For the past three seasons, the New York Red Bulls saw their playoff runs end early in road games.
How the Red Bulls defend Brenner could determine if they get past visiting FC Cincinnati in an MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Round One match on Saturday afternoon in Harrison, N.J.
The winner of Saturday’s match will face the top-seeded Philadelphia Union next weekend.
The Red Bulls are in the playoffs for the 13th straight season. Since winning the Supporters’ Shield and advancing to the East finals in 2018, however, they have experienced three opening-round defeats.
New York (15-11-8, 53 points) finished in fourth in the East, two points behind New York City FC despite an uneven 6-6-5 mark in home matches. The Red Bulls also are the postseason despite their 50 goals being the second-fewest among any top-four team in either conference.
“We have to be very focused and very clear how we create a rest defense and also how we create successful moments in transitions,” NYRB coach Gerhard Struber said. “With the right staggering, with the right numbers, with dynamic, with overload moments in the right areas, we will create the match plan and then we will see how this will work on Saturday.”
FC Cincinnati (12-9-13, 49 points) scored 64 goals, good for the second most amongst any Eastern Conference playoff qualifier. Brenner scored 18 of those goals, including half in the final five games.
“The talent throughout the team is noticeable,” said defender Alvas Powell, who won an MLS Cup in 2015 with Portland. “Everyone steps up in big moments and has the ability to change games. That’s what makes this team special. Everyone gives it their all.”
Brenner got two of his three hat tricks during Cincinnati’s final five games. He achieved the feat against San Jose on Sept. 10 and versus D.C. United on Sunday.
Brenner is part of a trio with Brendan Vazquez and Luciano Acosta that combined for 46 goals. Vazquez also finished with 18 goals, while the trio combined for 33 assists.
The teams played to a pair of 1-1 draws this season and neither club has scored more than one goal in each of the past five encounters.
–Field Level Media
