′ (New York Red Bulls) Serge Ngoma (1) assisted by Peter Stroud
DISCIPLINE:
31′ (New York Red Bulls) John Tolkin – YELLOW CARD
66′ (New York Red Bulls) Dylan Nealis – RED CARD
70′ (Atlanta United) Stian Gregersen – YELLOW CARD
70′ (New York Red Bulls) Emil Forsberg – YELLOW CARD
70′ (New York Red Bulls) Carlos Coronel – YELLOW CARD
70′ (New York Red Bulls) Sean Nealis – YELLOW CARD
90′ (New York Red Bulls) Noah Eile – YELLOW CARD
photo by Matt Kremkau