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Showing posts from October, 2021

RECAP: Fabio's Late Goal Saves Playoff Push

photo by Matt Kremkau HARRISON, NJ - In a match that both teams needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, Fabio's dramatic goal one minute into stoppage time gave the Red Bulls a much-needed win over C.F Montreal, 1-0, pushing them over the playoff line albeit temporarily, and keeping their very slim playoff chance alive in the process. While New York was being frustrated on one end of the pitch, Montreal was creating chances. One such scoring chance happened in the 39th minute, as Joel Waterman got by Kyle Duncan and delivered a great pass over to wide-open Emanuel Maciel, but the shot was just a little too high and over the net.  The second half began with the same disjointed, dispirited energy that frustrated the home supporters in the first. But in the 65th minute, Klimala, with the ball, spotted Montreal goalkeeper Sebastian Breze off his line, but instead of dribbling the ball even further, he took a shot that drifted harmlessly wide to his left, much to the dismay to

RECAP: D.C. United shuts down Red Bulls 1-0

photo by Matt Kremkau Kevin Paredes' early goal and Bill Hamid's defensive effort were all D.C. United needed to move back above the playoff line, defeating their bitter rivals, New York Red Bulls, 1-0. The loss puts an end to the Red Bulls' eight-match unbeaten streak, which vaulted the team in playoff position. D.C. United needed a lift after their epic loss by NYCFC on Saturday, and in the 9th minute, they got just what they needed a through ball down the right-hand side found Nigel Robertha inside the 18-yard box. Robertha sent his pass across the face of the goal meant for Ola Kamara, but it was initially blocked by a sliding defender Sean Nealis, but the loose ball was picked by Kevin Parades who was trailing on the play, somehow got past defender Kyle Duncan and beat a diving Carlos Coronel to score his third of the season to put his team in front.  Parades left the match after he picked up an injury in the 38th minute. From there, the Red Bulls began to pick up thei

Red Bulls Announce New Training Complex

Prospective location of the new facility - Photo courtesy of New York Red Bulls HARRISON, NJ - In a move that was designed to reinforce the club's commitment to the Metro New York Area, The New York Red Bulls announced that they will be constructing a brand new, privately funded, state of the art Traning Complex in Morris Township, NJ. The facility will accommodate a wide range of professional, academy, and youth training programs. The Complex will be located on the former Honeywell site off of Columbia Road, within one mile of the Route 24 interchange with County Road 510. The 80-acres of land being developed will feature eight full-size outdoor soccer pitches and house the team’s front office staff.  Along with the First Team and Red Bulls II, the Complex will also be home to the New York Red Bulls Academy and Youth Training programs, North America’s leading youth soccer development system. “We are fortunate to have the support and commitment from Red Bull to help realize our vis

RECAP: Miami FC Shuts Out NYRB II, 2-0

photo from New York Red Bulls II New York Red Bulls II travel down to South Florida to take on The Miami FC, a team that has already qualified for the USL Championship playoffs, while John Wolyniec's team is playing out the season, trying to build what little momentum they have in these next two matches. Miami FC quickly got on the scoreboard just 18 minutes in the match. Kyle Zajec's foul on Pierre Da Silva set up a free kick in New York's defensive half. Then after the ball was put in play, forward Joshua Pérez darted down the sideline and got off a cross toward the center of the goal, where Adonijah Reid was right in front of the net to score the goal from close range. The Red Bulls II started the second half looking to even the match by pressing Miami FC on their half of the pitch. They started making inroads in the 60th minute with Jake LaCava taking a great pass from Steve Sserwadda, but his chance drifted wide to his left.  In the 83rd minute, New York was pressing t

RECAP: Nealis' late goal lifts RBNY over Columbus Crew

photo by Matt Kremkau Sean Nealis' goal late in the match extended the Red Bulls to eight straight matches, and took a massive step toward the playoffs, beating the Columbus Crew SC, 2-1. Head coach Gerhard Struber's game plan, other than his team to win their first match in Columbus in six years was to make the Crew uncomfortable right from the start. And just like a month ago, it paid off just seven minutes in. Off a corner kick, Tom Edwards served a great ball to Cristian Casseres who headed the ball in the net from close range to give the visitors the lead. But then Columbus would respond in the 18th minute as Lucas Zelarayan's pass found an opening in the New York defense, and found Steven Moreira who then delivered a cross right to Miguel Berry at the center of the box to even the match at one. In the 36th minute, the Red Bulls nearly took the lead when off another corner kick by Tom Edward for the head of Sean Nealis, but Dru Yearwood was whistled for a foul, negatin

Struber: Recent Performances Provide "Big Boost" for Columbus Game

photo by Matt Kremkau New York Red Bulls have gone eight games unbeaten and become one of the more formidable teams defensively. That run has put them into playoff contention and a result against Columbus away from home could solidify their mentality heading into the end of the season. "I think the results give us a big power," said head coach Gerhard Struber. "It is a big boost to create a very good performance in Columbus. We know this is a very good opponent with special key players like Zelarayan or Zardes, many other players in their squad." The Crew have had a tough season following up their MLS Cup win. Currently they are two points back of New York with a game in hand. A loss could see their playoff hopes diminish and the Red Bulls become more and more capable of qualifying for a 12th straight season. One issue for New York has been their lack of goal-scoring. Many of their games over this run have been 1-0 with the Red Bulls only scoring more than a goal in

Report: RBNY Head of Sport a Candidate for Newcastle Job

New York Red Bulls Head of Sport Kevin Thelwell has been linked to the vacant Sporting Director job at Newcastle United according to the Daily Mail . The northern English club was recently purchased by Saudi Arabian backed Public Investment Fund and is expected to have the most resources of any team in Europe to pay for top talent. Thelwell has Premier League experience with Wolverhampton Wanderers who returned to the England's top flight years ago and committed to an aggressive transfer strategy that has bore fruit. Thelwell joined New York Red Bulls in 2020 in 2020 and has taken up the job of rebuilding one of the younger teams in the league. This season they are pushing to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs with a mix of academy talent and smart loanees. The move could be one driven by finances. Public Investment Fund could make an offer that no one can refuse and Thelwell would be well within is right to accept. Such a move could also stifle the progress New York has made, especi

Salzburg Playing with "Great Confidence" After Another Big UCL Win

photo from Red Bull Salzburg Red Bull Salzburg is proving to be one of the best teams in Europe with one of the youngest squads after another win in the UEFA Champions League. This time it was a 3-1 win over VfL Wolfsburg, a contender in the German Bundesliga. With another win Salzburg is quickly becoming the new Ajax, a team with unlimited young potential that performs on the largest stage. "This kind of win gives a team great confidence," said manager Matthias Jaissle. "It's time we can enjoy Champions League matches as the results are going our way this year. A really fantastic evening." Thus far Salzburg have drawn with Sevilla, defeated French champions Lille and now dominated Bundesliga contenders Wolfsburg. In years past, it has seemed as if Salzburg were overmatched by their competition. However, it is their German brothers Leipzig that have suffered the most. While the draw may be slightly more favorable, the expectation for Salzburg is never one to be

Leipzig: "Football Sometimes Isn't Fair" as Marsch Continues to Struggle

photo from RB Leipzig Jesse Marsch has not had positive start with RB Leipzig and that struggle continued after a 3-2 loss to Paris St. Germain midweek in the Champions League. Despite longer periods of decent play, Leipzig are unable to close out game and see themselves going out of the Champions League and looking up from eighth place in the Bundesliga. "Football sometimes isn't fair," said midfielder Konrad Laimer. "To have no points after three games makes it difficult in the group, but we've shown that we can hold our own against against Europe's best." Showing you can hold your own isn't the same as getting points. At the moment Leipzig will have a mighty mountain to claim to just qualify for the Europa League round of 32. While you can point to the team having moments where they control games against strong opposition, it is the result that ultimately matters and that has eluded Marsch and Leipzig thus far. The East German club will get a chan

Recap: Loudoun Shut Out by NYRB II

photo from New York Red Bulls II MONTCLAIR, NJ - Powered by goals by Luther Archimede, Mandela Egbo, and Camron Harper's penalty kick, with a clean sheet provided by AJ Marcucci, the New York Red Bulls II get their first victory at home since September 4, by effectively dispatching Loudoun United, 3-0. With both teams essentially eliminated from the USL Cup playoff picture, the only thing left for these two budding rivals to play for is pride. The last time the two sides met here at MSU Soccer Park back on the 30th of September, the match was showcased by an entertaining end-to-end affair, as the two teams settled to a 3-3 draw.  With the Red Bulls II playing their last home match of the 2012 regular season, head coach John Wolyniec emphasized the importance of ending the season on a high note in front of the home supporters. Red Bulls II nearly opened the scoring just seven minutes in. Luther Archimede darted into the Loudoun United defense, passed the ball over to Cameron Harper.

Nkunku: "I Made the Right Decision" in Move to Leipzig

photo from RB Leipzig RB Leipzig travel to Paris to play PSG on Tuesday in a pivotal game in their Champions League campaign. It is also a return home for Christopher Nkunku who started his career with the Parisian juggernaut. As a young player he found it difficult to get minutes and pushed for a move that has turned him into one of the most wanted attackers in the world. "I needed more game time and I wanted to grow," said Nkunku to Kicker magazine. "I made the right decision." Since leaving he has featured under both Julian Nagelsmann and now Jesse Marsch, who sees him as one of the brightest stars in both the team and the league as a whole. Nkunku has lit up the scoreboard, notching four goals in seven league games and an additional four in the Champions League. His performance has been one of the best parts of a Leipzig season that has proven to be rather difficult. However, Nkunku may be making himself indispensable in the transfer market as well. "He'

Recap: RBNY Sweep NYCFC Series with Another 1-0 Win

photo by Matt Kremkau HARRISON, NJ - Cristian Casseres' early goal from a set-piece, helped bring the New York Red Bulls a step closer to making the playoffs, and putting a serious dent in New York City FC's playoff hopes as they defeated their bitter cross-river rivals, 1-0. The win extends the Red Bulls' unbeaten streak to seven consecutive matches, capturing 17 out 21 points, and posting five clean sheets along the way. The Red Bulls got on the scoreboard in the third minute. Off a freekick, midfielder Sean Davis delivered the ball smartly into the box, where it found the head of defender Andres Reyes, who headed the ball at the feet of Cristian Casseres, who just two days ago was playing in a world cup qualifier for Venezuela, slammed it in from close range, scoring his fifth of the season, giving his team the great start they sorely needed. New York nearly doubled their lead in the 41st minute, as Omir Fernandez took a header from Fabio, and darted toward the net with

RECAP: Lepzig Share Points As Season Trudges On

photo from RB Leipzig RB Leipzig continue to be stuck in first gear after a 1-1 draw against SC Freiburg on Saturday afternoon. Jesse Marsch's side didn't score a goal from the run of play but were able to find a lead through a converted penalty by Emil Forsberg in the first half. The team once again failed to capitalize on the situation and thus continue to see themselves in mid-table heading into a busy Champions League week. "It's a point with mixed feelings," said Forsberg after the game. "We absolutely wanted to win the game and gave our all for it. We had the right mentality, showed emotion and were ready. Football is a game full of emotion and playing in front of fans always gives you an extra push. We have to find more solutions and carry out what the coach tells us." Forsberg was Leipzig's best player on the day with an effort at goal less than a minute into the contest. Freiburg were up to the task and pushed the Leipzig defense. Mohamad Si

RECAP: Klimala First Half Goal Pushes RBNY Over Miami

photo by Matt Kremkau New York Red Bulls continue their solid close to the season with another win, this time 1-0, over Inter Miami at Red Bull Arena. Patryk Klimala provided the games only goal which was underlined by positive play from a Red Bull team that will feel that there were more goals left on the table. Miami was a team in shambles heading into this game, requiring emergency loans to fill out their roster during this international break. For that reason, they played a defensive game and New York was comfortable attempting to penetrate the defensive block. For the most-part Miami was effective in keeping the Red Bulls at bay. It was in the 25th minute that the scoring opened when Andrew Gutman played a perfect ball to Klimala who took one touch before finishing and beating the Miami keeper.  New York continued to push but found little in the way of clear opportunities. One in particular came in the second half when Klimala played a quick pass but the shot hit the post. From th

"Honest Dialogue" Sets RBNY Straight as Playoff Push Continues

photo by Matt Kremkau New York Red Bulls' latest win over FC Cincinnati extends their unbeaten run to five games and brings them to within six points of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The momentum comes after a tough season where soul-searching and questioning both on and off the field has plagued the club. "Things were tough during the late summer," said captain Sean Davis after the team's win over the weekend. "We had a lot of honest dialogue about what we needed to do to get back on track and it was not easy at times." The team has solidified themselves defensively but still have not recovered their sting on the offensive side of the ball. Despite high-priced acquisitions like Patryk Klimala, the team still lacks a consistent striker, something that has placed a heavy burden on a defense that has missed star-player Aaron Long since his achilles injury early in the season. Still, New York is poised to continue their run to the playoffs,

Leipzig Gain Ground but Still Fight Up Hill Battle

photo from RB Leipzig RB Leipzig got a much needed win against VfB Bochum over the weekend but it took late heroics from Andre Silva, leaving many questions about the team heading into the international break. Manager Jesse Marsch spoke about the difficulties but also highlighted the fact that his team has performed admirably through the rough stretch of games. "I told the team to stay strong," said Marsch after another first half without a goal. "At the moment, it's maybe not a bad thing to fight for everything until the end. The way our game went was almost perfect. We've learned a lot from the past few months and showed our development today." The win moved Leipzig into eighth place, a far cry from where they expected to be seven games into the campaign. Expectations over the past several years have been that the team will compete for the Bundesliga title. Bayern Munich has made that difficult but this past off-season saw a significant investment with pla

Recap: Gutman's birthday goal lifts RBNY over Cincinnati

photo by Matt Kremkau In a match that the New York Red Bulls had to have to keep their fading season alive, Andrew Gutman's goal gave the New York Red Bulls the much-needed lift to keep their playoff chances alive, stretching their unbeaten streak to five matches, moving them within five points of the final playoff position of the Eastern Conference. The Red Bulls spent the first 45 minutes buzzing around the pitch, with the lion's share of the ball in possession, but could not get past FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Premlazaw Tyton, who made three brilliant saves to keep his team in the match, as the first half ended in a stalemate for both sides.  The second half started with FC Cincinnati sustaining their bit of pressure and possession, making dangerous runs and shots on goal. However, just like in the first half, neither team's attackers would be able to get on the scoresheet. At least midfielder Sean Davis' stellar play made certain of that, blocking key shots including

RECAP: Leipzig Dominated Bochum with Three Late Goals

photo from RB Leipzig RB Leipzig staved off criticism for another day with a scoreline over Bochum that will look dominant thanks to two goals from a red hot Christopher Nkunku. The 3-0 goalfest didn't start until after the 69th minute when substitute Andre Silva scored his first goal from the run of play for Leipzig. From there Bochum fell apart, allowing Nkunku to break through and continue his goal-scoring ways. While the scoring was left until late, Leipzig will have thought they left more than a few chances on the table in the first half. The team was nearly award a penalty when Yussuf Poulsen was challenged inside of the box but a review of the play brought it back as a 50/50 challenge. The team continued to push Bochum to their limit defensively but did not have the killer instinct in front of goal to take the lead. With pressure mounting in the second half, it was a substitution that brought both Dominik Szoboszlai and Silva onto the field. Silva got his head on a corner fr

RBNY Games Are Now a "Cup Final" as Season Nears Conclusion

photo by Matt Kremkau New York Red Bulls have had a disappointing season thus far under new head coach Gerhard Struber but it can be redeemed should the team maintain their streak of qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs. To do so they will need to close an eight point gap with Orlando City. For that reason the team is treating each game as if it's a cup final. "From here on out three points is a must," said defender Andrew Gutman. "I think we have been better the last few games getting results, but I do not think it has been enough yet. I think now, ties are okay, but now we need wins. A reasonable game is like a cup final for us now." That mentality begins against a bottom-dwelling team in FC Cincinnati. The team has recently fired their head coach and look directionless. While it seems that Red Bulls should be favored, we've seen them unable to take results against poor teams in the past. So much so that their road record is a dismal 3-8-2. A win against Ci

Recap: Red Bulls II Battle Loudoun to a 3-3 Draw

Photo courtesy of New York Red Bulls II MONTCLAIR, NJ - In a match that featured 33 shots and six goals, including three scored in a three-minute stretch in the second half, The New York Red Bulls II and Loudoun United battled to a 3-3 draw at MSU Soccer Park on Thursday night. Loudon United would put New York Red Bulls II on their heels right from kickoff pressing the attack as Giovanni Montesdeoca's chance tested AJ Marcucci early, but his shot missed wide to his right. Jace Clark continued the pressure with his chance, but his follow-up shot flew just wide of the right post. United Foward Theodore Ku-Dipietro would make an impact, scoring his 6th goal of the season; shortly after taking a great pass from Gaoussou Samake, he beat his defender and easily slotted it past New York goalkeeper AJ Marcucci to give the visitors the lead in the 4th minute. With the match's pace dictated by Loudoun United, it would pay off in the 20th minute. They doubled the lead as Theodore Ku-Dipie