Faced with the tall task of filling Bradley Wright-Phillips' spot at the spearhead of their starting XI in Sunday's massive match vs. league-leading Atlanta United, the New York Red Bulls turned to one of their newest players.
With BWP suspended due to yellow-card accumulation, rookie Brian White got the nod from coach Chris Armas, making just his second career MLS start in a game that should go a long way towards determining the outcome of the 2018 Supporters' Shield race. The home team also had to do without influential midfielder Tyler Adams, sidelined by a back injury.
It's also just the fourth league appearance for White, a Duke University product who was promoted from RBNY's USL side earlier this year after his strong outings at that level.
White has already flashed his talents in a big moment, as he bagged his first-ever MLS goal in his only other start, the sole tally in a 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on Aug. 29:
On the other side, Atlanta rolled out a hybrid 4-3-3 lineup that can quickly become a 3-4-3 look when right wingback Julian Gressel pushes into the attack:
