New York Red Bulls holding midfielder Daniel Edelman is dealing with an upper-body injury and is questionable for the second game of their first-round playoff series against FC Cincinnati on Saturday at Red Bull Arena (7 p.m. ET), a source told amNewYork on Thursday.
The 20-year-old rising star was unavailable for Sunday’s 3-0 loss in the first game of the best-of-three series against the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed. Dru Yearwood started in his place, but Edelman’s presence was clearly missed.
Costly mistakes led to the unraveling of New York where the midfielder could have provided a stabilizing presence in front of a backline that featured a pair of turnovers by center-back Andres Reyes, which resulted in two Cincinnati goals.
A win on Saturday would extend the RBNY’s season by at least one more match while a loss would end their season.
Edelman played an integral role in helping New York attain its 14th consecutive postseason appearance, overcoming a miserable start to the 2023 season that saw just one win in its first 11 matches and the dismissal of head coach Gerhard Struber.
Under Troy Lesesne, RBNY clawed its way back into the postseason picture, clinching a berth by winning four of their last five matches to get in while Edelman flourished.
The New Jersey native started a career-high 22 games in MLS play during the regular season, posting one goal and one assist. He also added an assist during the Red Bulls’ 5-2 Wild Card victory over Charlotte FC last week to clinch a spot in the first round. His strong showing earned him a spot on MLS’s “22 Under 22” list.
Away from RBNY, Edelman also captained the United States’ U-20 team at the 2023 U-20 FIFA World Cup.
