Red Bull News Network

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced New York Red Bulls know their opponents for the 2024 Leagues Cup which will begin play on July 26th and end on August 25th. Each group will have three participating teams between Major League Soccer and Liga MX with the Red Bulls pulling a powerhouse club in Pachuca in Group East 6. MLS competition will also be present with Toronto FC being the third team in the group. The Red Bulls advanced in the 2023 Leagues cup into the round of 16 where they lost to the Philadelphia Union on penalty kicks. They topped their group with five points, and defeated rivals NYCFC in the round of the 32. Their defense held stout against the Union who took them to a 1-1 draw, requiring a penalty shootout to decide the contest. This year's Leagues Cup will show just how deep MLS clubs are as international players will be called upon for both the Copa America and the European Championship. More than likely Emil Forsberg, the team's new star player, should be...

Photo by Matt Kremkau by Daniel Feuerstein The New York Red Bulls had a good run in their Leagues Cup trip, scraping with the Revolution and winning in penalties, edging Atletic de San Luis, a single penalty goal victory over NYCFC & then a hard-fought match against the Union, but falling to them in penalties. What we saw ever since Troy Lesesne took over this club is a rejuvenated side that is looking much better than what their start showed this 2023 season.  While there are still some issues with the club, there is no doubt that Lesesne has deserved to officially take over the club as their next head coach when we get to the 2024 season. His energy inside his technical area is refreshing, and he holds himself, and the players accountable for their performances in all the matches they play in, when he took over.  We saw Dante Vanzeir getting more comfortable each and every game, including his two goals against San Luis when he ran in and flicked the ball off his head for...

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced New York Red Bulls look to continue their run in the Leagues Cup when they travel to Chester, Pennsylvania and Subaru Park to play the Philadelphia Union on Monday night. New York has had a successful tournament with stout defense and timely goal-scoring that proves the team may be ready to make an impact on a grander scale. Both teams played tough games in the last round with the Red Bulls relying on a penalty kick goal from Omir Fernandez to advance past rivals NYCFC. The Union had to grind out their own result with a scoreless draw against DC United. The team advanced by winning a penalty shootout after 90 minutes.  While their lack of goals against DC may be a sign of hope for the Red Bulls, history has shown that the Union are quite potent at Subaru Park. The home team has scored eight goals in the competition thus far with the most impressive performance being a 5-1 drubbing of Liga MX side Queretaro.  For New York it has been a...

Photo by Matt Kremkau by Daniel Feuerstein The New York Red Bulls once again got ready for another huge Hudson River Derby matchup against the blue side of New York City as they tangled with NYCFC, for their first Leagues Cup matchup in the Round of 32. Once again it was another strong and complete performance by the team in red as they will face the Philadelphia Union down in Chester, Pennsylvania after a one-goal clean sheet victory.  After Luquinhas was taken down inside the area by the defender, The Bronx-born midfielder Omir Fernandez took the penalty and buried it for the lead and the game-winning goal. But after that happened, NYCFC looked shell-shocked, they looked bad. The Red Bulls were pounding chances every single time they had possession of the ball. If not for the goalkeeping of Matt Freese, the result would've been much worse. Everyone was clicking and attacking strongly, but while Nick Cushing did make changes in the second half, the backline for the Red Bulls conti...

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced New York Red Bulls claim another win over NYCFC, this time in the Leagues Cup, with a 1-0 win at Red Bull Arena on Thursday night. The game's only goal came from the penalty spot in the 30th minute when Omir Fernandez, a native of the Bronx, converted after Luquinhas was taking down in the box.  The game was scrappy with both teams battling in the midfield to create opportunities. Little came of their efforts until the New York City defense cost them the first real opportunity in the 30th minute. Tayvon Gray took down the Red Bulls midfielder, leading to the penalty opportunity. Fernandez converted and sent New York into a defensive shell that held for the rest of the game. New York City created few opportunities in the second half with the Red Bulls showing why they are one of the best defensive teams in the Leagues Cup. It is the second clean sheet in three games, with the team only surrendering one goal against Athletic San Luis in the ...

  photo by Matt Kremkau by Daniel Feuerstein What we saw tonight was a player who has really grown up in front of our eyes. Ever since he was brought up from Red Bulls II John Tolkin, has been a sensation as the Left Fullback for the New York Red Bulls for these last several seasons. He continues to improve every single match that has earned him two call-ups to the US Men's National Team and participated in the MLS All-Star Game against Arsenal at Audi Field. We all know his stock is rising and in this Leagues Cup match against Atletico de San Luis, he continues to show why his star is destined to shine the brightest. We can't forget his game-winning penalty against the New England Revolution in the last Leagues Cup match, but tonight he was involved in all three major moments of the match, both positively, and negatively.  He assisted twice helping Dante Vanzeir to convert both goals in the second half for a two goals to one win. He took the majority of the corners at both en...

photo by Matt Kremkau by Garry Redman HARRISON, NJ - Last weekend, the Red Bulls began their Leagues Cup campaign on a good note by holding the New England Revolution's high-powered offense scoreless but earned two points by winning the shootout, 5-4. Putting them in a position where they only need a single point to advance to the next round. However, Atlètico de San Luis came in as the more desperate team with their backs against the wall after getting pummeled by New England 4-1 on Wednesday, putting them in a must-win situation for them to advance, setting the stage where everything was on the line for both teams on a pleasantly warm evening in Northern New Jersey. With the two teams facing each other for the first time, there would be an expected "feeling out" period early on. But head coach Troy Lessene was adamant about his team's expectations during the pre-match press conference: "We do not want to play for a draw." Nothing less than thre...

Photo by Matt Kremkau HARRISON, NJ - Two of the original MLS rivals squared off in the inaugural Leagues Cup in Red Bull Arena, and since this is a newly created competition by both MLS and Liga MX, anything that took place previously between these two old foes would be considered irrelevant.  While the atmosphere was best described as more fitting for a pre-season friendly, the match began under beautiful blue skies during a warm summer evening in Northern New Jersey. Just prior to kickoff, the teams held a moment of silence for Olivia Knighton, who lost her life recently. The Revolution appreciated the tribute and soldiered on with a heavy heart. Six minutes into the match, Forward Dante Vanzier provided the first shot in anger for the hosts, but his attempt whistled wide to his left after taking a pass from Omir Fernandez on a break. Fourteen minutes later, New York was on the attack once again as midfielder Cameron Harper began to move the ball wide and managed to get a cross a...