New York Red Bulls reach MLS Cup, keeping improbable playoff run alive

The New York Red Bulls started the MLS Cup Playoffs by eliminating the defending league champions.

Now, they have a chance to become MLS champions.

The Red Bulls will play for the MLS Cup title after defeating Orlando City SC, 1-0, in the Eastern Conference final on Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.  

The Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC meet at 10:30 p.m. in the Western Conference final.

The Red Bulls will be the visiting team in the MLS Cup final on Dec. 7.

Andres Reyes scored a header in the 47th minute, from the left side of the box after a corner kick, to seal the Red Bulls’ second trip the MLS Cup final.

“No one actually believed in us, but we did it. But the job is not finished,” Red Bulls standout Emil Forsberg said in a postgame interview after the game.

The Red Bulls, riding the longest playoff appearance streak in American sports at 15 years, still seeks its first MLS Cup. They fell 3-1 to Columbus Crew in the 2008 final, the team’s only appearance in the league championship game.

However, the Red Bulls’ playoff run started by eliminating the defending champion Columbus Crew in two games during the first round of the playoffs. They beat in-state rival New York City FC, 2-0, in the semifinals. And they’re one win away from the title.

New York entered the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, outlasting the likes of Lionel Messi and Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami, the Crew, and last year’s Shield winners in FC Cincinnati.

“I’m very proud of the whole group. It’s amazing the last couple of weeks, and now we have a big one. We’re not done,” Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz said during a postgame interview after the win.

Orlando City was the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, needing three games to beat Charlotte FC in the first round before beating playoff darling Atlanta United (which knocked out Inter Miami) in the semifinals.

Orlando City relied on three shutouts in four games to reach their first Eastern Conference final. But their fifth straight postseason trip has come to an end.

As the Red Bulls await their MLS Cup final opponent, their goal is clear.

“Whoever we get, we’re going to go there and win,” Forsberg said. 

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.