HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Dane Richards scored a first-half goal and the Red Bulls clinched a spot in the MLS playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday night.
The Red Bulls (14-8-5) can do no worse than a second-place finish in the Eastern Division a year after finishing a franchise-worst 5-19-6. They last made the playoffs in 2008.
The Wizards (9-11-6) were 5-2-3 over their previous 10 games. They remained at 33 points, however, and in danger of missing the playoffs.
Dane knocked in his fourth goal of the season in the sixth minute, taking a chip inside the 18-yard box and temporarily losing possession. He regained it, stepped in front of defender Jimmy Conrad and fired a clean shot past goaltender Jimmy Nielsen.
