New York Red Bulls midfielder Jonny Steele and Lloyd Sam were named to the MLSsoccer.com Week 23 Team of the Week thanks to their stellar play in this past weekend's Eastern Conference clash.
Steele and Sam each racked up a goal and an assist in New York's 3-2 win over Sporting KC as the Red Bulls leapfrogged their Eastern Conference opponent for sole possession of first place.
Steele tallied the first goal of the match in the 27th minute when he was on the receiving end of a perfect through ball from fellow midfielder Dax McCarty (who is also named as an Honorable Mention in this week's team). After dribbling in on goal, Steele unleashed a rocket of a shot that beat SKC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen to give his side the 1-0 advantage.
Despite not setting a foot on the pitch until the 60th minute when he subbed on in place of Eric Alexander, Sam's impact on the match was so immediate that it not only helped New York seal the victory, but also found Sam on the receiving end of MLS Player of the Week praise.
Three minutes after subbing on, Sam took a long toss from goalkeeper Luis Robles and slipped it ahead to an onside Fabian Espindola, who charged in past the SKC back line to fire one into the netting to give New York a 2-1 advantage. Six minutes later it was Sam again, this time finding the net on his own after he received a long pass from Steele that he was able to one touch inside the defender before unleashing a left-footed finish into the goal.
With one goal and one assist each in the win, there's no doubt Steele and Sam were huge contributors to New York's success against SKC, and ultimately the club's ability to secure first place in the conference.
New York returns to action Saturday when they take on the Columbus Crew at 7:30 PM on MSG. Join us for our Outdoor Viewing Party at Brooklyn Bridge’s Harbor View Lawn at Pier 1 (underneath the bridge). More info is available on our Pub Partners page, or you can RSVP directly on our Facebook event.
The Red Bulls return home on Saturday, Aug. 17, when they take on the Philadelphia Union at 8:00 PM. Tickets to the match, which also includes a must-see post-match fireworks display, are available at Red Bulls Ticket Central or by calling 877.RB.SOCCER.
