Soccer <\/p>\n
ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 What were the odds of the No. 7 seed not just reaching, but winning the Eastern Conference Final? Whatever they were, the New York Red Bulls<\/a> defied them all the way to MLS Cup presented by Audi on Dec. 7.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n With Saturday\u2019s 1-0 win<\/a> at Orlando City SC<\/a>, RBNY took down their third straight higher-seeded opponent of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. They\u2019ll look to pull off one more upset at Dignity Health Sports Park against Western Conference champions LA Galaxy<\/a> in next weekend\u2019s grand finale.<\/p>\n The Red Bulls will be the lowest-ever seed to play for the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, a prize that’s eluded the MLS-original club since their 1996 debut.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe for a lot of people, it\u2019s the biggest surprise now that we are in the MLS Cup final,\u201d Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz told reporters postgame at Inter&Co Stadium.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest, for me, it\u2019s a very good feeling. But it\u2019s not the biggest surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n That might be the understatement of the playoffs.<\/p>\n New York entered their Round One Best-of-3 Series against the Columbus Crew<\/a> as massive underdogs, only to sweep the defending MLS Cup champions in stunning fashion. They then beat Hudson River Derby rivals New York City FC<\/a>, 2-0<\/a>, before out-grinding Orlando in a nail-biter of a Conference Final decided by Andr\u00e9s Reyes<\/a>\u2019 47th-minute headed goal.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s clear when you win against the champions from last season, Columbus, that you have more confidence in your quality, your performance, and you believe,\u201d Schwarz said of the club\u2019s surprising run.<\/p>\n \u201cIt starts always with the result, but you have to prepare the result very seriously and very professionally.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n For playmaker Emil Forsberg<\/a>, Saturday\u2019s achievement further justified his decision to join New York after nearly a decade with German Bundesliga sister side RB Leipzig.<\/p>\n “This is why I came. I said I wanted a challenge, I think it was the perfect challenge for me,\u201d the Swedish Designated Player said in a post-game interview with MLS Season Pass. \u201cI\u2019m so happy we did it. No one actually believed in us, but we did it.”<\/p>\n Homegrown John Tolkin<\/a>, who assisted Reyes\u2019 header, expressed pride in helping his boyhood club reach MLS Cup for just the second time in club history, following their 3-1 loss to the Crew in the 2008 final.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me and the guys who grew up in the area, it\u2019s a dream come true,\u201d the 22-year-old left back said. \u201c\u2026 This is an incredible moment, this is kind of why we do it. You know, all the s–t we\u2019ve dealt with through the year, the ups and downs.”<\/p>\n Tolkin\u2019s perfectly placed free kick to the far post early in the second half allowed Reyes to score the game\u2019s lone goal and move the Red Bulls within 90 minutes of their first title.<\/p>\n \u201cEmil [Forsberg]\u2026 said, \u2018Put this on goal, smack it in there\u2019 and I was like \u2018Hell yeah,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cAnd Andr\u00e9s is a dog. He\u2019s been huge for us all year, especially in these playoffs.<\/p>\n \u201cTo see it go in the net was super cool. Yeah man, that was a good play.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Now, one final challenge awaits vs. an LA Galaxy side looking for a record sixth MLS Cup.<\/p>\n Can the Red Bulls, known for their high-intensity style, handle arguably the league\u2019s most dangerous attack? The G’s are led by the Killa P\u2019s of Riqui Puig<\/a>, Gabriel Pec<\/a> and Joseph Paintsil<\/a>, along with Dejan Jovelji\u0107<\/a>, who scored the game-winner in their 1-0 Western Conference Final victory<\/a> over Seattle Sounders FC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cThe physicality has been what we\u2019re about. When we can bring that to the table, we\u2019ve proven that it\u2019s very hard for teams to fight through that,\u201d Tolkin said. \u201c\u2026 Everybody picks up that energy. We\u2019re gonna need that next weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n Schwarz, who joined RBNY this season after a long career managing in the Bundesliga, knows what these types of finals entail.<\/p>\n “Sure, it\u2019s pressure. We need also pressure when you want to bring the best performance, the best quality of the whole group. It\u2019s not possible without pressure, to be honest,” Schwarz said. “And that\u2019s good, it\u2019s the reason why we\u2019re working so hard every day.<\/p>\n “Now we are in the MLS Cup final,” he said. “Today\u2019s the day more to enjoy. Tomorrow, we start to work hard for next weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nCinderella run<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Back on the big stage<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Galaxy in the way<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n