When the Red Bulls play host to the San Jose Earthquakes in tonight’s MLS conference semifinals, it will mark the first time in club history this team has had a chance to clinch a playoff series at home.
But Red Bulls’ leaders — from coach Hans Backe to departing captain Juan Pablo Angel to star Thierry Henry — have urgently reminded their team nothing is clinched yet, that Saturday’s 1-0 win in San Jose just put them in good position. Now they have to close the deal tonight in Harrison (N.J.), where they are 10-3-2 this year.
“We played a great game against San Jose away and got a good result, but I keep saying the league is far from over. There’s still a lot of work to be done,” said Angel, who doesn’t want tonight’s game to be his Red Bull finale.
“The game is home, and we want to make sure we finish up what we started on Saturday. We need to show the same urgency, the same character and hope we play as well as the other day.”
The Red Bulls can use Angel to play better. He has a team-high 13 goals, but none since July 31.
Henry, his strike partner, has been cleared to play, but after missing three weeks with a right knee injury, could be backing up Juan Agudelo or Salou Ibrahim. Either way, he knows the danger of looking past San Jose.
“It’s going to be a tough game,” Henry said. “San Jose is going to come here and play for their life basically.”
With a tie tonight, the Red Bulls would be the home team in next week’s conference finals