New York Red Bulls II (4-2-2, 15 pts.) fall 5-2 to NYCFC II (3-5-2, 12 pts.) on Friday night at Belson Stadium.
New York City opened the scoring in the 7th minute. Midfielder Peter Molinari played a through ball to forward Seymour Reid who chipped it over the keeper into the bottom left corner.
New York leveled the score in the 18th minute. Midfielder Aiden Jarvis took a touch towards the end line and whipped a cross far post to defender Matthew Dos Santos who laced a full volley into the bottom right corner.
Red Bulls II earned the lead in the 35th minute when midfielder Adri Mehmeti struck a shot from the top of the box that glanced off the left post and fell into the back of the net.
NYCFC II leveled the match in the 57th minute. Midfielder Sebastiano Musu whipped in a corner kick onto the six-yard box that was deflected by midfielder Ibrahim Kasule into the back of the net for an own goal.
New York City went on to score two unanswered goals. In the 64th minute midfielder Julien Lacher played a driven ball across the six that was placed home by Reid. Reid would find the back of the net again in the 68th minute when he tapped in a deflection off the keeper.
In the 72nd minute NYCFC II was awarded a penalty kick. New York goalkeeper Aidan Stokes came up huge denying the attempt.
New York City sealed the deal in the 90+3rd minute. Midfielder Evan Lim placed a shot into the bottom right corner.
Mehmeti scored his first career MLS NEXT Pro and professional goal. He is the fourth-youngest goal scorer in club history at 16 years and 150 days old.
Dos Santos scored his second goal of the season.
Forward Mijahir Jimenez made his first career MLS NEXT Pro start and appearance.
Jarvis tallied his second assist of the season.
With 77 minutes played today, defender Juan Gutierrez surpassed 4,000 minutes played across all competitions with the club.
Courtesy of four saves on the day, Stokes has overtaken Santiago Castano for third-most career saves in club history.
Following Friday’s match, Red Bulls II will return home to MSU Soccer Park on Sunday, May 18 to face New England Revolution II. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. ET with coverage available on MLSNEXTPRO.com
