Bradley Wright-Phillips suspended for “biggest game in years” vs. Atlanta United

This weekend’s match-up between Atlanta United and New York Red Bulls is setting up to be the most important fixture of the MLS season. The crucial game with heavy Supporters’ Shield implications will unfortunately be played without one of the league’s top stars. Red Bulls striker and the league’s second-leading goalscorer, Bradley Wright-Phillips, will be suspended for the match due to yellow card accumulation.

The 33-year-old Englishman picked up his fifth yellow card in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Toronto FC for a supposed swear word directed at the match referee. Wright-Phillips was not happy at all about the decision, stating his anger in the above video.

He goes on to say he’s “gutted” to be missing the “biggest game in years” this weekend but has confidence in his teammates to go on and get the win against Atlanta.

It would be disingenuous to call BWP’s absence from this match anything but a huge break for the Five Stripes. He’s one of the best goalscorers in league history (19 goals this season) and has been a thorn in Atlanta’s side. His two goals in these sides’ meeting in Atlanta earlier this season led the Red Bulls to a 3-1 win.

Atlanta United hold a four-point lead over the Red Bulls in the Supporters’ Shield race heading into Sunday’s showdown. Anything but a win for New York would spell great news this late in the season for the leaders.