Losing 6-1 the week before the season seemed to be a preview of what the season for Red Bull was going to be. Instead, they used that loss as an eye-opening experience.
Dru Yearwood during his media availability last Wednesday gave an interesting nugget. On losing to LAFC 6-1 in the final preseason game Dru said, “I think it’s the best thing that could have happened to us. t was a real wake-up call and now we’re sort of prepared for anything now.”
Seems the rest of the squad had that same mentality, and they were prepared not to win, but not to lose.
But before they could even get to the game Head of Sport Kevin Thelwell announced along with Red Bull that he was joining Everton FC in the English Premier League as their Sporting Director. A tough week for New York but they were set to use this as motivation against San Jose.
And motivated they were, coming out the gates flying. Lining up in their more familiar 3-4-2-1, the game was sloppy for the first 15 minutes or so, but both Red Bull & San Jose were running up and down the field trying to create some offense.
But as Red Bull started to settle down, they were able to hit the Quakes on the counter multiple times in the first half, creating high scoring chances in the process. Unfortunately, the 1st game rust hit them HARD.
Red Bull had multiple chances to go into halftime up three or four but just couldn’t finish. Patryk Klimala (13’, 35’), Sean Nealis (20’), Omir Fernandez (30’), John Tolkin (37’) & Lewis Morgan (45’) had chances to get their name on the board for New York but squandered opportunities.
But their persistence finally paid off in added time as they would take a 1-0 lead into the interval.
Trying to play out the back, Red Bull trapped a San Jose player, who turned it over in the middle of the field leading to a 5-3 for New York.
Fernandez running at two defenders hit an overlapping Morgan who then crossed it to Klimala, who was standing at the near post unmarked and easily beat JT Marcinkowski at his near post. POLAND STAND UP!!
https://twitter.com/pvtmcbain/status/1497723563863949322?s=20&t=xkKsk6nnhiWJLAHbxyQHuA
The second half started with more of what we saw in the first half. Red Bull created some grade-A chances but just couldn't get it into the net. This time it was Cristian Cásseres Jr. (49’) & substitute Caden Clark (61’).
And Red Bull’s lack of a finishing ability would come back to bite them in the 69’ minutes when San Jose got a free kick near the corner flag.
Argentine Cristian Espinoza hit a fizzing ball straight at the near post and Javier Lopez aka Chofis flick headed it past Carlos Coronel who had no shot at a save. Just like that, it was tied up.
Red Bull had chance after chance to double or even triple their lead and now after one little mistake, San Jose is tied with 20 minutes left.
Luckily for Red Bull, they were able to grab the lead back three minutes later. Again, after dispossessing a Quakes midfielder, Frankie Amaya led the rush, but this time San Jose had numbers 4-3.
Did not matter as Amaya chipped the ball past three players hitting Fernandez in stride. Fernandez got the 1v1 matchup again, this time the Bronx native took his chance. He beat the San Jose defender for pace down the wing and on his left foot shot it low and hard through Marcinkowski’s legs.
After the goal, coach Gerhard Struber got some more fresh legs onto the field bringing on 18 Y/O Daniel Edelman & 16 Y/O Serge Ngoma, both homegrowns making their senior debuts, and last 15-minute merchant Tom Barlow.
Ngoma with his appearance tied Red Bulls franchise record for youngest player to play in MLS, with Eddie Gaven (16 years, 232 days).
https://twitter.com/NewYorkRedBulls/status/1497735519748251649?s=20&t=xkKsk6nnhiWJLAHbxyQHuA
They would need those fresh legs as Red Bull was ok with sitting in and making San Jose “make a play” to tie the game. It was nerve-racking for Red Bull fans around the world, but it paid off.
Two minutes into the six minutes added on, Red Bull hit the Quakes on the counter one last time, this time putting the game to rest.
Barlow hit a free-running Clark down the left side of the field and with Ngoma making a dummy run past the last remaining CB, Clark put Barlow on goal 1v1 with Marcinkowski and did not miss.
Barlow hit the San Jose crowd with the shush celebration as cemented three points and an opening day win for New York.
After the game, everyone that was wearing Red & White were buzzing. “It’s a very good feeling to win this game, and it shows we are on the right way going forward,” said Struber with a smile on his face.
One player who went unnoticed in a good way was Captain Aaron Long, who returned to the field for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon last May.
“I’m so happy, man. It’s been a long time for me, eight or nine months. To come away on the road, 21 days as a group, to come back with three points and the performance was not our best by any means, but the fight and the heart were there. I think it means a lot and it was a big win for the group and I am super happy.”
This is a big result for the “youngest team” in MLS to go on the road and get three points, especially against a very experienced Earthquakes squad. But for Fernandez & the rest of the group, they don’t see each other as “young”.
“We don’t consider ourselves young anymore. Everybody has to step up and you saw that today, especially with some of the new guys (Edelman & Ngoma).”
Red Bull is riding a high and now take this momentum into next week as they face Toronto, who had a massive turnover in the transfer window including signing Italian superstar Insigne. Fortunately, for Red Bull Insigne won’t come over to the US until the end of the European season. Let’s Go Red Bulls! #NYisRED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XS0n2LWZ48
Match Stats
Final Score: SJ 1, NY 3
Possession: SJ 69%, NY 31%
Shots (On Goal): SJ 12 (2), NY 18 (7)
Fouls: SJ 6, NY 22
Corners: SJ 4, NY 6
Saves: SJ 4, NY 1
Next Game: March 5th, @ Toronto, 2:00 PM EST
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