The start of the season has been fast and furious for the New York Red Bulls, and the goals have come fast and furious for Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Wright-Phillips has shined for the club throughout the first month of the season, providing a spark and, more importantly, goals in both MLS and CONCACAF Champions League play. Wright-Phillips’ efforts have led the Red Bulls to a strong MLS start and a CCL semifinal berth while also earning the forward honors as SBI MLS Player of the Month for March.

In CCL play, Wright-Phillips has been the catalyst behind the Red Bulls’ push to the competition’s final four as the forward is currently tied for the tournament lead in goals scored with three in four matches. The Englishman opened the tournament with a goal in the Red Bulls’ 5-1 aggregate rout of Olimpia, but his real damage came against Club Tijuana. His brace in the away leg all but sealed the Red Bulls’ spot in the semifinals, which kick off Wednesday against Chivas de Guadalajara.

While he’s frequently been rested in MLS play, Wright-Phillips has still found a way to provide league goals. Despite starting just one of the four matches in which he’s played, Wright-Phillips has provided three goals and an assist.

In capturing the Player of the Month award, Wright-Phillips beat out Jesus Medina, Kei Kamara, Carlos Vela and Felipe Gutierrez.

What did you think of Wright-Phillips’ March performance? Which player stood out to you in the opening month?

Share your thoughts below.

New York Red Bulls defender Kyle Duncan is likely done for the season after this latest injury update.

Duncan went down with a serious looking knee injury in Saturday’s 4-3 loss in Orlando, and the club announced today that it is indeed a torn ACL. He will have surgery to repair the damage in the next few weeks.

The 20-year-old is a product of the Red Bulls Academy and is in his first year in MLS after spending the last two years with FC Valenciennes in the French second tier. He had appeared all four MLS matches for the Red Bulls this season, tallying one assist.

No official timetable has been given for his recovery and an update will be issued after the surgery.

The New York Red Bulls’ dominant victory over Club Tijuana is in the rear view mirror according to coach Jesse Marsch. A date with C.D. Chivas de Guadalajara awaits in the CCL semifinal, and the task at hand is larger than ever.

“Playing at elevation. Playing in front of these fans in this stadium, I think it’s a bigger task,” said Jesse Marsch ahead of his club’s semifinal matchup in the CONCACAF Champions League. “It’s a tougher match for us and it’s going to require us to play even better than we did. In Tijuana, we needed luck in many ways and a big performance from our goalkeeper. The task at hand for us tomorrow night is a very big one.”

The Red Bulls form to open the season has been promising, but also inconsistent as the club navigates the additional fixtures of international competition. Having lost their last two road games in MLS should be a cause for concern, but Jesse Marsch’s focus has been on the CCL from the start of the season. Each MLS match has featured a different starting lineup to juggle the added work load.

The aforementioned success in Tijuana, while impressive, pales in comparison to getting a result at Estadio Akron.

“There’s going to be moments where they throw a lot at us, with the momentum of the crowd and the game,” said Marsch. “But we like to go after games. We like to go after teams. We like to be aggressive. We like to run. We like to press, and we will do that tomorrow.”

In the quarterfinals, Chivas found themselves a goal down after the first leg against the Seattle Sounders FC, but they stormed back, downing the rave green 3-1 on aggregate.

The CCL result helped turn around a difficult start to the Torneo Clasura. Before the match against the Sounders, Chivas languished near the bottom of the Liga MX table. Since the CCL victory, Chivas has climbed to 12th place and put up a 2-0-1 record.

The Red Bulls will lament a loss of some of their vaunted depth, with Kyle Duncan and Fidel Escobar picking up injuries over the last week. Duncan, who was having a break out season for the Red Bulls will be out for an extended period, having torn his ACL. Mercy smiles down on in Red Bull land, as MLS has moved their scheduled weekend fixture against the Houston Dynamo, allowing for a greater period of rest between the two legs.

Jesse Marsch will be hoping to get big performances out of his offensive players, especially Bradley Wright-Phillips. Wright-Phillips leads the Red Bulls with three goals scored and three assists. The two-time MLS golden boot winner will need to keep up the scoring touch, making the most of his chances, if the Red Bulls are to survive their trip south of the border.

The match will be exciting, according to Jesse Marsch, thanks to the both teams valuing their identity and playing on their own terms.

“Chivas has a style they stick to always, and so do Red Bull,” said Marsch. “That’s what will make this game so interesting. We’re not coming here to defend for 90 minutes. We know that we’ll have to address their strengths.”

“It sets up for a game that can maybe be ugly at times, but one where two teams will be very aggressive to go at each other. I think that that is exciting That’ll be exciting for the fans. That’ll be exciting for both teams. We know we are going to have to be at our absolute best.”

The New York Red Bulls may have finished the match with 10 men, and watched Bradley Wright-Phillips miss a golden chance for an equalizer, but they will feel good about leaving Mexico down by just a goal heading into next week’s decisive CONCACAF Champions League semifinal second leg.

Chivas punished the Red Bulls for their biggest mistake of the night, scoring a first-half goal that held up in a 1-0 victory at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.

Tyler Adams was punished for an uncharacteristic mistake in the 26th minute when he had a poor pass intercepted, leading to a Chivas counterattack that finished with Isaac Brizuela beating Luis Robles for the lone goal of the night.

Though Chivas had more of the ball — holding a 63-37 edge in possession — and the better attacking sequences, the Mexican side failed to really test Luis Robles after Brizuela’s goal, managing just three total shots on goal on the night.

The Red Bulls managed just one shot on goal on the night, but it was a chance that should have yielded a goal, but Bradley Wright-Phillips was denied by Chivas goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota after breaking in behind the Chivas defense for a clear look at goal in the 79th minute minute.

Alex Muyl had a tough outing for the visitors. First, he received a yellow card in the 21st minute for a hard challenge, ensuring he would miss the second leg. Then, in the second half, Muyl clashed heads with challenging for a ball in the box. He left the match immediately.

The teams will face off on April 11 at Red Bull Arena in the semifinal second leg.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Isaac Brizuela scored the goal, but Carlos Cisneros was all over the Red Bulls, breaking up attacks and disrupting play. Chivas had few real chances going forward, and needed a big performance from their backline.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The Chivas goal decided the match, but the red card to Aurelien Collin truly took the Red Bulls out of the game. Being a defender down in the home leg next week certainly won’t help.

MATCH TO FORGET

Tyler Adams had a shocker for a player that has rarely put a foot wrong in 2018. He was a step off all night and played a big part in Chivas’s only goal of the match.

Wednesday night’s result wasn’t ideal for the New York Red Bulls, who emerged from the Estadio Akron with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Chivas de Guadalajara. The result ensures the MLS side will be at a disadvantage heading back into the second leg, and the lack of an away goal will make matters difficult if Chivas was to get on the board in Game 2.

However, Red Bulls boss Jesse Marsch sees it all to play for, and he also sees a team that is more than up for the challenge of taking down a top Mexican side in a two-legged affair.

“I think we got exactly what we thought we’d get, which was combative counter-pressing, making it difficult on us when we had the ball,” Marsch said following the opening leg. “We chose to play direct often to try and bypass some of their pressure.  We could have been a little bit more opportunistic, a little bit sharper making some plays in the final third, but against a really good Chivas team in a very tough place to play, only being down one goal is a good result for us.

“Am I satisfied with the result? All in all, I think both teams put a lot into it. It was a big battle, very combative. It’s probably pretty even.”

The match was fairly even, although Chivas enjoyed a bulk of the possession.  It was a match filled with physicality, and even a bit of controversy as the two teams certainly took offense to some of the hard challenges that flew throughout the match.

On a night where both teams struggled to create chances, a single mistake was damning for a Red Bulls team that lost because of it. Following a Tyler Adams giveaway in midfield, Chivas star Rodolfo Pizarro led a counter-attack, finding Isaac Brizuela for a swift goal that could be the turning point in the series.

“Tyler is a great player. He has a great future ahead of him. It’s normal that young players make little mistakes,” Marsch said. “For the most part, he was a very important player for us tonight and he’ll continue to be a very important player for us this year.

“When you coach young players, you have to have patience at times. They’re not going to make every decision perfectly, they’re not going to make every play perfectly. Tyler is a big player for us. I guarantee you he will respond in the second leg in a big way.”

Hope for a Red Bulls comeback took a severe dent in the 73rd minute as Aurellien Collin was sent off for a second yellow card. In Marsch’s eyes, the first yellow issued to the Frenchman was questionable while the second seemed a bit more clear. Regardless, Collin will now miss the second leg alongside Alex Muyl, who will be suspended due to yellow card accumulation.

It wasn’t as if the Red Bulls didn’t have their chances, though. Opportunities were hard to come by, with the two teams combining for just four shots on target. The Red Bulls’ best look came after Collin’s dismissal as Bradley Wright-Phillips saw a one-on-one chance smothered by Chivas’ Rodolfo Cota for the goalkeeper’s lone save of the match.

“One zero, we’re down and Bradley Wright-Phillips  has a very good chance and he comes up with a big save,” March said. “If we score that goal, we come out of here feeling like the game went as planned. Unfortunate for us, a big save and we don’t get our away goal, but we’ll be ready at Red Bull Arena to push things.”

Wednesday night’s loss was the Red Bulls’ first of the tournament as well as the first match in which they’d been held scoreless this season. March expects goals to return when the two teams collide at Red Bull Arena on Tuesday.

The Red Bulls haven’t given up a goal at home yet this season, although defending against this Chivas side will be another diffiult task. But, in Marsch’s eyes, it’s only “halftime”, and there’s plenty left to play for.

“I would expect a lot of Mexican fans would want a Superclasico in the final. That would be amazing, but that’s not our plan,” Marsch said. “A really hard fought game, big credit to Chivas to get an edge in their game at home, but now the responsibility falls on us to go back to our place and do everything we can to find a way to emerge.

“It will take everything we have. It will take a great performance, us being on top of all the little things, all of the details, because if we give up one goal, we make it very difficult on ourselves. We’ll regroup, recharge and be ready for leg two. It will be a really exciting event. “

With C.D. Chivas de Guadalajara holding a one-goal advantage after winning the first leg of their Concacaf Champions league semifinal matchup against the New York Red Bulls, the ball is firmly in the home team’s court Tuesday night.

The Red Bulls did not have their best showing in Guadalajara, and return home needing a win by at least two goals if they are to advance to the CCL final. Jesse Marsch is more than aware of the challenge his is facing, but he also felt that first leg result was favorable.

“We chose to play direct often to try to bypass some of their pressure,” said Jesse Marsch ahead of Tuesday’s clash. “We could have been a little more opportunistic, and a little bit sharper making some plays in the final third. But against a really good Chivas team in a really tough place to play, I think only being down one goal is a good result for us. We’ll go back to Red Bull Arena and be ready to push the game there.

“If we score that goal, then we get out of here feeling really good about the result and the game went as planned.”

The Red Bulls will need to push the game without two key players as Aurelien Collin and Alex Muyl are suspended for the important match due to yellow card accumulation. Collin received two yellow cards and his marching orders during the loss in Guadalajara, and Muyl had been sitting on a yellow card since their road victory over Club Tijuana in the quarterfinals.

Discipline issues spread to both sides of the field in the first leg last week. In addition to picking up a yellow card during the match, Jair Pereira received a suspension after an incident where he put his hands on the Red Bull’s Sean Davis’ neck during a late game fracas.

Pereira’s loss would be the largest for either team. Pereira is Chivas’s captain and he played an important role in stopping the high flying Red Bulls from finding the back of the net.

Chivas head coach, Matias Almeyda, filed an appeal of the suspension citing similar violent conduct from the Red Bulls that went unpunished.

“Chivas is going to file an appeal,” said Almeyda, on Monday during a press conference at Red Bull Arena. “Yesterday when we traveled here, I saw all the images and I found it very strange that Jair was suspended only when there are players from the rival who also participate in the same action.”

Almeyda went on to suggest there may be a conspiracy against the team because of the Mexican-only player policy.

“”It is very strange because we are just the team that has only Mexicans, and that makes it uncomfortable for the team with only Mexicans to reach a final,” said Almeyda.

The winner of this match will move onto the CCL final to play the winner of the Club America versus Toronto FC series. TFC leads the series by an aggregate score of 3-1.

Should the Red Bulls advance, the opportunity for an all-MLS could help to turn the tide of public opinion toward the quality gap between Liga MX and MLS.

Chivas de Guadalajara is moving on the in Concacaf Champions League after holding onto their slim aggregate lead to leave the New York Red Bulls asking “what if” yet again.

After winning the first leg of the semifinal series against the Red Bulls, Chivas had to stop the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena, a task that no team had yet accomplished in 2018. Despite the active away support in the stands, Chivas remained content to stifle the Red Bulls rather than attack. It was a strategy that ultimately proved successful, winning 1-0 on aggregate with a 0-0 draw.

The Red Bulls came out in the first half exactly as Jesse Marsch would have wanted. They played with intensity and focus, seemingly never letting Chivas settle into the game. All that was missing for the Red Bulls was the final product, though they had numerous chances.

Their best chance in the half came from a nifty pass and move play between Florian Valot, Tyler Adams, and Daniel Royer. Royer managed to place a cross low in front of the goal mouth, but the out stretched foot of Kemar Lawrence could not reach the cross in time.

Chivas played to their strengths, remaining patient, allowing the Red Bulls to run themselves all around the field, and pick their chances moving forward. They also made sure to slow down the game playing physically at all levels of the field.

Chivas slowly climbed into the game in the second half as they found more room to operate as the Red Bulls began to run out of steam. Their counter attacking moves began to spell danger to the Red Bulls with every errant ball from the 50th minute onward. The Red Bulls grasp on the game and the series hung in the balance.

When it mattered most, the Red Bulls could not find a way to break down a team that is willing to put all of its players behind the ball, conceding possession, and frustrating a stagnant offense.

Man of the Match

Chivas’s entire backline deserves the credit. Edwin Hernandez, Oswaldo Alanis, Carlos Salcido, and Carlos Cisneros put in a herculean effort, turning the Red Bulls away at every chance.

Moment of the Match

Royer’s cross that looked destined for the back of the goal that went begging was the story of the match for the Red Bulls. The frustration of years of futility in a single play.

Match to Forget

Bradley Wright-Phillips did not stand out as the worst player on the Red Bulls, but he failed to live up to his enormous reputation at a critical moment for the club yet again. Back to the drawing board.

After 20 shots from the New York Red Bulls and more than 40 clearances from the Chivas Guadalajara defense, Tuesday’s Concacaf Champions League semifinal second leg ended 0-0 at Red Bull Arena. Somehow, the home side, for all of their efforts and offensive firepower, did not score a single goal not just on the day, but over the two legs.

“It’s almost impossible that you can somehow not find a way to score a goal and find a way to be so dangerous around the goal all night long but not make that final play,” said Red Bulls boss Jesse Marsch.

Part of it may be down to the decisions Marsch himself made. The team’s record goalscorer, Bradley Wright-Phillips was not playing in his usual position at the head of the formation, but in a deeper number ten role, with Derrick Etienne and Daniel Royer playing in front of the Englishman. Though obviously the Red Bulls recorded many shots, it was certainly an odd decision when what the team needed was goals.

Marsch said it was counter the specific tactical nature.

“Chivas is a very unique team, tactically,” he said. “I’ve never seen a team play like this ever. It’s an interesting way that they do things and it makes it a very difficult team to break down, a very difficult team to score.”

It was also to keep defenders away from Wright-Phillips. T

“(The plan was) “o rotate [Wright-Phillips] underneath so that he wasn’t just being marked by a center back, but could find more space and to have to the guys in front of him really be aggressive and be on the run and play behind and put them on their heels,” Marsch said.

“When they go man-to-man, it’s hard for him to get away and find space. By putting another striker up there and having him float a little bit more underneath, he can catch balls, be facing the goal a little bit more, helping to put combinations and plays together, and then you know, the goal was also to have him joining in late for crosses, for balls in the box.”

Wright-Phillips himself thought he did what was asked of him.

“I wasn’t worried about the going forward part,” he said. “My worries coming into the game playing a number ten is the defending part and I think, overall, I’ve done okay.”

The plan also does not seem to be a one-off. “There will days where we can do that, where we can almost use him as a second striker or an underneath striker or a number ten,” Marsch said.

Wright-Phillips is fine with that decision. “I don’t mind,” the forward said. “Anywhere I can help the team win, I will.”

Despite any doubts from others, Marsch considers the experiment a job well done.

“In many ways, we achieved so much of what we wanted to achieve,” the coach said. “I thought they established themselves in the series as the better team, a very good team. And that this group has a really bright future.”

The arrival of Alejandro Romero Gamarra required a lot of patience out of the New York Red Bulls faithful, as did steady minutes with the team’s mainstays. However, on Saturday against the Montreal Impact, on a day Gamarra scored his first MLS goal, it was finally his time to shine.

“I think more than anything, this was Kaku’s best game by a mile,” Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch said post-match. “Today I think he showed everyone, including himself, that he’s going to be a really good fit here and he’s going to be a big player here.”

The midgielder has started all but one match so far this MLS season, but he has frequently been stuck with the reserves as the team made a run to the Concacaf Champions League semifinals. Gamarra played frequently off the bench during those games, scoring once, but many were waiting to see more from him and wanted Marsch to put him in the starting lineup. The coach explained, though, why the player’s integration took as long as it did.

“We talked heavily about it and at all moments, when was going
to be the right time? When was going to be the right time to really insert him and take off the handcuffs?,” Marsch said. “He’s worked hard to try to understand tactically what we’re trying to get out of him. He’s worked hard to understand now what the reactions are, where he’s needed, what kind of final plays.”

“I think that, mentally, you have to pay attention, you have to listen,” the midfielder added. “Today, I did it. Almost every match, there’s been some growth on my part.”

The player also admitted that it had taken him some time to learn the terminology that his teammates, speaking English that is still somewhat unfamiliar to him, used on the field, but he is picking that up, too.

The day also marked his first start with the team’s long-time talisman, Bradley Wright-Phillips, who has so far assisted both of Gamarra’s goals for the club, including his strike against Montreal.

“I’ll always try to find him on the field,” Gamarra said, but not just to score himself. “You always want Brad to get as many goals to be top goalscorer.”

Marsch also emphasized that the relationship between the two of them is incredibly crucial to the team’s success.

“That relationship will be key,” the head coach said. “We need to make sure that they understand each other’s tendencies and movements and that they are clear with what kind of relationship we want them to have.”

“The guy, he’s not just a quality player on the ball,” Wright-Phillips said. “If you saw today, if you really watched this game, his reactions. He closes down. He’s willing to work, and before talent, in this team, you have to be willing to work. To find a number ten that is not only good on the ball, but can work as hard as he does, it’s lucky.”

Marsch admitted that Gamarra may have been the piece the Red Bulls were even missing on Tuesday, when they were eliminated at the hands of Chivas Guadalajara in the Champions League.

“After the Chivas game I said we’ve missed steps,” Marsch said. “Some of it is to do with Kaku; that we’ve had to take more time to kind of continue to work him into things.”

However, Marsch feels that he is ready to let him finally show off his skills.

“Is it time to take the handcuffs off,” Marsch asked. “The answer’s yes.”

The New York Red Bulls 2018 MLS campaign is well underway, but is just now becoming their main focus following their Concacaf Champions League exit.

While the Red Bulls have relied on its depth to handle the extra workload, an unexpected, though welcome problem has emerged. How will Jesse Marsch set up the midfield to maximize the emerging young talents who have contributed so far this year?

The match against the Montreal Impact may have provided some answers for the short term, and it lies in change of formation. While the lineup sheet showed the team lineup in a 4-2-3-1, the real formation the team can be seen on the following heat map:

New York Red Bulls heat map vs. the Montreal Impact

The Red Bulls average position on the day was much closer to the infamous 4-2-2-2 formation that Jesse Marsch has dabbled with over the past three seasons. While the forays into the 4-2-2-2 have often failed the Red Bulls and kept the team from maximizing their best players, they may have finally found the personnel to make it work.

Floria Valot and Alejandro “Káku” Romero Gamarra each play as attacking midfielders in the formation. While it is clear the Gamarra is the first choice playmaker, Valot has earned his spot on the field through strong performances over the last month. What made their partnership flourish, and what may be the key to unlocking the potential of the 4-2-2-2, is that both Valot and Gamarra are comfortable playing centrally or out wide.

Valot has spent the last two and a half seasons with the New York Red Bulls II in USL mainly playing as a wide midfielder and flourished in the role.

Gamarra has also mainly lined up as a wide midfielder in a traditional winger role. His combination of quickness and vision made him a valuable asset on the wing in Argentina. Transitioning to a more central position makes definite use of his vision, and with cover in the form of Valot, he can drift outside to a more comfortable position when the situation demands it.

Further up the field, Daniel Royer has settled into a support striker role that has a bit of freedom to roam underneath Bradley Wright-Phillips, giving the latter an outlet if defenses queue in on the prolific striker.

The withdrawn forward role can be, and has been filled by Derrick Etienne this season at times. Etienne offers a similar outlet for Wright-Phillips as Royer, and carries a similar skill set: willing to take players on the dribble, ability to cross effectively, and a nose for goal.

The biggest question mark for the Red Bulls moving forward is what to do with four viable central midfield starters. Sean Davis and Tyler Adams have been the de facto starting pair, but sitting behind them awaiting their chances are Marc Rzatkowski, and Vincent Bezecourt.

Rzatkowski adds far more bite to the position then either Adams or Davis, has shown himself to be adept at free kicks, and can finish a play when called upon.

His loan from sister club Red Bull Salzburg this winter seemed to indicate he would be stepping into a starting role, but he has had a hard time displacing Adams or Davis, despite his pedigree.

Bezecourt came into this season flying under the radar. He starred for NYRB II as a central attacking midfielder. Few thought he would really get the chance to contribute much to the first team with the acquisition of both Rzatkowski and Káku.

His inclusion in the lineup this season has mostly been as a holding or defensive midfielder, and he has flourished. Bezecourt leads the team in tackles per game, and has shown similar offensive abilities to Rzatkoski, though a bit less refined.

The odd man out, should the Red Bulls continue to experiment with the hybrid 4-2-2-2 would be Alex Muyl. While Muyl has strong defensive instincts, the offensive side of his game is a few strides behind the others mentioned.

Muyl could function as an underneath forward like Royer or Etienne, but he has shown a better understanding of his role when operating from wider positions.

Marsch is really in an enviable position, with some very good options at just about every midfield position. The trick will be if he can balance the expectations of the players, and rotate the lineup appropriately to allow the team to continue to operate at a high level.

The Red Bulls still have plenty of time to deliver answers, and with CCL behind them, their renewed focus should provide a clear path to understanding how they move forward.

Experienced players are becoming few and far between on the New York Red Bulls roster, but one veteran that will not be going anywhere for the foreseeable future is Daniel Royer.

The Red Bulls announced on Thursday morning that they re-signed Royer to a new multi-year deal. The Austrian midfielder has been a lineup regular since joining the club in 2016, and has delivered 13 goals and four assists in his 36 regular-season appearances to date.

“We are pleased to reach an agreement with Danny to extend his time in New York,” said Red Bulls sporting director Denis Hamlett in a statement issued by the club. “Danny fits both our style of play and club culture, and we look forward to him contributing to our continued success.”

The 27-year-old Royer is apparently not the only player the Red Bulls have inked to a new contract. The side has come to terms with Homegrown midfielder Sean Davis on a deal that will keep him in New York until 2021. Davis, 25, has reportedly signed a a deal that includes three guaranteed seasons and a one-year option.

DYNAMO ADD SWEDISH DEFENDER LUNDQVIST

The Houston Dynamo bolstered their defense with a former Sweden international.

The Dynamo announced on Thursday morning they signed left back Adam Lundqvist. The club used Targeted Allocation Money to sign the 24-year-old Lundqvist, who will occupy an international roster spot. He joins the club after most recently featuring for IF Elfsborg in his native land and after making his two lone international appearances to date with Sweden’s national team in 2016.

“Adam is a young and talented defender who has already played over 100 first division matches at just 24-years old and has represented his country at important international competitions,” said Dynamo general manager Matt Jordan said in a club-issued statement. “We are confident that he has the quality as a player and the mentality as a professional to grow and develop with our club.”

HIGUAIN EXTENDS STAY WITH CREW

Uncertainty over the Columbus Crew’s future still remains, but that did not stop playmaker Federico Higuain from agreeing to a new deal with the club.

The Crew announced on Thursday morning they signed Higuain to a one-year extension that runs through 2019. The deal will keep the 33-year-old Argentine at Designated Player status, and ensure he has an eighth campaign with the club that he has scored 50 goals and delivered 52 assists for in regular-season play.

“Federico is a model professional who leads by example,” said Crew sporting director and head coach Gregg Berhalter. “Federico has consistently performed at a high level for many years now, which is a testament to both his quality and work ethic, and so we are pleased to reach a contract extension for the 2019 campaign. We are excited to see how a player with a historic career continues to add to his legacy as a player and a teammate, on and off the field.

“Federico is an important part of this system and as a team we remain committed in our push for another return to the postseason.”

This season, Higuain scored two goals and assisted on three others in eight appearances for the Crew.

Rivalries evolve as the years go on. It’s only natural. Players and coaches change. Trends develop and end. Moments are created and are then upstaged and overshadowed by recency.

The New York Derby is no different. Much has changed in the few short years since the rivalry’s debut and, with both teams appearing set to contend in a big way in 2018, this year’s debut debut has a different feel than in year’s past.

For the first few years of the rivalry, New York was most certainly red. The 7-0 win remains the headliner but, for years, the Red Bulls dominated the New York soccer scene. In 2017 that changed, though, as NYCFC went 2-0-1 to claim the season series throughout their most successful year in the team’s short history.

“It has gotten bigger,” said Bradley Wright-Phillips. “I think the way we started and winning all the time it gave them some fire. Now, they are on top of the league right now. They have had two good seasons in a row and it is going to be tougher for us. Since it first started, it is definitely getting better and evening it out more, it is not one sided any more. It is good to be involved in it.”

“I think the difference is overall as a team we improved,” NYCFC boss Patrick Vieira added. “The first year of course I think they had a few years in front of us, and I think through the years, with the way we rebuilt the team we closed the gap. We have good teams that have allowed us to challenge them.”

Entering Saturday’s clash, NYCFC FC sits atop MLS with 20 points through nine matches. It’s an impressive haul that’s included some impressive wins as NYCFC has showed off depth and a ruthless attack en route to a push to the top of the standings.

The Red Bulls, meanwhile. have bounced back from a Concacaf Champions League setback with some impressive wins of their own. With a pair of games in hand, the Red Bulls sit eight points behind their conference rivals with a team that is relying on a talented young core with success.

While the Red Bulls’ philosophy has stayed largely the same since  Marsch took over, NYCFC has evolved a great deal since Vieira took over. Familiar stars like Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard are gone as NYCFC has rebuilt as a younger, deeper team with players like Jesus Medina, Alexander Ring and Yangel Herrera counted among the team’s core.

“I will not say we surpassed them,” Vieira said, “but we have the team to compete against them because I believe they are part of the favorites of the league because of what they have been achieving the last couple of years. I think the last two years we rebuild the teams to challenge those teams. I don’t say we surpassed them, I just say we have a team to compete against them.”

The Red Bulls have had their changes, though. Vieira pointed to the Red Bulls’ loss of Sacha Kljestan as one that changes the team dynamic, much like Dax McCarty’s departure did the year before.

Still, throughout the rivalry’s history, David Villa and Bradley Wright-Phillips have remained the focal point. Villa recently scored his 400th career goal as he continues to establish himself as one the league’s best ever attackers. Wright-Phillips, meanwhile, also counts himself among the league’s top goalscorers and has proven a particular thorn for NYCFC, having scored 10 goals in as many matches.

“They both rather win than score, there is no doubt,” Jesse Marsch said of the two forwards. “One of the things that makes them special is it is not just the goalscoring; its all the work they do to be real leaders for their team and to set the example. When you have your best player, your top striker, your superstar that is willing to do all the work that is the most humble that is the most committed to the team, my God does it make it easy for the head coach.

“I think the series has been Villa versus Wright-Phillips and, many ways, it will be like that again, but I think it is the job of both teams to put that player in position to succeed as many times as possible and which ever team manages to do that will most likely win.”

Wright-Phillips and Villa won’t be the only players to decide Saturday’s match, just like the game itself won’t be the deciding factor on the 2018 season. There’s a lot at stake, sure, but there’s plenty left to see throughout the season.

That doesn’t soften the anticipation from either side as both clubs look to get an early leg up on their local rival in a clash of the East’s elite.

After a year-long hiatus, The SBI Show is back.

Host Ives Galarcep is back once again, covering the key topics in American soccer, and the first episode since 2016 features a trio of guests to kick off a new era for the show.

New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch joins the show to discuss the latest installment of the Red Bulls-NYCFC rivalry, taking place on Saturday. GIF Sundsvall midfielder Romain Gall is also on the show, joining in from Sweden to discuss his excellent form, and the rough road he took to reach the best point in his young career.

Former SBI Show co-host Garrett Cleverly also checks in from Arizona to catch up long-time listeners on what he’s been up to.

Give the show a listen here:

The New York Red Bulls put together as complete a performance as they could against rivals New York City FC on Saturday. From the backline to the attacking front, the Red Bulls dominated from an individual and collective standpoint. While derby veterans in Bradley Wright-Phillips and Tyler Adams stood out, so did the likes of Tim Parker, Kaku, and Florian Valot, who all got their first taste of one of the league’s biggest rivalries.

“For [these] guys to come into the situation, it can be a little bit overwhelming,” Luis Robles said after the match. “You see their ability and their professionalism to be able to take it in stride and make a difference, and they did.”

Kaku, who grabbed a goal and two assists in the first half, admitted the preparation was challenging.

“There were a lot of details that we had to pay attention to,” the Argentine said. “…I have adapted quickly. I have been welcome, and that my teammates have helped me with the language and all that.”

Valot, who recorded a goal and an assist on the day, was also not daunted by the task.

“It was another game, like the other ones,” the Frenchman said, though he did not undersell the value of the victory.

“Beating them 4-0 is a big statement for us and for the league that we’re ready for the season.”

The two of them were part of a midfield that completely dominated the field, leaving the opposition with little room to play.

In particular, the defensive effort was what impressed Marsch and his players, particularly with the task of defending David Villa and Maxi Moralez at hand.

“I think we won the battle of the midfield,” head coach Jesse Marsch noted. “I think we picked up more second balls, I think we pressed them better, we picked them off in possession more,” which showed itself in attack and defense.

“We designed a specific tactical pressuring scheme to try and limit those two guys,” the head coach said. “It was also going to require whoever was in the vicinity to be aware of where he was and be ready to close down the space and then I think you saw a tough day for David Villa based on the performances of Tim Parker and Aaron Long.

“Our backline is our best  we’ve ever had. They can defend 1 v 1, they physically can handle moments. They’re really good defenders.”

Parker himself also spoke highly of the performance. He believes his connection with Aaron Long is getting stronger with each passing match, with the strength of it on display on Saturday.

“David Villa is a great striker and obviously creates a lot of opportunities,” Parker said. “He’s dangerous. Obviously when you can get him playing the way you want him to play, it plays to your advantage and you know you’re doing a good job.” 

The players, ultimately, enjoyed the day as much as their happy fans.

“It was a lot of fun,” Parker said. “I think the atmosphere is great. I’m used to watching it from afar, being firsthand it lives up to the hype.”

Through two head coaches, through a number of different systems and iterations, two key pieces have stayed at the same for the New York Red Bulls. For the past handful of years, some of the most successful in the teams history, the Red Bulls have had consistent leadership at the very top and at the very back and, in Saturday’s statement New York Derby win, that leadership was once again quietly on display.

Bradley Wright-Phillps and Luis Robles weren’t the standout performers in Saturday’s 4-0 win over NYCFC. They weren’t the best or most dynamic players on the field. However, their fingerprints were all over a win that notched the team’s seventh victory in 11 tries against their local rivals.

Through those 11 matches and over the past several years, Robles and Wright-Phillips have provided a number of memorable moments for the Red Bulls, and Saturday was another big one for a team that’s had just two consistent pieces throughout what’s felt like an unending period of transition.

“A huge part of it is just setting the right example. I’m not the only one,” Robles said. “No matter how many good performances (Wright-Phillips) has, no matter how many goals he’s scored, we come to training week-in, week-out knowing that we have to give our best to push our guys. They’re the present and our future. Not only will that benefit us but it will benefit U.S. soccer, and if we can be a part of that, if that can be a part our legacy, so be it.

“I also think one of the things that Brad and I have experienced in our careers is that we’re workers. There may be some talent there but what gets us over the hump is that we put our heads down and we work. I hope that rubs off on everyone else.”

It did on Saturday. There was Kaku, contributing to three of the four goals in his first MLS derby match. There was Florian Valot and Derrick Ettiene’s continued development on display alongside several other USL imports. There was Tyler Adams’s unmatched ability to tackle literally anything and anyone on the Red Bull Arena field.

But the performances of Wright-Phillips and Robles cannot be overstated. Robles helped marshal a clean sheet, one that he says was vital in building for games long after Saturday’s demolition. Conceding would have made the game “bitter-sweet” according to Robles, who wanted to make sure the young Red Bulls kept their composure despite it all. He lost his voice in the process, leading from the back as NYCFC turned up the pressure in the second half.

Wright-Phillips’ contributions were more obvious. He set up the first goal, breaking free and firing a shot that rebounded straight to Kaku. He scored the third, all but putting the game out of reach. The goal was his 11th in as many games against NYCFC, who, as a team, have scored just 11 total goals against the Red Bulls.

“I think it’s just growing up in England where derbies are everything,” Wright-Phillips said. “I’m an Arsenal supporter, and Tottenham-Arsenal is a day where my house will be shut down for that game, praying Arsenal wins. I try and take that into the game.

“Every morning when he comes, like when he came to the game today this morning and I saw him, he had a glow about him, like he wanted to play,” added Jesse Marsch. “He wanted to, again, show and compete and do everything it took to now find a way to win. It’s something that he is eager to prove, I think every time. That’s always the joy of being around Brad is there’s no jadedness. There’s no ego. There’s no selfishness. It’s all about the group.”

Wright-Phillips joked that the only “glow” he’d noticed about himself was his bald head, but even he couldn’t brush off the 11-in-11 statistic. Without wins, that stat means nothing but, with them, it’s a special achievement.

Saturday’s match wasn’t as memorable as the infamous 7-0. It’s a match that will be eclipsed by what happens in the next six months and in the final two derby matches of the season. But Robles, Wright-Phillips and the Red Bulls don’t expect a 7-0 each time, and performances like Saturday’s left plenty to feel good about for the Red Bulls’ two leaders.

At the end of the day, Robles and Wright-Phillips remain as important to the Red Bulls as any player on any club throughout the league and, their derby contributions will be big parts of their legacies when all is said and done.

“No. Those are one-offs. I don’t know in the history of the rivalry that will ever happen again,” Robles said. “I hope it happens for us again before them, but you can’t think, ‘let’s make this 7-0 and totally embarrass them’. For us, it was a race to that next goal. We knew the next goal would dictate the result.

“I’ve been on the winning end and I’ve been on the losing end. At the end of the day, this rivalry is great, not just for this organization or theirs but for MLS in general. For the result to turn out the way that it did, I don’t think it really speaks too much about them or us because it’s the beginning of the season.  We know that they’re a really good team. They’re one of the top teams in the league. We know that we could be a top team, but we have a lot of work to do.”

Week 10 in Major League Soccer was all about the Hudson River derby, and it lived up to expectations, but there plenty of other games worth watching over the weekend.

Thirty goals were scored across 11 games, and Orlando City extended its winning streak to six games.

In addition to Bradley Wright-Phillips scoring yet again against the biggest rival of the New York Red Bulls, a few of the league’s top scorers produced standout performances.

Below is a look at who stood out the most in the eyes of SBI’s editorial staff.

Player of the Week

Ignacio Piatti played a role in each of the Montreal Impact’s four goals, contributing a goal and three assists in the 4-2 win over New England.

Team of the Week

This week there wasn’t even a discussion about the most impressive team, as the New York Red Bulls locked the honor up with a 4-0 thumping of New York City FC.

Rookie of the Week

Real Salt Lake’s Corey Baird scored his second goal of the season in the Claret and Cobalt’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Orlando City.

Goal of the Week

Diego Valeri’s magnificent free kick in the waning moments of the second half powered the Portland Timbers past the struggling San Jose Earthquakes.

The New York Red Bulls approach against New York City FC was not surprising. Still, the high press showed the cracks in NYCFC, and may have provided a blueprint for how other teams can negate their high powered offense.

Sean Davis and Tyler Adams were critical to the Red Bulls’ approach, and ultimately their 4-0 victory, over their Hudson River rivals. The central midfield pair made things difficult for NYCFC throughout the match, swallowing up and redistributing any passing sequences through the middle of the field.

The opening goal of the game is a perfect example of his this worked both offensively, and defensively.

Before the Red Bulls gain possession, they compress the field. They form a block of players that prevents the defender from being able to do anything but clear the ball up field. Attempting to control the ball so he can dribble out of this situation, or trying to play a short pass is far too dangerous, as the Red Bulls have too many bodies in the area.

NYCFC played into Red Bulls hands here by remaining too narrow. When a team attempts to press the way that Red Bull press, quick passes and changing fields is the best way to negate the system. If the ball becomes static, or the team remains narrow, the Red Bulls can effectively surround them and force mistakes.

As the ball is cleared to midfield, David Villa reacts appropriately and attempts to play a one touch pass for Maxi Moralez. Villa recognized in this moment that all 10 of the Red Bulls’ field players were compressed into a 1/4 of the field in NYCFC’s half. If Moralez managed to receive this pass in stride, NYCFC were on the verge of a 3-on-2 break against the Red Bulls.

The positioning and quick thinking of both Sean Davis and Tyler Adams becomes critical in this moment. Moralez is slow to see the pass from Villa, but Adams reads it and intercepts. Rather than play the ball back to Aaron Long, Adams plays a lateral ball to Davis.

This pass is critical to the transition that Red Bull craves. By playing the ball to Davis, it gives the Red Bulls the chance to immediately start the attack. Playing the ball back to Long would have allowed NYCFC defense to set up, and track the attackers on the front line.

By playing the ball to Davis, the central hub of the midfield is receiving the ball facing goal and with a view of all of the attacking players. Davis sees Bradley Wright-Phillips and quickly chips the ball to the striker.

From this point on, NYC FC must go into survival mode. Emergency defending can effectively shut down an attack, but it comes at a steep cost. All of the attention goes to the ball and the attacker in possession, while the other attacking players can carry on unfettered. The image below shows all of the NYCFC defenders watching the ball, and failing to react to continued pressure from the Red Bulls.

NYCFC’s ball watching is what ultimately concedes the goal on the play. Sean Johnson does well to save the shot from Wright-Phillips, but the ball is parried back into dangerous territory. Ben Sweat does not recognize the threat until it is too late.

This is the Red Bulls at their most dangerous, but it is also against a team that played into their hands. NYCFC continued to try to play through the midfield, starting the attack from their backline. As a result, throughout the first half, Red Bull was able to force mistakes and create scoring opportunities.

Patrick Viera, to his credit, saw the issue and attempted to correct it in the second half by keeping the ball wide and attempting to overload the wings, but it was already too late.

For New York City FC to prove themselves as the best team in MLS this season, they cannot be so rigid in their approach that they become predictable. In many ways, it is a familiar criticism for Red Bull fans to hear, as it is one that Jesse Marsch is often accused.

If you only operate with a single approach, teams will begin to understand how to defeat you.

The Red Bulls are the third team to do this to NYCFC this season. Atlanta United and the Portland Timbers also gained points against NYCFC with a similar approach, and in those matches, opposing teams have outscored NYCFC, 9-2, and they gained just a point from those three matches.

The New York Red Bulls received some good news on Kemar Lawrence today.

According to Fox, the defender is travelling back to New York after all tests on his injured neck came back negative.

Lawrence left the Red Bulls’ 3-1 victory over Atlanta United on Sunday in the 72nd minute after went down awkwardly to go for a ball and never got up. He laid motionless on the pitch for several minutes before being taken off the on a stretcher after a neck brace was applied.

He was conscious and alert after the match, but was kept overnight at the hospital for precautions.

For the New York Red Bulls, Ryan Meara is not a surprise revelation, just another critical piece of depth that makes up nearly every spot on the team’s 30-man roster.

After an unfortunate injury left captain, and MLS iron man, Luis Robles sidelined, Meara was called upon to make his first league start since 2015, and his first league start for the Red Bulls since 2012. With Meara in the net, the Red Bulls marched into Mercedes Benz Stadium and stymied a talented Atlanta United FC attack.

While the backline had another tremendous match, it was Meara who kept the game close until the Red Bulls ran away with the result.

“Ryan made some big saves for us,” said Jesse Marsch after the match. “We all know he is a great goalkeeper. It’s one of the hardest jobs in this league to play behind Luis Robles because he is so reliable, he is so good and he is so ready for every match. But we have known the whole time that Ryan is still a really good goalie and an important guy around here. He showed it last year in the Open Cup run, and he showed it again today.”

Meara was called upon early and often against a talented Five Stripes attack. Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron’s counter attack in the 21st minute looked to spell doom for the Red Bulls, but Meara’s diving save kept the game level.

Three minutes later, the Martinez was at it again, this time on the break. His one on one attempt was also saved by Meara. When the Five Stripes finally did score a goal, there may have been consternation amongst Red Bull fans, but Meara had kept the game from becoming a blowout early.

The acting captain for the match, Bradley Wright-Phillips shared similar sentiments with his coach.

“When Ryan has to step-in we are full of confidence,” said Wright-Phillips from the locker room after the match. “How he trains and what he has done since he played in the Open Cup last year, there is not too much difference.

“We knew it was going to be tough for us, but I think our back line has been very good this season. When you have a backline like that to build off of, it gives the attackers a bit more time to get the attacking game going.”

Meara entered MLS as a day one starter for the Red Bulls in 2012. Meara impressed in his rookie season, but suffered a hip injury in June of that year, and struggled to return to fitness. During the interim, the Red Bulls acquired Luis Robles, and the rest is history.

Meara’s last league outing was nothing short of disastrous. While on loan at New York City FC, Meara earned a start against the Chicago Fire. The lone goal of the match came on a horrific turnover from Meara while attempting to save the ball from going out for a corner kick. The result was not just a loss for NYCFC, but it was the last time Meara would see the field during his loan spell with the club.

Two years ago, Meara was the starting goalkeeper for New York Red Bulls II and anchored the championship winning backline, setting records in goals against for the season, and winning consecutive penalty kick shootouts to see the Red Bulls into the USL cup final.

The victory in his first league start since 2015 will feel good for Meara, and his team is celebrating the accomplishment right along side the goalkeeper.

“Whenever you see a guy like that get a moment and a chance to show what he is all about in a big game, you get really happy for him,” said Marsch. “The whole team gave him a standing ovation in the locker room, so that was really good.”