New York Red Bulls forward Amando Moreno has been pretty busy these past two weeks.
The 17-year-old Red Bulls Academy product recently returned home from a 10-day tournament with the U.S. National Team’s Under-18 squad in Lisbon, Portugal. Just a few days after he was back state side, Moreno then recorded a start for the Red Bulls in a 2-0 win over Reading United AC in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Wednesday evening at Red Bull Arena.
At the U-18 tourney, Moreno started in all three matches for the U.S, going the full 90 in two and subbing off late in the third. In the first match, the U.S. went up against the Czech Republic, the second against hosts Portugal, and the final against Hungary. Moreno tallied an assist in a 2-1 loss to Hungary in the final game of the tournament before subbing off in the 83rd minute.
The U-18 team finished second in the tournament with four points off a 1-1-1 record. Outside of the loss to Hungary, the U.S. earned a ‘W’ against the Czech Republic, 3-0, and got a point in a 1-1 draw with hosts Portugal.
Fast forward to Wednesday evening at Red Bull Arena when New York welcomed in Reading United for a U.S. Open Cup matchup. The game gave key Red Bull players Thierry Henry, Jamison Olave, and Luis Robles a chance to rest and provided a prime opportunity for some of the team’s younger players to play valuable minutes for the team. Moreno was among those young players on the field for New York.
“Right now it is just really exciting to get to my first start. Obviously I was a little nervous at the beginning, but as the game kept progressing I felt like I started to ease in, started getting more comfortable, but I should’ve shot the ball in,” Moreno told reporters after the game.
As typical for halftime, adjustments were made to better combat Reading after the Red Bulls were unable to register a goal over the first 45 despite an onslaught of shots.
“You know, when halftime came, Mike (Petke) told me that I needed to start letting go of the ball,” Moreno said. “So I agree my second half was a little better than my first half, but overall I think I did pretty well for my first start.”
The Red Bulls return to action Saturday at 7:00 PM when they host Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the third of three-straight home matches at Red Bull Arena. Get your tickets now at Red Bulls Ticket Central, or call 877.RB.SOCCER.
