Red Bulls put out Fire, go to semis

BRING on Toronto!

That’s what the Red Bulls are saying after crushing former Red Bulls captain Dax McCarty and third-seeded Chicago Fire, 4-0, Wednesday night in an Major League Soccer knockout playoff game in the Windy City.

The win earns the sixth-seeded Red Bulls an eighth straight trip to the conference semifinals, where they will face top seed and Supporters’ Shield winner Toronto FC.

The Red Bulls, who are still seeking that elusive first MLS Cup, used their patented press to help create two early goals — one by striker Bradley WrightPhillips and the other by midfielder Sacha Kljestan for a two-goal lead 11 minutes in.

Wright-Phillips split the last two defenders to chase down a chipped through ball from Damien Perrinelle, and took advantage of an empty net when Chicago keeper Matt Lampson made an ill-fated dive at the pass in the seventh minute.

Kljestan tapped in a nifty cross from Tyler Adams for a 2-0 lead, putting the crowd at Toyota Park on edge.

The Red Bulls put the game away with a strike from Daniel Royer in the 70th minute followed by a breakaway goal from sub Gonzalo Veron in the 87th minute.

McCarty, who had been one of MLS’ best defensive midfielders and a Red Bull leader during the club’s most successful era, was traded prior to this season. He, along with German star Bastian Schweinsteiger and Golden boot winner Nemanja Nikolic, revitalized the Fire after several ugly seasons. Schweinsteiger, recovering from a calf injury, played 25 minutes as a second-half sub and Nikolic, who had 24 goals during the season, couldn’t find the net despite getting two shots, one on goal.

— Ian Powers