TUCSON, Arizona (February 11, 2017) – The New York Red Bulls defeated FC Tucson, 3-1 in a preseason scrimmage on Saturday evening. New York got goals from Sal Zizzo, Gonzalo Veron and Brandon Allen.
“FC Tucson gave us a really good match,” said head coach Jesse Marsch. “They fought hard, they kept it clean, they scored a good goal. It was exactly what we needed to get some guys minutes and to have a good little test. Overall, I thought it was a successful night in many ways.”
It was the first game action for veterans Luis Robles, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kljestan, who rejoined the team this week. Wright-Phillips played 65 minutes, while Kljestan and Robles played the full 90.
Zizzo opened the scoring late in the first half, getting on the end of a Kljestan corner kick and driving a low ball through traffic and inside the far left post.
On the other side of halftime, Veron doubled the lead by making the most of a one-on-one chance. Veron ran onto a leading pass, wrong-footed a defender and fired a shot that deflected off of a defender and in.
Allen replaced Wright-Phillips in the 65th minute, and got on the score sheet minutes later. The forward made a run to the back post and was rewarded with a tap-in finish on a feed from fellow Homegrown Derrick Etienne Jr. Etienne Jr. replaced Gonzalo Veron at the 75th minute.
New York is back in action with the first match in the Desert Diamond Cup against New York City FC on Wednesday.
