Union-Red Bulls preview

Union at New York Red Bulls

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Saturday, 7 p.m., at Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.

TV: The Comcast Network.

Records: Union (11-11-9, 42 points); Red Bulls: (13-9-9, 48 points).

Coaches: Union, Jim Curtin (27-31-21); Red Bulls: Jesse Marsch (43-35-21).

Union on the road: 3-8-5; Red Bulls at home: 11-2-2.

Goals for: Union, 50; Red Bulls, 53.

Goals against: Union, 48; Red Bulls, 40.

Most recent MLS game: The Union played to a 1-1 draw Saturday at Toronto. The Red Bulls beat visiting Montreal, 1-0, on Saturday.

This year: The host Union beat the Red Bulls, 2-1, on June 29 in a U.S. Open Cup game. The teams played to a 2-2 draw on July 17 at Talen Energy Stadium in MLS action.

About the Union: The Union could clinch a playoff berth with a win and either a loss or tie by New England against Sporting Kansas City. . . . In addition, the Union can clinch with a draw only if New England loses, Columbus loses or ties against Chicago and Orlando loses or ties against Montreal. . . . The Union are winless in their last four games (0-2-2). . . . Coach Jim Curtin says he thinks midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta should have a role in the game after missing the Toronto match with a knee injury. . . . Pontius leads the team with 11 goals while rookie Fabian Herbers has a team-high seven assists. Herbers has assists in three consecutive games. Forward C.J. Sapong has seven goals, but hasn't scored in his last seven games.

About the Red Bulls: New York has clinched a playoff berth and is one point behind leader Toronto in the Eastern Conference race. The Red Bulls will be competing in the playoffs for a seventh straight season. New York is unbeaten in its last 13 games. . . . Daniel Royer, the Austrian international who was signed this summer, scored his first goal for the Red Bulls in Saturday's win over Montreal. . . . On Tuesday the Red Bulls advanced to the knockout stages of the CONCACAF Champions League with a 0-0 draw against Antigua GFC. . . . Bradley Wright-Phillips leads MLS with 20 goals while Kljestan is the MLS leader with 16 assists. . . . The Red Bulls lead the all-time MLS series with the Union, 9-5-3.

- Marc Narducci

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