Red Bull has come out guns a blazing to start the new season. After defeating San Jose 3-1 out in California on opening day, NY would be in hostile territory once again on MD2 north of the border.
This time Red Bull was set to take a new look Toronto team. Toronto had some key signings & departures this offseason.
The likes of Richie Laryea, Marky Delgado, Yeferson Soteldo & Jozy Altidore all left the club this winter while the “Kings of Canada” brought in Carlos Salcedo from Tigres in Mexico to sure up the backline with soon to be arriving Domenico Criscito. Upfront, Toronto added its “star” player, bringing over Italian captain Lorenzo Insigne from Napoli; Insigne & Criscito did not play as both will arrive in the summer.
But for the time being, both teams were looking for three points Saturday afternoon at BMO Field, but only one team came to play, and it was not Toronto.
Red Bull came out flying for the second straight week, this time they caught Toronto off guard with the way they lined up. With Christian Casseres Jr. out with a hip flexor, manager Gerhard Struber switched things up as he inserted Tom Barlow into the XI and went with a 4-2-2-2 formation instead of the back three (as seen below)
ust 17’ minutes into the match, Red Bull found the back of the net thanks to offseason addition Lewis Morgan. Off a Toronto turnover at midfield, thanks to Dylan Nealis, Frankie Amaya had loads of space and ran at the backline.
He then laid the ball off to Patryk Klimala on the RW, who one-timed a square ball to the top of the penalty area and Morgan just hit it perfectly to beat Alex Bono at the near post.
Morgan then doubled the lead just seven minutes later in a somewhat similar play to the first goal.
D. Nealis intercepted the ball once again at RB and Red Bull hit on the counter like the “Flash”. Omir Fernandez played a just onside Klimala who was running 2-1 with Morgan.
The Polish ST scuffed his pass over to Morgan, but it didn’t matter as the Scotsman hit one low and hard to beat Bono once again at the near post.
Toronto did cut the lead to 2-1 in the 35’ minute with a solo effort from Jesus Jimenez, but Red Bull as they did in San Jose answered right back with Morgan completing the first-half hat trick.
Off a Toronto corner, Barlow was able to clear the box to Amaya he headed the ball towards Klimala, who held off his defender without fouling him and was able to send Morgan free on the net, 2v1 against Bono.
Morgan had Dru Yearwood as a decoy to his right and just slotted his shot in the bottom left corner. Morgan in just two games this season has already surpassed the two goals he scored with Miami in 34 games last season.
https://twitter.com/NewYorkRedBulls/status/1500493960841678852?s=20&t=cMwNey48FILUkI4C_Z0nsw
Morgan when talking to reporters post-game knew he had what it takes to be a real contributor for Red Bull this season based on how they played one week ago against San Jose.
“I saw last weekend how many chances we create & transition, so I knew playing a little bit higher up today that was going to be chances for me to score and then always back myself when I get in those positions that can put the ball in the back of the net. We have started the season two games on the road and get maximum points from, so loads of momentum to keep building on and we can be a little bit excited about the season ahead.”
Morgan is the first Red Bulls player to record a first-half trick since Bradley Wright-Phillips all the way back on May 28, 2016, against Toronto; how ironic? It is also the first Red Bull hat-trick since BWP on September 6, 2018, at D.C. United.
But the scoring was not done there as the captain Aaron Long also got himself on the score sheet after heading home an Amaya free kick from 30+ yards out.
For Long, it has been a long time coming, and it was a big relief to get that monkey off his back and bag his first goal since October of 2020.
“It felt good man, that was good for the soul right there, to be honest. To get it early in the season, it was great, like I said it felt great for me but to have my teammates congratulate me afterward and they know how much it meant to me, it was a great day, great moment”
After the fourth goal, Red Bull cruised to a victory up in Toronto, even though the Canadians held the advantage in possession, 67% to Red Bulls 33%. But as we saw when the US played Canada in late January, possession means squat if you don’t score.
Post-game Struber was all praise for his team, saying the team was “very good” but said that the team should “stay humble, as we are not satisfied”.
It is good to come home with 6 points after two away fixtures to start the season, but there are 32 games left on the schedule and the boys need to stay “Melo” and not get too high or too low if they are to compete for the ultimate prize
When asked about his new midfield partnership of Yearwood & Amaya, Struber uttered “they are a sexy pair”. Yearwood has been more of a destroyer for Red Bull this season and that has freed up Amaya to be “free” in midfield.
Amaya has shined in his new role so far this season, providing three assists on the 7 Red Bull goals. This is what NY envisioned they would get when they traded almost $1M in GAM last season for the #1 overall pick in 2019.
Red Bull now gets to come home for two straight games at Red Bull Arena and that starts Sunday night against Minnesota In their home opener.
Talking about the home opener Struber said Red Bull “deserves a good atmosphere” after bringing home six points in the opening two weeks. He then proceeded to say, “I guarantee my players will give everything on that pitch”
Seems like every Metro supporter should pack as many supporters as possible in the 25,189 seat Red Bull Arena in response to the team’s fight & performances these first two weeks on the road. Let us show the players that we got their backs! #NYisRED
https://youtu.be/-oGIZ5nqAD8
Match Stats
Final Score: TFC 1, NY 4
Possession: TFC 67%, NY 33%
Shots (On Goal): TFC 6 (4), NY 13 (9)
Fouls: TFC 12, NY 19
Corners: TFC 7, NY 5
Saves: TFC 5, NY 3
Next Game: March 13th, vs Minnesota, 7:00 PM EST
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