Introduction to Decision Day
Decision Day is upon the MLS again on Saturday. While both New York teams have wrapped up their postseason fates, New York City FC (NYCFC) has a chance to improve on its current fifth-seed position against the Seattle Sounders at Citi Field. For the Red Bulls (RBNY), the club has a chance to start anew on the road against the Columbus Crew after missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
NYCFC’s Rise to Prominence
City are fifth in the East, tied on points and goal difference with Charlotte. The Crown hold a spot over them, and a critical home-field advantage in the playoffs’ first match, only by virtue of four more goals scored. NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen emphasized that his side is doing “what we normally do.”
“We’re coming back from a loss — a tough match away against [Philadelphia] — where we weren’t as clinical as before,” Jansen told the media ahead of Saturday’s home against the Seattle Sounders. “So for us, the main thing is bouncing back from a bad result like we always try to do.”
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Jansen’s Impact on NYCFC
The Dutchman has gotten to grips with the MLS over the course of the season, where the Boys in Blue faced inconsistent results up until July. City had not strung together more than a two-match unbeaten run until NYCFC’s last four-match road trip, where they picked up two wins and a draw against Orlando, Dallas and Kansas City, respectively. After a break in league play to end July, NYCFC continued where they left off, securing narrow wins to beat Nashville and Cincinnati, two Eastern Conference playoff teams, through Alonso Martínez winners.
Red Bulls’ Downward Slide
Whilst the Boys in Blue have been on the rise, the red side of New York has been on a downward slide. Despite making the MLS Cup last year, losing to the LA Galaxy and beating NYCFC on the way in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Red Bulls finished in the seventh seed. Sacha Kljestan, former RBNY midfielder and co-analysts with McCarty, categorized his former team’s performance as “a playoff run,” last year, emphasizing that RBNY had hit a rich vein of form at the right time — something it hadn’t proved during the 2024 regular season.
Kljestan’s Assessment of RBNY
The year before that, they were tied in the wildcard spots with Charlotte in eighth, beating Montréal and NYCFC, who were 10th and 11th, to the postseason. “I would say it’s about the last five years where I believe NYCFC is on the right trajectory and the Red Bulls are not,” Kljestan told amNewYork. The Californian added that his former side had to “take a hard look at themselves in the mirror and figure out what they want to be.” RBNY chased German striker and UEFA Champions League Timo Werner all summer long to no avail, keeping that third designated-player spot empty to leave the door open.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while NYCFC is looking to improve its seeding, the Red Bulls are trying to end their season on a high note. With NYCFC’s rise to prominence and the Red Bulls’ downward slide, it will be interesting to see how both teams perform on Decision Day. NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen is one win away from matching a club record 18 wins in a season, and his team is looking to bounce back from a tough loss. On the other hand, the Red Bulls are looking to start anew and figure out what they want to be.
FAQs
Q: What is Decision Day in the MLS?
A: Decision Day is the final day of the MLS regular season, where all teams play their last match of the season.
Q: What is NYCFC’s current seeding?
A: NYCFC is currently fifth in the East, tied on points and goal difference with Charlotte.
Q: What is the Red Bulls’ current seeding?
A: The Red Bulls missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
Q: Who is NYCFC’s head coach?
A: NYCFC’s head coach is Pascal Jansen.
Q: Who is the Red Bulls’ head coach?
A: The Red Bulls’ head coach is Sandro Schwarz.
