Dante Vanzeir added an assist to a Felipe Carballo goal in the first half and scored nine minutes later, and Carlos Coronel made sure they got up by posting his seventh career clean sheet against New York City FC in the 2-0 of the New York Red Bulls. victory in an Eastern Conference semifinal at Citi Field on Saturday night.
The seventh-seeded Red Bulls will face the winner of Sunday’s semifinal between ninth-seeded Atlanta United and fourth-seeded Orlando City for the conference championship and the right to play for the MLS Cup.
The Red Bulls took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute after a left-footed shot from 25 meters from Carballo. Carballo made five starts and eight appearances in his first season in the league without contributing any goals. It was his second goal in three postseason starts.
Vanzeir gave the Red Bulls a two-goal lead when he scored unassisted in the 25th minute. Vanzeir has two goals and an assist in three career postseason starts.
Coronel finished with six saves in goal for the Red Bulls. He has surrendered 11 goals in eight career play-off starts, all with the Red Bulls.
Matt Freese stopped one shot for No. 6 seed NYCFC. He allowed four goals in four postseason starts for the club. Freese made one previous postseason start in 2021 when he filled in for Philadelphia Union starter Andre Blake, who was out due to Covid-19 protocol.
The Red Bulls defeated the defending champions and second-seeded Columbus Crew to advance, winning 1–0 on the road and in a shootout at home after a 2–2 draw in regular rules.
NYCFC advanced by defeating third-seeded FC Cincinnati with a 3-1 victory at Citi Field and a 6-5 shootout victory after a scoreless match on the road.
The Red Bulls have qualified for fourteen consecutive seasons, but have never won the MLS Cup.