I am in complete shock. I am still sitting in front of my computer, and my television rewatched all the big highlights from both games as the New York Red Bulls did the unthinkable. they took everything the Columbus Crew gave them and pulled off the biggest upset in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. Timely goals, strong defensive play, big goalkeeping saves, and when it went down to a penalty shootout in the second and final game of the opening round, fireworks were flying around and bedlam inside the Cathedral of Football as the New York Red Bulls advanced to the next round to face either FC Cincinnati or a Hudson River Derby against New York City FC.
The big players stood out and converted. First the Designated Players. Felipe Carballo scored his first goal for the club in the road game at Lower .com Field with that massive quick strike after Emil Forsberg delivered a corner to find both Lewis Morgan and Dylan Nealis playing head games until Carballo smacked it home in Game 1. Then Lewis Morgan for the second time this season saved the ball from going out over the far side touchline and starting an attacking run, finding Forsberg who passed it to Dante Vanzeir and smacked home a lovely ball that tucked inside the back post for the equalizer, then the captain who was fouled converted a big penalty to take a lead late in Game 2.
While the Crew did equalize in second half stoppage time, the shootout was calling, and that’s when Carlos Coronel came calling. This was his moment to shine. After allowing four straight penalties, he stopped the fifth one by Cheberko, then Forsberg scored to send the shootout into extra kicks. Coronel was feeling it and stopped Arfsten in the sixth round. Sadly Sean Nealis was thwarted, but Coronel was feeling it and he stopped the seventh penalty by Matan, by getting his right hand down on the ground and tapping it away. Then it was the homegrown hero, Daniel Edelman who sized up his moment and smashed home the winning penalty to send Red Bull Arena into a frenzy and send the Crew home.
The defense was strong as well. The Nealis brothers Sean and Dylan were helping out Coronel stopping most of the attacking runs by the Crew, but when they got beaten, Coronel came up big with those huge eight saves in Game 1, and of course, his stellar final three saves in the penalty kick shootout. Emil Forsberg was interviewed by AM magazine and said “WHY NOT US?!” Well now the why not us just become, it can be us. Yes, it can, because Head Coach Sandro Schwarz felt angry and annoyed when Wilfred Nancy spoke to the Columbus Soccer Media and informed them they let Red Bull play their game for ten minutes in the second half of Decision Day to level the match and then beat them in second half stoppage time. While Schwarz won’t admit to being upset about it, you had an idea it was gnawing at him.
So what did he do? He changed the formation, he changed the tactics, he went five in the back and absorbed their pressure, then when it came time to attack, they took advantage and did the job. They never wanted to go back to Columbus, they wanted to end it at Red Bull Arena, in front of all their loyal fans and the supporters in the South Ward who have been faithful to them since 2010. This was the best team in Major League Soccer, they won the MLS Cup last season, went to the CONCACAF Champions Cup Final and fell to Monterrey, won the 2024 Leagues Cup, and now their title defense has been shattered by this plucky New York Red Bulls side.
Having Emil Forsberg join the club from their sister side in Leipzig, Germany shows you what an experienced veteran can do for such a young and talented squad. If he goes out and adds to the firepower and gives confidence to these young and upcoming players, this team can go far. Before they fell from third place to seventh in the East, I felt they could’ve won the first round in the playoffs, but I didn’t think they were going to do it against the Columbus Crew. Now anything that happens after this round, is golden, gravy, playing with house money. There is a chance they can add another name to them, and that word is Spoiler. While they await the winner of Cincy & NYCFC they will be on the International Break, so it will be a while before they return to action.
Still, if you need an excuse to continue the celebration, go ahead. party it up. Wear your Red Bulls kits everywhere you go. Wear it to work, wear it to the park, to school, show your pride, and wait to see who the opponent is for the back end of November because right now this club is off and running, can they run the Eastern Conference playoff bracket? That possibility is now in play, one favorite is down, can the other one be far behind? We shall see.