It would be natural to expect a letdown. After all, the Chicago Fire have already booked their ticket into the MLS Cup Playoffs and just three days earlier won a fourth U.S. Open Cup title.
The Fire came into Giants Stadium as the hottest team in MLS and faced a Red Bulls team desperate for three points. After a 1-0 loss to the Red Bulls, the excuses were built in, but the Fire weren't using any.
"I don't think that carried over," Fire captain Chris Armas said of any Open Cup hangover. "If you look at our last few road games, we had good mentalities but it hasn't worked out good."
It's not like the Fire didn't have anything to play for, especially with second place in the Eastern Conference still up for grabs.
"We came here with the right mindset that we just won something, and that was great but we still have another few goals to accomplish," defender Dasan Robinson said. "We're trying to secure second place, we're trying to win the MLS Cup. Tonight, it's just the way the game is, sometimes things don't go our way. It just wasn't our night."
But from the opening kickoff, the Red Bulls displayed a sense of urgency and controlled possession. The only saving grace for the Fire was the Red Bulls didn't finish the few chances they created in the opening 45 minutes.
"We had a good week, given the fact that we lifted a trophy Wednesday," Chicago coach Dave Sarachan said. "But the truth of the matter of we have to get back to our good workout habits again and realize that now that's over with and the league is important and we've got to do our best to lock up second place."
It was the Fire who dictated the pace the last two times the two clubs met, but both games were at Toyota Park, including the stadium's grand opening June 25 in a 2-0 victory.
But on Saturday, scoring chances were few and far between. Ivan Guerrero was sent in on goal by Gonzalo Segares at the end of the first half. Jon Conway, making his 10th start of the season, did well to come off his line to make the save, the only shot on goal for the Fire the entire night.
In the 56th minute, Nate Jaqua had an open shot in the box, but it deflected off a Red Bulls defender for a corner kick. As for scoring opportunties, that was about all the Fire were able to muster.
"We knew what kind of pressure they were going to come out with but I just think we needed to match it better than we did," Robinson said. "They came at us pretty hard in the first half and were able to sustain it. They caught us one play and it was unfortunate."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
