The match in 100 words (or bit, it’s the playoffs): In the MLS Cup Playoffs, sometimes you gotta go to the dirty places and get a little bit of luck from your opponent: An injured Michael de Leeuw and unfit Bastian Schweinsteiger qualify as the latter for the No.3 seed Chicago Fire. The New York Red Bulls got in close to apply the former, with Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kljestan sliding into the box to give RBNY a 2-0 lead after just 11 minutes of their first round playoff match-up at Toyota Park.
BWP also recorded an assist, and Daniel Royer and Gonzalo Veron scored late goals to salt away Chicago’s resurgence at one playoff game, ruining ex-teammate Dax McCarty’s Fire playoff debut. Now the Red Bulls earn two legs against the team with the best record in MLS history: Toronto FC.
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The moments that mattered
7' -- Lampson freezes, BWP goes BWP -- Chicago Fire goalkeeper Veljko Paunovic rested his starting keeper on Sunday, and who knows if that played a big role in this moment here?
Bradley Wright-Phillips grabs the 1st goal of the #MLSCupPlayoffs (with a little help from Lampson). #CHIvNY https://t.co/Rgh85dM3ca
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 26, 2017
11' -- Kljestan goes to the dirty places -- Sacha Kljestan is not going to be afraid of the big stage, and the former Anderlecht man did what was needed to give the Red Bulls a surprising 2-0 lead.
Sacha Kljestan had just 2 goals in the regular season. Now he's got the Red Bulls up by 2 in the playoffs. #CHIvNY https://t.co/ewRMcfxvBb
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 26, 2017
70' -- Royer puts it to bed -- Chicago turned to Bastian Schweinsteiger in the 65th minute for his first run since early September, and the Fire also went to three at the back. That backfired quickly.
It's three! Royer slots home for @NewYorkRedBulls!#CHIvNY // @Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs https://t.co/qRAWgnKw37
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 26, 2017