Red Bulls Stay Unbeaten at Home, Atlanta Still Winless on the Road
Photo via Jahvon Barrett
The New York Red Bulls made it three straight wins with a confident 2-0 victory over Atlanta United at Red Bull Arena on Friday night. First-half goals from Cameron Harper and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting helped RBNY continue their strong home form and move to 27 points, which goes some way in an attempt to strengthen their playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
The Red Bulls entered the match in 7th place, boasting a 6-1-1 home record. Atlanta, meanwhile, sat 12th and had yet to win on the road this season. With both teams looking to build on two-game winning streaks, the matchup promised intensity, but it was the hosts who took control early.
In just the 3rd minute, a costly turnover by Miguel Almirón handed RBNY an early advantage. Cameron Harper pounced and slotted home calmly for the opener, punishing a team already struggling defensively. Atlanta has now conceded 30 goals this season, one of the highest tallies in the conference.
The Red Bulls maintained most of the possession early, though it was Atlanta that created a few promising chances following the opener. Almirón and Miranchuk tested goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, who stood tall to preserve the lead. Despite having less of the ball, Atlanta looked sharp in transition but couldn’t find a way through.
The Red Bulls struck again in the 29th minute. Harper, who had already scored, delivered a low cross from the right side that found Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The veteran striker made no mistake, calmly finishing for his 10th goal of the season and third in two games.
With the two-goal cushion, RBNY controlled the tempo for the remainder of the half and much of the second. Emil Forsberg dropped deeper to influence play, while wide players often recycled possession rather than pressing forward. The team appeared more focused on managing the game than extending the lead.
Atlanta head coach Ronny Deila turned to Jamal Thiaré off the bench, replacing an underwhelming Almirón in the 60th minute. Thiaré, who had scored in back-to-back matches, came close again in the 86th minute, forcing Coronel into a key save to preserve the clean sheet.
Mohammed Sofo, the promising 20-year-old Ghanaian, entered the match in the 74th minute and added energy in the final stages. Head coach Sandro Schwarz’s decision to start Eric over Bogacz again proved wise, though both young forwards will likely continue to push for minutes.
With the win, RBNY now has 27 points and remains unbeaten in eight of their last ten home matches. Atlanta, on the other hand, falls to 13th and is still searching for its first win away from home this season. For the Red Bulls, the night was another step in the right direction. Solid at the back, clinical up front, and quietly building momentum at just the right time.
By: Jahvon Barrett / @jahvonbarrett
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images