The New York Red Bulls host FC Cincinnati on Saturday in the round one of the MLS Cup playoffs. New York finished the regular season 15-8-11 on 53 points with a goal difference of' +9. The Red Bulls were fourth in the Eastern Conference table. This is the 13th consecutive season that New York has qualified for the postseason. The Red Bulls have been eliminated from the playoffs in the first round in each of the last three seasons, with losses by one goal in each of the three.
However, all three matches that New York lost in the playoffs the past three seasons were all on the road and Saturday the Red Bulls are home. New York has won six of its last nine home matches in the playoffs. Lewis Morgan was the leading goal scorer during the regular season for New York with 14, while Patryk Klimala and Luguinhas each scored five.
Cincinnati finished fifth in the Eastern Conference table at 12-13-9 on 49 points with a goal difference of +8. Cincinnati has reached the playoffs for the first time after establishing new club records in points with 49, wins with 12 and goals with 64. With 49 points, Cincinnati took more points this season than in each of its first to complete MLS seasons combined. Cincinnati was unbeaten and 18 of its last 20 matches in MLS play with six victories and 12 draws.
In the final match of the regular season, which is known as Decision Day in the MLS, Cincinnati Brenner posted a hat trick. Brenner had three hat-tricks this season to become only the sixth player to score three hat-tricks during the same season in the history of the MLS. Brenner and Brandon Vasquez each have scored 18 goals to lead Cincinnati. The two are the first pair of players on the same club to score 18 points apiece in the same season in league history.'
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