HARRISON, N.J.— Been there, done that.
After winning their third Supporters’ Shield in six years while setting a new league record for most points in a season with a 1-0 win over Orlando City SC on Decision Day presented by AT&T, the New York Red Bulls, while proud, remain singularly focused on securing the club’s first ever MLS Cup.
“That’s the ultimate goal,” Tyler Adams said after the game. “You win Supporters’ Shield, (the fans) have had that feeling before. Now we want to win MLS Cup. This is a special group and I think people are starting to realize that. Our goal coming into the season was we can win all the trophies in the world, but, if we don’t win MLS Cup, then what’s it really mean?”
It would be lazy to dig up the #SameOldMetro accusation as a chief reason why the Red Bulls won’t win 2018 MLS Cup. Everyone in the locker room believes this version is different than past iterations of the club.
“Because of our defensive play,” Bradley Wright-Phillips explained. “In past years over the playoffs, we suffered from not taking our chances and not keeping clean sheets.”
The league-best defensive unit has been curated over the years – Luis Robles acquired in 2012, Kemar Lawrence 2015, Aaron Long 2016, Michael Murillo 2017 and a pair of Homegrown midfielders, Sean Davis in 2014 and Adams a year later – but the final piece arrived in March: Tim Parker.
“There’s no doubt that he’s changed our backline and changed our team entirely,” Long said of Parker. “He’s an unbelievable player, since he's come here we’ve been a rock defensively. To sign a guy like that is unbelievable for us.”
Parker and Long have anchored a defense that conceded just 33 goals in 34 games this season. Long has appeared in all 34 games and is among the favorites for MLS Defender of the Year. Parker is the most notable snub from that shortlist because the team could only nominate two of their defenders. With the pair holding down the fort, the club have a great opportunity to win their first MLS Cup.
That would make Wright-Phillips’ time spent on the internet a bit more enjoyable.
“It’s a great club, seen some great players and still haven’t had a Cup. It annoys me — I’m a guy that reads comments,” Wright-Phillips admitted. “Sometimes I’ll see other fans like ‘you’ve been here 20 years and you haven’t won anything.’ I can’t wait for them to be able to reply: ‘what now?’”
After the final whistle on Sunday, the players and staff enjoyed the moment at Red Bull Arena. Before long, all players stood arm in arm with in front of the South Ward and head coach Chris Armas was given the mic.
“I promise we’re going after MLS Cup,” Armas assured a deliriously happy group of fans serenading their heroes.
The night ended under a shower of confetti, celebrating in front of their most loyal fans. The Red Bulls can only hope to have a repeat of that scene on Dec. 8, after the MLS Cup final which would be in front of those most loyal fans should the club navigate the Eastern Conference.
Then maybe Wright-Phillips can browse comment sections and social media with a smile on his face throughout the offseason, knowing his fans have the ultimate comeback.
