HARRISON, N.J., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Dane Richards and Luke Rodgers scored Saturday to give Red Bull New York a 2-0 decision over the Portland Timbers.
The victory advanced the Red Bulls ahead of the Timbers in the wild card race for the final MLS playoff spot.
Portland entered the match sitting in the final playoff spot, just a point above New York in the wild card race.
Richards tallied a goal in the 21st minute after collecting the ball at the corner of the box, racing past Diego Chara to the endline where he slid the ball under Portland goalie Troy Perkins.
The Timbers missed a chance to tie it up in the 57th minute when Kalif Alhassan's long blast hit the crossbar.
Rodgers got the insurance goal in the 66th minute on penalty shot after Alhassan was slapped with a red card for handling the ball on the goal line.
New York (8-7-15) is in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Portland (10-13-7) is in sixth place in the Western Conference.
