Red Bulls in Atlanta for expansion side’s inaugural MLS match

Atlanta United vs. New York Red Bulls

2017 MLS Regular Season

Bobby Dodd Stadium - Atlanta, GA

Sunday, March 5 - 7 pm ET

FS1, Fox Deportes, New York Red Bulls Radio

#ATLvNY | #MLSisBack

HARRISON, N.J. (March 3, 2017) – The New York Red Bulls are set to open the 2017 MLS season with a match against Atlanta United FC on Sunday, March 5 as part of MLS opening weekend. New York will look to play spoiler in the first MLS match for expansion side Atlanta United FC.

Kickoff on Sunday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes will cover the game nationwide, while New York Red Bulls Radio provides English coverage. New York Red Bulls Radio goes live at 7 p.m. ET with Countdown to Kickoff hosted by Matt Harmon.

New York traveled directly to Atlanta on Thursday night after being eliminated from the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League with a 2-0 loss (3-1 on aggregate) to Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Two-time MLS Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips scored New York’s goal in the first leg on February 22 at Red Bull Arena. Wright-Phillips has recorded at least 15 goals in each of the last three MLS seasons, a feat only three other players in league history have accomplished. After starting the MLS season with no goals in seven games, Wright-Phillips tore through the league, ending with 24 goals thanks to a streak that saw him score 15 goals in the last 13 games.

The match will mark the 14th time in 22 seasons that New York opens the season on the road. New York is 7-9-5 in season openers, and 2-7-4 when on the road for opening weekend.

U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Sacha Kljestan will enter his first MLS season as the club’s captain after being given the armband by Jesse Marsch. Kljestan became just the second player in league history to reach the 20-assist mark last season, setting a new club record in the process. Kljestan also contributed six goals in 2016.

This will be the first matchup between New York and expansion side Atlanta United, though the clubs did a bit of business earlier in the week, with the Red Bulls completing a sign and trade of goalkeeper Kyle Reynish, who spent the last two seasons with the Red Bulls, in exchange for Atlanta’s natural fourth-round pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.

After Sunday, the Red Bulls return home to open the eighth season of soccer at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, March 11 when the Colorado Rapids come to town. Kickoff for that match is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET with coverage on UniMas and Red Bulls Radio.