The only unbeaten team at home in MLS this year will put that record on the line on Wednesday as the New York Red Bulls host CF Montreal at Red Bulls Arena.
Thanks to a 1-1 draw against the Colorado Rapids last weekend, the Red Bulls remain fourth in the Eastern Conference, while Le CFM defeated Atlanta United 1-0, moving into a tie with Nashville SC for the final playoff spot.
Match preview
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Week after week, they are picking up points, though winning has been hard to come by for the Red Bulls lately, claiming just one domestic triumph in their last seven outings.
The good news for Sandro Schwarz is that only of those encounters over that stretch ended in defeat for his side (1-0 versus the New England Revolution), keeping them in position for home-field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
That lone goal scored on Saturday was the 37th for them in MLS this year, one more than they netted over the previous regular season.
New York will enter this match having won four of their previous six regular-season contests at Red Bull Arena, coming from behind the last time out to draw DC United 2-2.
Another victory on Wednesday would equal their total number of wins from the 2023 MLS campaign, while they have not lost a domestic home fixture since September (1-0 to the Chicago Fire).
In five separate matches this season the Red Bulls have conceded the opening goal but found a way to earn a result, claiming nine points from those losing positions.
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An early second-half strike was all Montreal would need to end a two-match winless run in this competition and extend their domestic unbeaten streak at home to seven games.
It has been a roller coaster of a season for Laurent Courtois in his first campaign in charge, with his side showing plenty of consistency at home but on a nine-match winless run as the visitors.
Their victory over the weekend boosted their post-season aspirations, as they are only below that line in the Eastern Conference on goal difference.
While they have fought back into playoff contention, Le CFM are below that line because of their poor defensive showings, conceding the second-most goals in the Eastern Conference (46).
On Wednesday, Montreal can win consecutive league fixtures for only the second time this year and equal their longest winning run in MLS at the same time.
Le CFM have lost three of their previous four visits to Red Bull Arena, with their last away victory against the Red Bulls coming in 2022 (2-1).
Team News
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Emil Forsberg sat out of the previous Red Bulls match with a sore leg, Roald Mitchell and Serge Ngoma are dealing with knee injuries, while Peter Stroud is recovering from ankle surgery.
The Red Bulls will not have John Tolkin at their disposal for this game after he was selected for the US national team for the Olympics in Paris.
Lewis Morgan scored in first-half stoppage time on Saturday, but an own-goal by Sean Nealis in the second half saw the Red Bulls dropped two points.
Mason Toye was back in the fold for Montreal against Atlanta, replacing Raheem Edwards in the second half for his first appearance since sustaining a lower-body injury.
Captain Samuel Piette, Mathieu Choiniere and Joel Waterman should all be available after representing Canada at the Copa America.
Ruan had the only strike for them last weekend, his second of the season, while Jonathan Sirois did not have to make a single stop for his first clean sheet since a 0-0 draw with Real Salt Lake in mid-June.
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Coronel; Reyes, S. Nealis, Eile; D. Nealis, Edelman, Carmona, Duncan; Harper, Morgan; Vanzeir
CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Sirois; Campbell, Alvarez, Waterman; Ruan, Saliba, Piette, Edwards; Duke, Lassiter; Martinez
We say: New York Red Bulls 2-0 CF Montreal
The Red Bulls' consistency at home has us leaning towards them winning on Wednesday against a Montreal side that appear to be rather intimidated and uneasy outside of Saputo Stadium.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
