RED BULLS IN CRUNCH TIME

The Red Bulls had the best regular season of any team in MLS history. They captured their third Supporters’ Shield in six years with a league-record 71 points, despite coach Jesse Marsch bailing midseason to coach in Germany.

New coach Chris Armas deserves credit for keeping the Red Bulls focused and even making them better during his half-year tenure.

However, those accolades and accomplishments won’t mean much unless Red Bulls can find a way to not disappoint in MLS Cup playoffs, which seems like a tradition at this point.

In order to avoid that, Red Bulls will need at least two goals to move past the Columbus Crew on Sunday at Red Bull Arena, where Armas is banking on their home-

field success to get to the Eastern Conference finals.

“There is a certain comfort at home, but that won’t take away from understanding that every play matters and what the demands will be of the game,” said Armas, who coached the Red Bulls to a 14-2-1 mark at Red Bull Arena this season.

The Red Bulls’ success at home likely won’t matter if they can’t regain their high-pressing intensity — something that eluded them in the 1-0 first-leg loss at Columbus.

The team looked sloppy, often disengaged against the Crew, managing just two shots on target.

The Red Bulls came close to canceling out Gyasi Zardes’ second-half strike when Bradley Wright-Phillips had a header miraculously saved by Crew goalkeeper Zack Steffen in the last moments of the game.

“We know the formula. I think at home we are typically the aggressors and we can control things in many ways,” Armas said. “We will just have to come out and be ready to go.”

New York City FC finds themselves in a similar predicament.

They face Atlanta United in the second leg at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (5:30 PM, ESPN) down a goal, as well.

In order to advance, NYCFC will need at least two goals in what potentially could be David Villa’s final game.