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New York (19-7-5, 62 points) defeated leaders
Atlanta 2-0 last Sunday to close the gap in the race for MLS'
best regular-season record to a single point.
While the ultimate prize remains MLS Cup, which is bestowed upon
the postseason winners, Red Bulls coach Chris Armas said
continuing to chase the Shield remains important as long as it's
realistic. New York won the honor in 2013 and 2015.
"We know that there are two trophies left," Armas said. "And the
Supporters' Shield, we've seen it, we've touched it, we've
tasted that. So we want that trophy. And if you go after that
the right way, it puts you in a good spot for the other one
that's out there."
The Red Bulls also welcome the return of Bradley
Wright-Phillips, who with one more goal will become the first
player in MLS history to post three 20-goal seasons. The
Englishman was suspended for Sunday's match because of
yellow-card accumulation.
If there's any place the Red Bulls can improve, however, it's
away from home. Their 6-5-4 road mark is hardly poor, but it's
well shy of Atlanta's 10-4-2 record away from home.
Meanwhile, San Jose continues to search for its first win since
the dismissal of coach Mikael Stahre, as well as more goals in
Chris Wondolowski's pursuit of the all-time goal-scoring record.
The Quakes (4-19-8, 20 points) have the fewest points in MLS and
have lost five straight, including three following Stahre's
dismissal last month. And it won't get any easier against the
Red Bulls in their second-to-last home game of 2018.
"They're one of the best teams in the league," said San Jose
midfielder Tommy Thompson of Saturday's opponent. "They do a
great job of putting people under pressure, so we have to be
ready for that. We have to create space for each other and make
sure we don't give the ball away in bad places."
If there is a San Jose silver lining, it's Wondolowski. With his
ninth goal of the season in last weekend's 3-2 loss in Houston,
the 35-year-old "Wondo" has 143 career MLS goals, two shy of
tying record-holder Landon Donovan.
--Field Level Media
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