Playoff-bound Atlanta United, Red Bulls finish with draw

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan turned away three shots, all in the second half, to help Atlanta United salvage a 0-0 draw with the New York Red Bulls on Sunday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.

Both teams are headed to the MLS Cup Playoffs.

United is the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season in the last eight years. The Red Bulls have clinched at least the sixth seed.

Both teams will know more about their playoff seeding when next Sunday’s results are final.

It was a tale of two halves, with United producing the most quality chances in the first half and New York finding its rhythm in the second half and keeping Atlanta under constant pressure.

The Red Bulls had multiple quality chances in the second half, including two off set pieces. Guzan was true on both shots and made two diving saves to keep the game scoreless.

Opportunities were few and far between in the first half. United managed one shot on goal, a header from Yamil Asad that was deflected away by a diving save from Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles.

The Red Bulls didn’t manage a shot on target in the first half.

Atlanta midfielder Julian Gressel had the best chance of the first half when Robles came out of the box for a failed clearance. Gressel had an open look at the net but hooked his shot from 35 yards to the left in the 32nd minute.

Sunday’s game featured two of the top goal-scorers in MLS in United striker Josef Martinez and Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips. But neither could find the net.

Atlanta finishes the regular season at home next week against first-place Toronto FC. The Red Bulls travel to D.C. United for their regular-season finale on Sunday.