New York Red Bulls Make History, Advance to MLS Cup Final

New York Red Bulls Stun Orlando City to Advance to MLS Cup Final

ORLANDO, Fla. — The New York Red Bulls are making history, and they’re doing it in style. On Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium, the Red Bulls edged out Orlando City 1-0 in the Eastern Conference final, thanks to a clutch goal from Andrés Reyes and a rock-solid performance from goalkeeper Carlos Coronel. This victory sends the Red Bulls to their second-ever MLS Cup final, and they’ve done it as the first No. 7 seed to ever reach the championship game. Talk about defying the odds!

Reyes’ game-winning header came just two minutes into the second half, off a perfectly placed free kick from defender John Tolkin. It was a moment of brilliance that silenced the Orlando crowd and gave the Red Bulls all the momentum they needed. For Reyes, it was his first goal in nine postseason appearances, while Tolkin notched his third career playoff assist. The chemistry between these two defenders couldn’t have come at a better time.

Road Warriors: Red Bulls Make History

What makes this Red Bulls run so special is how they’ve done it. They’ve become just the second team in MLS history to win three straight playoff matches on the road, joining the 1998 Chicago Fire in that exclusive club. First-year head coach Sandro Schwarz, who left Germany’s Hertha BSC to take the reins in New York, has orchestrated a masterclass in postseason resilience. The Red Bulls knocked out the defending champions, Columbus Crew, in the first round and then took down their crosstown rivals, New York City FC, 2-0 in the semifinals. Now, they’ve added Orlando City to their list of victims.

Coronel has been a wall in goal throughout this playoff run. The veteran keeper made three saves on Saturday, earning his third clean sheet of the postseason. In nine career playoff appearances, all with the Red Bulls, Coronel has proven to be a reliable last line of defense. His ability to stay calm under pressure has been a key factor in the team’s success.

Orlando City Falls Short

For Orlando City, this was a tough pill to swallow. Manager Oscar Pareja, who has been with the club since 2019, guided the Lions to their first-ever conference championship match. But despite dominating possession after falling behind, Orlando struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. Their best chance came in the 32nd minute when Martín Ojeda broke free down the right side and set up Facundo Torres for a shot. However, Coronel was there to make the save and keep the game scoreless.

Orlando’s goalkeeper, Pedro Gallese, didn’t have much to do on the night, finishing without a save in his 11th career playoff start. Gallese had been stellar in the postseason leading up to this match, allowing just one goal in four starts. But the Lions’ inability to test Coronel ultimately sealed their fate.

What’s Next for the Red Bulls?

The Red Bulls are now just one win away from their first-ever MLS Cup title. They’ve been here before, back in 2008, but fell short in a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Crew. This time, they’ll face either the LA Galaxy or Seattle Sounders, who were set to play later on Saturday night. Regardless of the opponent, the Red Bulls have shown they can handle any challenge, especially on the road.

Here’s a quick recap of the Red Bulls’ historic playoff run so far:

• First Round: Defeated No. 2 seed Columbus Crew on the road.
• Semifinals: Shut out No. 6 seed New York City FC 2-0 at Citi Field.
• Eastern Conference Final: Edged out Orlando City 1-0 at Inter&Co Stadium.

With their gritty defense, timely scoring, and Coronel’s heroics in goal, the Red Bulls have all the ingredients of a championship team. Can they finish the job and bring the MLS Cup to New York? We’ll find out next weekend.

For Orlando City, this loss marks the end of a promising season. Pareja and his squad will look to build on this year’s success and come back stronger in 2025. But for now, the spotlight belongs to the Red Bulls, who are rewriting the history books one game at a time.