HARRISON, N.J. – He’s no ironman, but it’s a start.
Just as teammate Luis Robles was recently recognized for his remarkable longevity over a successful (and still thriving) career, rookie Justin Bilyeu finds himself at the beginning of his own path. And on Friday night, the St. Louis native took his biggest step to date.
In the 80th minute of a 3-0 game, head coach Jesse Marsch looked to his bench to help shut up shop, electing to give the 22-year-old his first shot on the big stage.
“It was an unbelievable experience,” Bilyeu told NewYorkRedBulls.com. “I was thrilled to be out there and given the chance.”
While the Red Bulls were comfortably ahead, it was much more than a cameo appearance for the left back. Replacing Kemar Lawrence, Bilyeu managed to make his mark on the match with an important intervention to help ensure New York’s first clean sheet of the year.
“His best play is the desperate play he makes in the box to get a toe on the ball to make sure they don't get a goal,” Marsch said.
Added Bilyeu: “I just turned and ran as fast as I could to try to get anything on that ball. Luckily, I deflected it wide.”
With his first MLS appearance now in the rear view, Bilyeu is looking forward to his next chance on the pitch.
“It’s more than I thought it would be,” he said of his entrance onto the Red Bull Arena pitch. “It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work and a dream come true. Hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”
If early returns are any indication, the young defender may well have a part to play throughout the season.
“We like Justin,” Marsch added. “We think he's gifted with the ball, he's a great passer, he serves a great ball in the box; he's athletically fairly gifted. We’re just trying to get him to up the speed in terms of the intensity in the defensive end, the ability to cover ground, and the ability to win battles. But I think he has a bright future.”
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