The New York Red Bulls achieved the first goal they set in the preseason, but there wasn't exactly a champagne celebration at the team's practice facility at Montclair State University when they clinched a playoff berth for the fifth consecutive year.
That's because the Red Bulls backed into the postseason this weekend, thanks to FC Dallas' 3-1 win against the Columbus Crew.
With just one win in its last eight games, the Red Bulls could have booked their ticket on their own terms, but they lost to Toronto FC 2-1 at BMO Field Thursday night.
"You're disappointed anytime you lose," Clint Mathis said. "But we picked up enough points early in the season to be able to clinch it. At the end of the day, that's what's most important."
But even though New York is winless in its last four games, they are at least now assured of a playoff berth. And that sure beats the alternative.
"We went to Toronto knowing if we won we would have clinched on our own strength," Dave van den Bergh said. "But we'll take it. I'm sure there's some teams that don't make the playoffs that would have been happy to get in with a loss."
For the past two seasons, the Red Bulls didn't clinch until the final day of the regular season. Last year, they needed a win against the Kansas City Wizards at home to get in. A hat trick by Amado Guevara is what powered the Red Bulls, while the Wizards left Giants Stadium stunned.
"We're happy," said van den Bergh, who was in the despondent visitors' locker room last year. "Last year the (Red Bulls) waited until the last minute to make the playoffs so we've made some real progress. What you do in the regular season doesn't carry over. It's a new season."
Last year's Red Bulls team was a good example of that. Despite being the last team to clinch in the Eastern Conference, the Red Bulls gave Supporters' Shield winners D.C. United a run for their money in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. And two years ago, the Los Angeles Galaxy was the final team in the Western Conference to make the playoffs and won the MLS Cup.
"It's anyone's ballgame," Mathis said. "Teams first to eighth still can come away with the championship. It's what makes October games fun."
The Red Bulls need to improve on their form heading into the playoffs and have two regular season games to do so, starting with Saturday night's final regular season home game against the Wizards. A win would clinch the No. 3 seed in the East and likely set up a meeting with the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.
"It's important to get a win Saturday, especially for the fans who have been there all year long," van den Bergh. "It's important for us to stay in the East because those are the teams we know best. It's important to get the win Saturday to seal the third spot and then we'll go to Los Angeles to work on our shape."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
