Red Bull News Network

Photo Credit: Matt Kremkau By Garry Redman HARRISON, NJ - Last week, the Red Bulls traveled to the Nation’s Capital and left Audi Field with three valuable points to keep their playoff hopes alive. With only four games remaining, the Chicago Fire FC will look to improve their playoff chances at the expense of the Red Bulls in Harrison. Unfortunately, the Red Bulls were missing defender and captain Sean Nealis due to yellow card accumulation, forcing Hassan Ndam to step in. The team thought they had scored in the 16th minute, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul, causing disagreement from the fans. The Red Bulls had another chance in the 32nd minute when John Tolkin headed the ball from a difficult angle but missed the target. In the 36th minute, Elias Manoel tried to head the ball into the net, but Chris Brady made a timely save. As the first half ended with a draw, some fans showed their displeasure with the missed opportunities. The second half began with the Red Bulls pressing

photo from Bundesliga by Anthony J. Merced RB Leipzig will fell that they let Bayern Munich off the hook after surrendering their two-goal first-half lead at Red Bull Arena in East Germany on Saturday afternoon. First half goals from Lois Openda and Castello Lukeba appeared to have Leipzig on the doorstep of finally winning a Bundesliga fixture against the Bavarian giants. However it was not to be following goals from Harry Kane and Leroy Sane in the second half. Leipzig pressured the defending champions early and forced Munich into uncharacteristic mistakes. Goalkeeper Sven Ulreich had a particularly un-nerving mistake after collecting the ball outside of the box. His errant pass led to a long distance effort from Emil Forsberg that nearly opened the scoring. It wouldn't be long before the first goal did come. It was in the 20th minute when Openda's shot beat the Bayern keeper after a pass from Xaver Schlager played him through on goal. Six minutes later Lukeba doubled the lea

photo by Dennis Schneidler - USA TODAY SPORTS by Anthony J. Merced Gotham FC have their sights set on taking over the top of the NWSL should they beat the Houston Dash on Sunday evening at Red Bull Arena. Dominant forward Esther Gonzalez made her presence felt in her first start, scoring two goals that helped carry the team to victory over the Washington Spirit. The win gave Gotham breathing room and a chance to challenge for the top of the table, just two points behind the Portland Thorns. Gotham's win over Washington broke a three-game winless streak in all competitions and helped to solidify confidence in the backline that had surrendered three goals against North Carolina  a week prior. The inclusion of Gonzalez has also boosted the team's confidence as a starting attack of the World Cup winner, Lynn Williams and Midge Purce could prove to be what the club needs to carry them into a deep playoff run. Houston is a team that is looking to keep their playoff hopes alive with t

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced New York Red Bulls have announced that defender Andres Reyes will be extending his contract with the club until 2026 with an option for 2027. The Colombian defender has become a staple of the Red Bulls defensive line-up, having made 26 appearances and 25 starts in the 2023 campaign. "Over the last three years Andres has shown his qualities on the field," said Head of Sport Jochen Schneider. "And (he) has helped our backline to be one of the best defenses in MLS. We are excited to keep him at the club." Reyes joined the Red Bull system in 2021. Previously he played 19 games with the Colombian club Atletico Nacional and was on loan to Inter Miami during their inaugural season. He made 13 appearances for Miami and captured the attention of the Red Bull scouts. He replaced Tim Parker, playing alongside Aaron Long, and now finds himself partnered with current Red Bulls captain Sean Nealis. "Andres has developed into one of

Photo by Matt Kremkau by Daniel Feuerstein What just happened? What did we just see? What in the hell was that performance and how good did it feel to see this Red Bulls side do it during Hate DC Week. The goal total exploded into a horribly rainy and windy evening down in our Nation's Capital at Audi Field as the New York Red Bulls in a wild eight-goal thriller took down DC United, and have currently put themselves two points behind the playoff line and behind their most hated rivals in MLS. They were off to a roaring start to begin both halves and never backed down. They knew their season was on the line to make a last-gasp effort to make the playoffs. They knew they had to give it their all and show their supporters and the rest of the league that they weren't dead yet. Two big goals from Omir Fernandez who smashed a volley and converted a penalty, while Christian Benteke converted a hat trick, but Cameron Harper made DC Pay late in first-half stoppage time.  A corner was de

Photo Credit: Matt Kremkau WASHINGTON, DC - With their playoff chances dwindling and the weather more fitting for waterfowl than soccer players, the Red Bulls made the trip down I-95 to the Nation's Capital to face a D.C. United team stubbornly sat in 9th place, the final playoff spot, despite winning once in five matches. Meanwhile, Troy Lesesne and his crew are looking to do something they have done only once this season: Win on the road to keep their very slim playoff chances alive. Although no one on the team would care to admit it, they are the more desperate side, not winning a match in five attempts. However, they haven't lost to their bitterly hated rivals in their last five matches. Cameron Harper attempted a shot from beyond the box in the 13th minute, but it veered off to the left. Following this, Frankie Amaya tried to pass the ball to Daniel Edelman, but he was found to be offside two minutes later. Omir Fernandez scored from close range after receiving a great cro

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced New York Red Bulls designated player Dante Vanzeir has not had the season he planned and it has ended abruptly due to a back injury on Wednesday according to the team . The Belgian forward joined New York with high hopes of doing what Patryk Klimala couldn't do by becoming the striker that the team has so sorely needed. However, after a campaign that has been marred in controversy and injury, Vanzeir will have to look towards 2024 for redemption. "He's had a really challenging year," said head coach Troy Lesesne during a team press conference. "I think he's had some different injuries. Obviously, the situation at the beginning of the year didn't get the season off to the right start but he was coming back off of a previous injury. Something like this is such a random situation where he starts the game so well, puts us in a position to take a 1-0 lead and then a random situation in the match where he falls, lands

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced New York Red Bulls winger Omir Fernandez has becoming head coach Troy Lesesne's top offensive option in 2023, following injuries to Dante Vanzeir and a lack of production from Elias Manoel and Tom Barlow. The 24 year-old New York City native has taken his opportunity and becoming the leading scorer for the Red Bulls. This season he has six goals in all competitions and been an important part of New York staying close to the playoff line.  "He had an argument to start tonight," said Lesesne after Fernandez was subbed into the game for an injured Vanzeir. "It was a good decision. Omir is our leading goalscorer this year. Taking him off at the end, I told him that it was down to a matter of not getting balls in the box, which we did not do enough of." Since joining the first team in 2019, Fernandez has been a solid role player, waiting for his chance to break through under different head coaches. 2022 saw the biggest incre

  Photo by Matt Kremkau This is the most frustrating performance in this 2023 season by the New York Red Bulls. They were home against an Austin FC side that has been the worst of the recently added teams coming into Major League Soccer, after having an amazing second season that is currently falling apart this year. A seven-match winless streak and nothing is going right for the Texas side in Green & Black.  While the Red Bulls are having a horrible season as well, you would think they have enough to at least play well and get the full three points to try and challenge the teams ahead of them trying to get over that playoff line. Well sadly they did it again, they got off to a roaring start, flubbed somewhere in the middle, and disappointed at the end of the 90 minutes.  In the opening 43 minutes, the New York Red Bulls pinned Austin FC into their own end forcing them to be on their heels. They passed the ball well, ripped shots on frame, continued to battle, and showed their musc

Photo Credit: Matt Kremkau by Garry Redman HARRISON, NJ - The scoreless draw in Yankee Stadium on Saturday has put the team nearly on the brink of being eliminated from playoff contention. While no one on the team wants to admit it or not, if the team has any plans to join the nine teams that qualify for the postseason, the time was now to walk away with three points. Not capitalizing on scoring chances has been a stubborn and repetitively sore subject during Gerhard Struber's tenure, but now has fully manifested under Troy Lesesne. And it didn't take long for those scoring opportunities to evaporate for in the 2nd minute, Elias Manoel took a pass from Frankie Amaya, but his shot drifted high and to his left into the seats, as a collective groan of frustration came from the home supporters.  But less than four minutes later, off a set piece, the Red Bulls got on the board thanks to John Tolkin serving a terrific ball into the mixer. Dante Vanzeir delivered a fantastic volley th

photo by DPA/Picture Alliance via Getty Images by Anthony J. Merced RB Leipzig defeated Young Boys 3-1 in their opening game in the UEFA Champions League group stage in Wankdorf Stadium on Tuesday night. It took a second half surge for the club to take all three points with goals from veteran Xaver Schlager and youngster Benjamin Sesko to put the game away. Leipzig started fast with a goal in the third minute by Mohamed Simakan. The defender put away a corner kick with a header to give the East German powerhouses the lead. From there Young Boys surged back, pressing Leipzig and creating chances. It led to an equalizer in the 33rd minute by Meschak Elia. The striker settled the ball in the box before turning and taking a shot that beat goalkeeper Yanis Blaswich.  Leipzig emerged for the second half with vigor and pressed for a second goal early. Luis Openda and Yusuf Poulsen had chances that were brushed aside by the Young Boys keeper. A chance by Xavi Simons was also stopped although t

Photo Credit: Matt Kremkau by Garry Redman BRONX, NY - After suffering three consecutive losses, one of them at home, the Red Bulls make the short trip over the Hudson River to face their heated rivals, New York City Football Club. With both teams on the outside looking in of the playoffs, only a win would keep their fading hope alive to be a participant in this year's postseason tournament. The Red Bulls come in as the more desperate team to right the ship but are short handed due to both Troy Lesesne and Sean Nealis serving suspensions with the latter picking up a red card against the Philadelphia Union. Thus, assistant coach Zac Prince has been asked to guide the squad to victory in this pivotal match in the third and final installment of this year's Hudson River Derby. Red Bull forward Elias Manoel provided the closest scoring opportunity for his team in the 6th minute after taking a pass from Tom Barlow, who headed the ball to him. However Elias' shot drifted wide to h

  Photo by Matt Kremkau by Daniel Feuerstein As we get ready for the big derby weekend against local rivals New York City FC, and the hope from the Red Bulls to secure the full three points can push them into a better position in the Eastern Conference table, it's time to take a brief timeout and look towards the future of the club, and seeing some bright young players about to make all of us smile. As we already know the growth of the club is not just what's going on with the senior side at Red Bull Arena, but to develop future stars to join those who have gone through the same pathway, or to join those international players who have transferred over to make a big attempt to play in front of their fans. More academy players are graduating to the professional side at a very strong rate, and now we are seeing the fruits of their labor show. One will be on the MLS roster, while the other will make the next move to the MLS Next Pro Roster with the two team as both Julian Hall &

photo from Bundesliga by Anthony J. Merced RB Leipzig suffered a major blow during the international break with defender and co-captain Willi Orban suffering a knee injury that will see him needing significant time to recover. The Hungarian defender was playing for his national team when he suffered the injury in a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic. Orban is expected to be examined again in a few weeks. This leaves Leipzig understaffed in their backline after losing one of the best defenders Josko Gvardiol to Manchester City during the transfer window. A lot will be asked of Mohamed Simakan and 20 year old Castello Lukeba who joined the club from Lyon in this same window. Manager Marco Rose will also need to juggle the impending schedule congestion with the UEFA Champions League and German Cup picking up pace. Orban had made three starts for Leipzig this season and was a pivotal role in the defense that shut down Bayern Munich in the team's German Supercup win. The loss will be f

Photo by Matt Kremkau By Daniel Feuerstein Without a doubt losing to the Philadelphia Union continues to hurt. Losing to a team that currently has your number is like back in the days of the 80's & 90's era when the New York Rangers couldn't beat the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum till the backend of the 1994 NHL regular season came to earn a victory before facing that team in the first round of the playoffs and swept them. Currently, the New York Red Bulls just can't buy a victory against the Philadelphia Union. Either in the Regular Season or at the newly formed Leagues Cup, this team just can't get any form of luck to earn a victory at all. Sure they have drawn with Philly here and there, but right now they are cursed because Jim Curtin's side has their number.  Even if they have players injured or suspended, they continue to do the little things right and take advantage of a Red Bulls side that is lacking in communication and falling apart at

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced New York Red Bulls may have seen their playoff hopes slipping away after a 4-1 defeat hands the team their third straight loss, this time to the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Sunday night. The team started strong with a first-half goal but surrendered four unanswered after captain Sean Nealis was sent off with a red card before 45th minute. New York's game plan worked early in the game as the team created chaos and forced Philadelphia to turn over the ball in key areas. Their build-up play also worked as Reyes played a ball to Omir Fernandez in the box. The winger took the shot which was deflected before returning to him for a second opportunity. This time he didn't miss, giving the Red Bulls a lead. Philadelphia responded by pressing the action and creating dangerous opportunities. It paid off in the 29th minute when an effort by Jakob Glesnes made its way through traffic to beat goalkeeper Carlos Coronel. The game shifted dram

photo by Matt Kremkau Red Bull News Network podcast returns to discuss the loss to New England and also preview thew eekend's game against the Philadelphia Union. Guests include Mark Fishkin of Seeing Red and Dan Feuerstein of Red Bull News Network. RBNN: The Podcast · RBNN the Pod: 09-01-2023