New York Red Bulls head coach Michael Bradley believes Mijahir Jimenez's brace against Orlando City last time out proves why the club "believe so strongly" in the pathway from the second team and academy.

Jimenez's double earned the Red Bulls a 3-2 win over Orlando, moving them up to eighth in the Eastern Conference.

The 19-year-old, who previously featured for the second team, saw his loan deal from CD Plaza Amador become permanent on Friday.

Bradley was delighted to see the striker rewarded for his performance as the Red Bulls prepare for their trip to Atlanta United this weekend.

"We're really happy for Mijahir and it's also the reason that we as a club believe so strongly in the pathway and connection between the first team and the second team and the academy," Bradley said.

"You look on the field and that is so prevalent.

"The second team is a really important part of what we do here and obviously to be able to be really closely connected and to have a lot of guys in first team training on a regular basis, that part is really important.

"Mijahir has continued to improve, and we are excited to have him with us as he takes the next step in his development.

"Through his work ethic and his commitment in training every day, he deserves this opportunity and we can't wait to continue working with him."

Atlanta, meanwhile, remain bottom of the East after their defeat to the Philadelphia Union before the Leagues Cup break.

The Five Stripes are winless in seven league games (D2 L5), with their last victory coming against CF Montreal in early May.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atlanta United – Miguel Almiron

Miguel Almiron has scored in three straight regular-season matches for the first time in his MLS career.

The only two players to score in four straight league matches in Atlanta's MLS history are Josef Martinez (four times) and Giorgos Giakoumakis, who has the team’s most recent such streak (five in March-April 2023).

New York Red Bulls – Emil Forsberg

Emil Forsberg scored last time out against Orlando, netting the 22nd goal of his MLS career.

Despite only joining in 2024, Forsberg has scored the third-most goals among NYRB midfielders.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Atlanta will play their first home match in 98 days when they host the Red Bulls. Excluding the 2020 break during COVID-19, this is twice as long as any other in-season gap between home games in Atlanta's history in all competitions (49 days in 2025).

They are unbeaten in their last three home matches against NYRB, securing wins in 2023 and 2024 before a scoreless draw in the last meeting, in March 2025.

Atlanta only have longer active regular-season home unbeaten runs against two teams: Toronto FC (nine) and the Chicago Fire (eight).

However, the Red Bulls have won four of their last seven regular-season matches (D1 L2), as many wins as they had in their previous 18 league games dating back to last August (W4 D4 L10). Two of those victories came on the road, with NYRB's three away wins in 2026 more than they managed in all of 2025 (two).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atlanta United – 34.5%

Draw – 25.9%

New York Red Bulls – 39.6%