The New York Red Bulls are coming off a good run ahead of their trip to Montreal as they prepare to face the Impact this upcoming Saturday at Olympic Stadium. The Red Bulls are currently top of the Eastern Conference standings, with 22 points in 11 games played.
LATEST : NY acquire Heath Pearce from Chivas USA for Juan Agudelo
HIGHLIGHTS: PHI 2, NY 3
Previous game
The Red Bulls beat the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park last Sunday by a score of 3-2, courtesy of a Kenny Cooper game-winning goal in the 78th minute.
Up front
The Cooper-Henry combo has been lethal in front of goal, combining for 78% of the team’s goal – each player has 9 - since the start of the season.
Henry had been a key element when the sides met, getting a hat-trick in a 5-2 win at Red Bull Arena, and winning the MLS player of the week award three times in a row.
Meanwhile, Kenny Cooper has been in great form since the beginning of the season, scoring his ninth of the season last weekend. The Baltimore, Maryland native already has more goals than last season, when he played for the Portland Timbers.
Despite the Henry’s absence - injured in week 8 against the New England Revolution -, the Red Bulls have been in good form, winning four consecutive games, all by a one-goal margin.
On the road
The Red Bulls have started the season with two losses on the road, against Dallas and Salt Lake. Their worst performance of the season came when Backe’s men went down against DC United, losing 4-1 at RFK Stadium.
Since then, the team has regrouped and has won their last two on the road beating the LA Galaxy and Philadelphia.
How they concede their goals
The Red Bulls have conceded 16 goals, most of them from open play (75%), and more precisely inside the penalty area (68.75%).
While the offense has been effective, the defense might be considered as one of their weaknesses on the road. The team has conceded 11 of its 16 goals away from home, and six in their last three games.
Marquez: the good, the bad and the ugly
WATCH: Marquez tangles with Salinas
While he may not be the most beloved player in the league, Rafa Marquez’s return to the squad may have strengthened the side as he provided the assist on Cooper’s winning goal against Philadelphia.
The Mexican Designated player was initially used as a central midfielder before being put in the central defense role later during that game. According to Backe, he was a key element to the team’s win last Sunday.
Marquez had just come back from serving a three-game suspension, following his actions against San Jose Earthquakes’ Shea Salinas, who broke his clavicle.
He had just returned to action after serving the final two games of a three-game suspension he received for throwing the ball at Landon Donovan and being involved in an on-field fracas following New York's playoff game at Red Bull Arena against the Galaxy, on October 30, 2011.
