New York Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz says pressure is good for players as they prepare to face rivals New York City FC in the MLS Eastern Conference semifinal.

The Red Bulls beat defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew 1-0 in the first of their best-of-three series before edging them 5-4 on penalties in Game 2.

They are playing in the semifinals for the first time since 2018, though it is the first time they are meeting their city rivals in the postseason in their history.

Schwarz acknowledged there was a lot riding on this game but is sure the pressure can bring out the best in his team.

"To feel the pressure as a player and head coach is good," he told reporters. "We need the pressure to bring our best performance and level.

"Without pressure, it's not possible. Now we have this historic derby on Saturday and we're very excited.

"Our main target is to win this game, but our focus is to get a result like we had against Columbus. The last three weeks have been looking at how we can create our best performance for Saturday."

Meanwhile, NYCFC had to come from behind in round one after losing their first match to FC Cincinnati but won the second at home before going through with a 6-5 penalty shootout win in the decider.

Head coach Nick Cushing is delighted to have home advantage for the semifinal tie but says he is not yet thinking about securing the same fate in the next round.

"I've learned over my tenure here as assistant coach and as head coach that the next game is the most important part," Cushing said.

"The whole focus is hosting a playoff semifinal at home. We're really proud that we've done everything to get to this opportunity, but there are many more challenges ahead, and we cannot look further than the first 10 minutes of the game, because that is our main focus.

"And then, through there, we have a game plan and half-time. We're working through this game, and that is our whole focus."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

New York City FC – Alonzo Martinez

Twelve of Alonzo Martinez's 17 goals this season (regular season and playoffs) have been scored in home matches, while Santiago Rodriguez has scored 11 of his 13 goals at home.

Both players found the net in NYCFC's home win over Cincinnati in Game 2 of their first-round series.

New York Red Bulls – Emil Forsberg

Emil Forsberg became the 14th different Red Bulls player to record a goal and an assist in a single playoff match in Game 2 of New York's first-round series against Columbus Crew.

No player has more than one such game in the team's postseason history.

MATCH PREDICTION: NEW YORK CITY FC WIN

This will be the first playoff meeting between New York City FC and the Red Bulls, but the fifth in knockout rounds in all competitions.

The Red Bulls eliminated NYCFC in each of the previous four knockout round meetings, doing so in the US Open Cup three times and the Leagues Cup once.

NYCFC has won five of their eight all-time home playoff matches, including the last three in a row. All three teams that defeated NYCFC on the road in the playoffs went on to reach the MLS Cup Final (Toronto FC in 2016 & 2019, Atlanta United in 2018).

The Red Bulls' 1-0 win at Columbus in Game 1 on October 29 ended a six-match road losing streak in postseason play for the club. The Red Bulls have won multiple road playoff games in a single season twice before, doing so in 2008 and 2017.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

New York City FC – 46.5%

Draw – 26.5%

New York Red Bulls – 27%