Dru Yearwood celebrates his goal against D.C. United. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

HARRISON, N.J. – Needing wins and points to get back into the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Red Bulls embark on a two-match road trip Tuesday night, starting with the Columbus Crew.

Kickoff for the game at Lower.com Field is set for 7:30 p.m. ET with coverage on MSG.

The 11th-place Red Bulls (6-10-5, 22 points) have won only once in 10 road matches with a 1-7-2 mark. So, the game at 1th-place Columbus (7-11-6), the defending MLS Cup champions, could be an uphill battle.

This will be the second meeting of the season between New York and Columbus, after the Red Bulls defeated the Crew, 1-0, at Red Bull Arena Aug. 18. Midfielder John Tolkin scored his first career MLS goal and the game-winning goal. Goalkeeper Carlos Coronel recorded his sixth shutout of the season and his fifth at RBA.

Since then, the Crew has lost three of four matches, recording its lone win during the stretch against F.C. Cincinnati, 3-2, Aug. 27.

Midfielder Dru Yearwood scored his first career MLS goal in the 1-1 home draw against D.C. United Saturday. It was New York’s quickest goal scored this season, in the fifth minute.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.