In their 2024 MLS regular season home opener, the New York Red Bulls will host Dallas on Saturday at Red Bull Arena, the third game of the campaign for each side.
Last weekend, the Red Bulls came back to claim their first regular season victory, defeating the Houston Dynamo 2-1, while the Toros lost to Montreal by that same score.
Match preview
After two regular-season affairs, we have seen a resilient Red Bulls squad and a well-organised defensive unit who have been difficult to break down.
In just a couple of road fixtures this year, the Red Bulls already have as many points away from home as they had in their first seven MLS fixtures as the visitors in 2023.
Last year, they won seven matches at home but only emerged victorious in one of their final four regular-season affairs at Red Bull Arena.
Going back to the previous regular season, New York have not conceded a second-half strike in four successive matches in this competition.
If they can avoid defeat on Saturday, it would be the first time since the 2020 season that the Red Bulls begin a domestic campaign unbeaten in their first three matches, though, in 2020, they had several months off in between their matchday two draw with Real Salt Lake (1-1) and their August 20 triumph versus New York City FC (1-0).
Sandro Schwarz has yet to lose as an MLS manager in the regular season, and his side are riding an eight-match unbeaten run against Dallas in this competition, a streak which dates back to 2013.
Nico Estevez was none too pleased with what he saw out of the Toros last weekend, as his ordinarily stable defensive unit looked overzealous while often misjudging balls.
That loss ended a seven-match unbeaten run at home for them in MLS play and was the first time they had conceded multiple goals in a regular season affair since September 2 of last year (2-2 draw with Atlanta United).
The Toros ended the 2023 regular season on a four-match unbeaten run away from home but could not maintain that momentum in the playoffs, losing both matches in the opening round versus the Seattle Sounders and failing to score each time.
Their defeat versus Le CFM last Saturday marked the fourth successive time they failed to win a regular season contest when conceding the opening goal, a streak which dates back to September 2023.
Counting the 2023 post-season, Dallas have not suffered consecutive defeats versus MLS opponents since losing their second and third regular season affairs in July of last year.
This is not a side with a ton of attacking quality, but they have had a miserable time in the attacking third at Red Bull Arena, failing to score a goal there since the 2011 campaign (2-2 draw).
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Team News
John Tolkin was back in the lineup for New York last weekend after previously sustaining a groin strain, while Cory Burke and Ryan Meara sat out of their previous encounter for that same reason.
Serge Ngoma and Kyle Duncan are questionable because of hamstring strains, while Curtis Ofori is unlikely to feature due to an ankle injury.
Elias Manoel levelled their match with the Dynamo at one with the first Red Bulls goal of the new campaign, while Lewis Morgan notched the winner, the first for the Scottish midfielder since the 2022 MLS Cup playoffs.
Dallas will be without Alan Velasco on Saturday as he has a sore knee, Geovane Jesus is dealing with pain in his right knee and Amet Korca has a left groin strain.
Sebastien Ibeagha is also expected to be sidelined because of a calf strain, while Marco Farfan will be doubtful due to a lower back injury.
Peter Musa netted his first career MLS goal in a losing effort as he, Patrickson Delgado and Omar Gonzalez all made their Toros debuts last weekend.
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Coronel; D. Nealis, S. Nealis, Eile, Tolkin; Morgan, Edelman, Amaya, Forsberg; Vanzeir, Manoel
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Tafari, Gonzalez, Junqua; Kamungo, Sealy, Illarramendi, Pomykal; Farrington, Arriola; Musa
We say: New York Red Bulls 1-0 Dallas
The Toros have not won an away match against the Red Bulls since 2006 (2-1), and with so many key contributors not at 100%, we expect a strong defensive unit like New York to frustrate them and be able to create chances on the counter.
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