John Tolkin scored on a penalty kick within the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time to present the visiting Red Bulls a dramatic 1-0 Decision Day victory over Nashville SC on Saturday afternoon.
The Red Bulls qualified for the playoffs for the 14th straight season, the longest energetic playoff streak in major North American sports.
Carlos Coronel made 4 saves for his ninth clean sheet of the season for the Red Bulls (11-13-10, 43 points) who finished eighth and can host ninth-place Charlotte FC within the Eastern Conference wild-card match on Wednesday night.
The playoff streak, which began in 2010, also broke a tie with the Seattle Sounders (2009-21) for the longest in MLS history.
Joe Willis finished with 4 saves for Nashville SC (13-11-10, 49 points) who finished in seventh place and can play second-place Orlando City within the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs.
The Red Bulls entered stoppage time knowing they needed a goal to maintain their playoff streak alive and got a significant break within the 92nd minute when Nashville’s Anibal Godoy tripped midfielder Luquinhas right contained in the top of the 18-yard box.
Tolkin then blasted a left-footed shot into the correct corner of the goal as Willis dived to the left. It was his third goal of the season.
Each teams had excellent scoring probabilities in a scoreless first half that saw Nashville finish with a 4-2 edge in shots of goal.
Reigning Golden Boot winner Hany Mukhtar had a pair of excellent probabilities for Nashville, including one on a breakaway within the sixteenth, but Coronel made a diving finger-tip deflection on his right-footed shot from the left side of the box that caromed off the far right post.
Fafa Picault had one other excellent probability for the house team within the eighth minute of stoppage time with a right-footed shot from the left-side of the six-yard box that Coronel caught.
Forward Elias Manoel had one of the best scoring probability for the Red Bulls within the twenty fifth minute when he took a through pass from Luquinhas, but Willis saved his left-footed attempt from left side of the box.
Willis also made a diving two-handed grab of a Manoel right-footed shot from the center of the box within the fiftieth minute.
