New York Red Bulls vs. Orlando City SC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

New York Red Bulls vs. Orlando City SC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 35
Red Bull Arena — Harrison
October 28 — 4:30 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

The New York Red Bulls could win the Supporters’ Shield for the third time in six years with a win over Orlando City SC and a little help from Toronto FC against Atlanta United on Decision Day presented by AT&T.

The Red Bulls enter their regular-season finale just one point behind Atlanta after defeating the Philadelphia Union, 1-0, on Sunday for their fourth straight win, while the Lions are looking to spoil the party and finish their season with consecutive victories after defeating Columbus Crew SC, 2-1, in their home finale.

This is the second meeting this season, with Orlando City SC winning 4-3 at home on March 31. Dom Dwyer struck for a brace and Josue Colman scored the late winner after Aaron Long leveled in the 82nd minute.

New York Red Bulls

The Red Bulls (21-7-5) kept pace with first-place Atlanta in the Shield race by defeating the Union, 1-0, at Talen Energy Stadium on Sunday.

The only goal scored in the contentious match came from the penalty spot where Kaku buried the attempt after Alejandro Bedoya was ruled to have handled the ball in the box on an attacking corner kick after Video Review.

“We don’t try to draw it up a certain way,” head coach Chris Armas said. “It is fitting for us we can control what we can control. We are home against a tough opponent, in front of our supporters with a chance to win that trophy that’s all we can ask. We hope Toronto can give them everything and play to our favor.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Florian Valot (torn left ACL), D - Kyle Duncan (torn right ACL), M - Vincent Bezecourt (right MCL surgery), D - Tommy Redding (shoulder surgery), M - Ben Mines (broken left clavicle surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Luis Robles — Michael Murillo, Tim Parker, Aaron Long, Kemar Lawrence — Tyler Adams, Sean Davis — Marc Rzatkowski, Kaku, Alex Muyl — Bradley Wright-Phillips

Notes: Luis Robles is tied for the MLS lead with 13 shutouts this year, which is tied for the fifth-most ever in one season. He has 34 clean sheets since 2016, three more than any other keeper. … The Red Bulls are the sixth team in MLS history to average at least 2.0 points per game over a full season. They are one point behind the MLS-record 69 points Toronto had a year ago.

Orlando City SC

Orlando City SC (8-21-4) snapped a 13-match winless streak by defeating Columbus Crew SC, 2-1, in their home finale Sunday.

Federico Higuain put the visitors in front in the 54th minute before Yoshi Yotun leveled from the penalty spot three minutes later. Sacha Kljestan struck for the dramatic winner in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.

“I think that would be the expected behavior that I’m speaking about,” Orlando head coach James O’Connor said. “That level of commitment. I think, for a lot of the guys, I think it’s been tough. I make very high demands and I have very high expectations of myself, first and foremost, so when you go through what we’ve gone through, I look internally first.

“I look at what I should have done and what I could have done. My messaging. And then I want to make sure there’s good understanding of what we’re trying to do.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: GK - Mason Stajduhar (Localized Ewing Sarcoma), M - Pierre Da Silva (torn meniscus), D - Jonathan Spector (back injury), M - Richie Laryea (concussion); QUESTIONABLE: F - Stefano Pinho (quad injury)

Projected Starting XI
(3-4-3, right to left)
GK: Adam Grinwis — Shane O’Neill, Lamine Sane, Carlos Ascues — Scott Sutter, Uri Rosell, Yoshi Yotun, Mohamed El-Munir — Will Johnson, Dom Dwyer, Sacha Kljestan

Notes: Kljestan enters this weekend with just six assists, his fewest in a MLS season since tallying three in 10 games in 2010. His six assists are tied for the second fewest among players with 60+ chances created. … Orlando City have lost their last 13 league road games, the third-longest streak in MLS history. Another defeat would tie them with the 2005 D.C. United for the second-longest streak.

All-Time Series

Overall: New York Red Bulls 4 wins, 16 goals … Orlando City SC 3 wins, 14 goals … 1 draw
At New York: Red Bulls 3 wins, 10 goals … Orlando City SC 1 win, 8 goals … 0 draws
Last meeting at New York: New York Red Bulls 3, Orlando City SC 1 (Aug. 12, 2017)