A LOOK BACK:
U23s: The Red Bull U23s are not in season.
U18s: The U18s competed in the USDA Winter Showcase in Phoenix, AZ this past weekend, showing well while compiling a 2-1-0 record.
The Red Bulls kicked off their Showcase with a 3-1 win over U18 Minnesota Thunder Academy on Friday, December 3. The U18s took an early lead with an goal in the third minute. Red Bulls forward Brandon Allen (Old Bridge, NJ) blasted a shot into the lower right hand corner from Richmond McCarthy (Bronx, NY) cross. The Red Bulls continued to dominate the early stages as they played a high paced tempo. However, in the tenth minute a Minnesota counter attack led an indirect free kick from 15 yards after the referee ruled that a Red Bulls defender had played a back pass to goalkeeper Santiago Castano (Union City, NJ). The ensuing indirect kick was hit into the lower left hand corner for the equalizer. The Red Bulls responded well to the goal by continuing to play with some great combinations in the midfield and came close to taking the lead in the 23rd minute when Allen blast a right footed shot that the Minnesota goalkeeper tipped around the post. Allen would not be denied in the 26th minute when Bryan Gallego (Kinnelon, NJ) flighted a perfect pass for Allen to run onto behind the Minnesota defense and then finish for the 2-1 lead. The second half saw the U18s play some scintillating soccer as they dominated the possession and made it difficult for Minnesota to get back into the game. In the 76th minute, substitute Kyle McCord (Chester Springs, PA) finished from a Allen cross for a commanding 3-1 lead. McCord came close to making it 4-1 in the 90th minute when he was denied by the Minnesota goalkeeper with a foot save.
“We played quite well. During some parts of the game we did a really good job of keeping the ball moving and playing the simple pass. Our focus during the week has been to improve the quality of our passing and to keep the game simple. Our midfield was excellent today, in particular Sean Davis (Holmdel, NJ) and Dan Metzger (Holmdel, NJ) really did a great job of controlling the midfield for us and Brandon Allen has a great performance up front scoring two and assisting on the third,” stated Red Bulls U18 head coach Paul O’Donnell.
Lineup (subs): Santiago Castano, Kyle Roach (Antonio Matarazzo 87’), Brandon Adler, Bryan Gallego, Sean Davis, Dan Metzger (Mark Nicholas 85’), Paul Ehrenworth (Clint Caso 72’), Richmond McCarthy (Edison Sanchez 88’), Christian Johnson (Kyle McCord 73’), Oscar Gonzalez, Brandon Allen (Brandon Alvarado 89’).
Subs not used: Jake Wagmeister.
Goals (Assists): Brandon Allen 3’ (Richmond McCarthy), Brandon Allen 26’ (Bryan Gallego), Kyle McCord 76’ (Brandon Allen).
On Sunday, December 5, the U18 Red Bulls took on MLS Academy rival U18 Chicago Fire on the third day of the USDA Showcase after a day off, emerging with a 2-0 win. The first half saw the U18s comes close to taking the lead on two occasions as Oscar Gonzalez (Clifton, NJ) glanced a header wide of the post and McCord blasted a shot from six yards at the Chicago Fire goalkeeper who held onto the shot well. The score remained even at halftime despite some impressive attacking soccer from the Red Bulls. The second half saw the Red Bulls start brightly as Allen blasted home a shot in the 48th minute after taking a neat pass from McCord. The U18s doubled the lead in the 65th minute when Allen converted the penalty kick after midfielder Metzger was taken down in the box after beating a Fire defender. The Red Bulls were unfortunate not to build on their lead as Allen came close on two breakaways and Paul Ehrenworth (Cranbury, NJ) headed over from close range.
“I think our team is starting to really mesh. We were really looking to control the possession in this game and create more chances. Overall it was a great game for us,” stated U18 midfielder Dan Metzger.
Lineup (subs): Jake Wagmeister, Kyle Roach (Antonio Matarazzo 89’), Brandon Adler, Bryan Gallego, Sean Davis (Christian Johnson 85’), Dan Metzger (Edison Sanchez 89’), Kyle McCord (Mark Nicholoas 72’), Richmond McCarthy, Clint Caso (Paul Ehrenworth 66’), Oscar Gonzalez, Brandon Allen.
Subs not used: Keith Cardona, Brandon Alvarado.
Goals (Assists): Brandon Allen 48’ (Kyle McCord), Brandon Allen 65’ (PK)
The U18 Red Bulls looked to close out the showcase weekend by going undefeated. However, a determined Indiana United side scored a late goal in the second half to secure the, 2-1, upset, on Monday, December 6. The first half saw the Red Bulls control the early parts of the game only to fall behind 1-0 on an Indiana counter-attack in the 18th minute. The U18s responded well to falling behind as they equalized in the 23rd minute. Allen took a pass from Davis just inside the Indiana half and dribbled 15 yards before unleashing a 35 yard shot that dipped under the crossbar for the equalizer. As the second half continued the Red Bulls looked the more likely side to get the winner. However, Indiana United again scored on the counter in the 84th minute to seal the win. The Red Bulls came close several times in the late stages to getting the tie but were denied by the post on one occasion and by a resolute Indiana United defense.
“Over the course of the weekend the coaching staff was very pleased with how well the U18s played. I thought we played some great attacking soccer and controlled possession in each of the games. Although we lost the last game, all of the players are very pleased with the commitment, character and overall style of play that we displayed this weekend. We are looking forward to getting back to business after the winter break and feel that we have many positives to build on,” stated U18 captain Bryan Gallego.
Lineup (subs): Santiago Castano, Kyle Roach, Brandon Adler, Bryan Gallego, Sean Davis (Mark Nicholas 84’), Dan Metzger, Paul Ehrenworth (Antonio Matarazzo 79’), Richmond McCarthy (Christian Johnson 73’), Clint Caso (Kyle McCord 63’), Oscar Gonzalez, Brandon Allen.
Subs not used: Jake Wagmeister, Brandon Alvarado, Edison Sanchez.
Goals (Assists): Brandon Allen 48’ (Sean Davis)
U16s: The U16 Red Bulls tied the U16 Minnesota Thunder in the opening game of the USDA Winter Showcase in Phoenix, AZ. Max Brown (New York, NY) saved a penalty kick but later conceded a second penalty kick. Amando Moreno (Morganville, NJ) scored off of a Sean Sheridan (Levittown, PA) pass to register his fourth goal in five games. Despite having the majority of possession the Red Bulls were not able to break through for the winner.
Lineup (subs): Brown, Tetro, Korman, Miazga, Boschen, Akinyode, Haskel (Ceron '40), Sheridan (Kapitula 69), Basuljevic, Goodwin (Ellio '55), Moreno
Goals (Assists): Amando Moreno 30’ (Sean Sheridan)
The U16s tied their second straight game in the USDA Showcase with a 1-1 draw with U16 Chicago Fire. Kyle Goodwin (Kendall Park, NJ) scored off a Anthony Casagranda (Brooklyn, NY) pass in the third minute of the game. Chicago scored with 10 minutes to go to earn the draw.
“We have a young group but are making progress,” said U16 head coach Rob Elliott. “We have to be able to find ways to see these games all the way through.”
Lineup (subs): Brown, Ceron, Korman, Miazga, Cassagranda (Boschen '76), Akinyode, Sheridan (Munoz '74), Tetro, Basuljevic (Haskel '65), Goodwin (Kronick '72), Moreno
Goals (Assists): Kyle Goodwin 3’ (Anthony Cassagranda)
A red card in the 27th minute proved too much for the U16 Red Bulls to overcome as they dropped a 2-0 decision to U16 Indiana United in the final game of the USDA Showcase.
“Giving up an early red card is always difficult to overcome”, said Coach Elliott. “We actually played well for playing down a player for the majority of the game. We created better chances and had the majority of possession but we just could not hold on.”
Lineup (subs): Rossi, Ceron, Korman, Miazga (Sheridan '40), Mahoney (Cassagranda '40), Akinyode (Kapitula '52), Munoz (Basuljevic '40 - Kronick '62), Haskel (Brown '27), Tetro, Goodwin, Moreno
U15s: The Red Bull U15s did not play last week.
U14s: The Red Bull U14s did not play last week.
U13s: The Red Bull U13s did not play last week.
