The Red Bulls, one of only two MLS teams undefeated at home, put that unbeaten mark on the line Sunday night (7 p.m., MSG) when they play host to Portland, arguably the league’s worst road team.
Locked in a close Eastern Conference race with Sporting KC and Houston, Sunday night’s game offers three potential points the Red Bulls can ill afford to drop with consecutive road games on deck.
“We’re strong at home and we still haven’t lost at home, that’s the main thing,” midfielder Joel Lindpere said. “We need to keep going like this — concentrate now on what we can do better on away games and we can take it from there. I don’t know if we’ve traveled with a full team away this year.I don’t think so.’’
“Now with a little break, all the injured guys can get fit in practice. Maybe we can see … a good result. … This break is good. [We can] concentrate on the next home game, and then hopefully everybody on the team is ready for away games.’’
The Red Bulls, who are 8-0-3 at home, are 12-7-5 for 41 points, five behind Sporting KC, which beat Toronto 1-0 yesterday, and one ahead of Houston. Portland entered the week tied for the worst mark in MLS, and will have short rest after playing a midweek game against Toronto.
With consecutive road games after tonight, at East-leading Sporting KC and derby rival D.C. United, a win at home becomes paramount for their Supporters’ Shield hopes.
The Red Bulls have thrown several new players into this heated race for playoff positioning. From additions such as Sebastien Le Toux and Luis Robles to players finally getting healthy such as Rafa Marquez, Brandon Barklage and Ryan Meara, Competition for starting jobs is suddenly fierce., and practices feisty.
“I like it,” said coach Hans Backe. “That’s why we probably have seen [testy practices]. It gives it kind of an edge now in every session.Everyone, they’re not stupid. They can see how competitive it is.”
With the added depth, Backe said he won’t have to rush a tired Lindpere and Roy Miller back into the lineup after each had midweek international games.
“Of course with Joel and Roy coming back from international duties, I don’t know if we shall use them [today],” Backe said. “We all know how fatigued players are when you’re traveling from Europe and things like that. So let’s see how they look … but now of course we have the replacements.’’
If the Red Bulls can get a positive result tonight and survive the back-to-back road games, the stretch run lines up favorably. Five of their final seven games are at home, with the only trips short jaunts to New England and Philadelphia.