Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 13/5
Bookmaker: ZetBet
New York Red Bulls are set to take on Atlanta United on Saturday at their Red Bull Arena, as the two teams fight their way for satisfactory table placement in the Eastern Conference of the American Major League Soccer.
New York Red Bulls
After an 18-day break from competitive matches, the New York Red Bulls found themselves on the verge of a third consecutive home defeat in all competitions when they let in two goals within the first 19 minutes against Charlotte on Thursday.
However, Troy Lesesne’s team displayed great determination in the second half and managed to salvage a draw, thanks to goals from Dante Vanzeir and Cameron Harper. The latter scored his first goal of the season.
Having finished fourth in the Eastern Conference last year, the New York Red Bulls are currently struggling in 13th position this season, with only four wins out of 18 matches. A victory on Sunday could potentially propel them into the playoff spots for the Final Series, provided other results go in their favor.
Lesesne and his team will wrap up the month of June with their third consecutive home match this weekend, aiming to extend their unbeaten streak of six games when they face Atlanta at the Red Bull Arena.
Last year, Lewis Morgan and Serge Ngoma both found the back of the net in a remarkable 2-1 comeback win against Atlanta at home. The goals were scored in the final seven minutes, completely turning the game around in a dramatic fashion.
Team News
Serge Ngoma, Omir Fernandez, Steven Sserwadda, and Lewis Morgan will all be absent for the Red Bulls due to various injuries, with Ngoma and Fernandez suffering from hamstring issues, Sserwadda dealing with a knee problem, and Morgan’s injury remaining unspecified. Additionally, Cory Burke from Jamaica and John Tolkin from the USA are unavailable as they are on international duty at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
On a positive note, Andres Reyes is eligible to return after serving a one-match suspension in the previous game. The center-back might be selected to start and could potentially replace Hassan Ndam in the lineup.
Atlanta United
In their recent match against New York City, Atlanta experienced their fifth draw in six MLS games, managing to come from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw at home.
Gabriel Pereira opened the scoring within 42 seconds, but Tyler Wolff equalized for Atlanta in the 11th minute, marking the team’s 350th MLS goal. Pereira then regained the lead for the visitors with his second goal just before the hour mark.
However, Atlanta had the final say as substitute Nick Firmino made an impactful debut by scoring a dramatic equalizer in the 94th minute. He headed home a looping cross from Brooks Lennon, resulting in a shared spoils in Georgia.
With eight draws this season, only Toronto (with 10 draws) has recorded more drawn matches than Atlanta. Nevertheless, this result was sufficient for Gonzalo Pineda’s team to climb to fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings. They have accumulated 29 points from 19 games, which is 11 points fewer than their total of 40 points from last season. Despite this, they still have 15 games remaining.
As the team with the highest number of goals scored in the MLS this season (37), Atlanta now aims to break their eight-game winless streak on the road by securing their first-ever victory at the Red Bull Arena. They can draw confidence from their narrow 1-0 home win over the New York Red Bulls in their previous encounter back in April.
Team News
There is uncertainty surrounding Santiago Sosa’s availability for Atlanta due to a calf problem, and his condition will be evaluated before the match. Miles Robinson, on the other hand, is currently with the USA squad participating in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Giorgos Giakoumakis, who served a one-match suspension, is now eligible for selection on Sunday. The Greek striker, along with Nick Firmino, is vying for a starting position, potentially ahead of Miguel Berry.
Experienced midfielder Osvaldo Alonso has made appearances as a late substitute in the past two matches after recovering from an ACL injury. The 37-year-old will be aiming to regain his spot in the starting lineup in the near future.
Conclusion
Altanta have never won at the Red Bull Arena, but this game is probably the perfect opportunity to do so, with Red Bulls currently struggling to find some consistency in their performances. The bookies mostly say otherwise, it should be said, naming the home side as slight favourites.
Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 13/5
Bookmaker: ZetBet
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
