The New York Red Bulls have reached the MLS Cup final after a surprising playoff run.
The Red Bulls had a tough time during the regular season. They played 20 matches from June 2 until the end of the season, winning only three games. Most of these wins came against a struggling Toronto team.
As the 2024 Major League Soccer season progressed, the Red Bulls struggled to find their form. By the end of the 34-match season, they had only 11 wins. Their performance was average, and they entered the playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.
Despite their low ranking, the Red Bulls found themselves in the playoffs, benefiting from the league’s format. They had long odds of +5800 to win the title, but they managed to pull off some surprising victories.
In the conference final, the Red Bulls faced Orlando City. They played a solid game and scored an early goal in the second half. John Tolkin delivered a great set piece, and Andrés Reyes scored with a brave header. This performance showed they deserved to win.
The playoffs this year have been unpredictable. The Red Bulls’ journey highlights the randomness of the MLS playoffs, which can be chaotic. They started by defeating the strong Columbus Crew in the first round, winning one game on the road and another at home in a penalty shootout.
In another surprising twist, Atlanta, with only ten regular-season wins, upset the top-seeded Inter Miami. FC Cincinnati also lost to NYCFC in a penalty shootout. The Red Bulls continued their surprising run by beating NYCFC in the quarterfinals.
Now, they have won more playoff games than they did during the entire regular season. They will face either the Seattle Sounders or the Los Angeles Galaxy next weekend. With just one more victory, the Red Bulls can claim their first MLS Cup championship.
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