New York Red Bulls return to Orlando for the first time since last season’s Eastern Conference Final win, setting the stage for an epic encounter for revenge by the opposition. While head coach Sandro Schwarz acknowledged how important and historic last year’s win was, his main focus is on how the team can continue their current run of form.
“It’s a new game and more the focus now,” said Schwarz to the media. “What they did against us the first game this season and then also the last games, this is more our focus this Saturday.”
The first game between the two teams this year was a dramatic 2-2 draw at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Red Bulls fell behind after being caught for their midfield mistakes but the team rallied back with a goal from the penalty spot by designated players Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. New York gave it back just before the half time whistle before having to claw back a second half goal for a draw.
Head coach Schwarz wasn’t happy with his team’s overall performance and expressed his frustrations with his team’s inability to control the game. New York corrected that in follow-up home games against Toronto FC and Chicago Fire FC. Now, the team looks to carry that momentum on the road where they have yet to win in three attempts.
“We know for sure what was last season,” said Schwarz. “These were great moments, very good emotions for us, for the whole club. We made history with this victory in the Eastern Conference final.”
Both the coach and players understand just how much history has been built between the two clubs in recent memory. Saturday’s game will be the third meeting between the two since November. Orlando had the advantage in 2023, winning both regular season games against New York before the playoffs. Now, the tables have turned with Orlando being unable to take points at Sports Illustrated Stadium and hoping to turn things around from the playoff game last year.
“We have played them a lot it feels like these couple of months,” said defender Noah Eile. “We know how talented they are. They showed it when they were in the Eastern Conference final last year and they have so many good players up top and also defending. We know it’s going to be a really tough game.”
photo by Matt Kremkau