A LOOK BACK:
U23s: The Red Bull U23s are not in season.
U18s: The U18 Red Bulls came from behind with late goal to earn a 1-1 tie against U18 Potomac on Saturday, November 13. The game was scoreless at the half as the Red Bulls struggled to gain any rhythm and were fortunate not to be trailing in the 23rd minute when a Potomac shot was cleared off the goal line by Brandon Adler (Montville, NJ).
“At halftime we stressed the importance of keeping the game simple and competing on every play defensively and being more organized on the counter. We were giving away possession too easily and not connecting on simple passes. In the second half we did play a lot better and could have easily had two or three goals,” stated U18 head coach Paul O’Donnell.
In the 50th minute a promising Red Bulls attack led to a turnover and a counter attack and Joseph Pratt of Potomac hit a great shot into the upper ninety. After the goal the U18s changed to a 3-5-2 formation and began to put Potomac under pressure with a sustained attack. Sean Davis (Holmdel, NJ) came close leveling the score in the 70th minute from a blast outside the box that just went by the post. In the 85th minute, Red Bulls forward Kyle McCord (Chester Springs, PA) scored the equalizer from 18 yards after collecting a loose ball. In the closing minutes, the Red Bulls came close on several chances to getting the victory with Brandon Allen (Old Bridge, NJ) blasting a shot straight at the Potomac goalkeeper from 12 yards.
Lineup: Santiago Castano , Kyle Roach (Clint Caso 72’), Brandon Adler, Bryan Gallego, Richmond McCarthy, Paul Ehrenworth (Antonio Matarazzo 62’), Sean Davis, Dan Metzger, Damian Bziukiewicz (Mark Nicholas 62’), Brandon Allen, Kyle McCord.
Subs not used: Jake Wagmeister, Edison Sanchez, Brandon Alvarado.
Goals (Assists): Kyle McCord 85’ (Unassisted).
The U18 Red Bulls completed an unbeaten weekend with a 1-1 draw with U18 DC United on Sunday, November 14. The Red Bulls started the game against DC United by controlling possession and looking to avenge for a poor first half display against Potomac a day earlier. However, a defensive error from a DC United punt led to a goal in the 41st minute when the DC United forward raced behind the Red Bulls defense and blasted a shot under goalkeeper Santiago Castano (Union City, NJ). The score remained 1-0 in favor of DC United at the half.
In the second half, the Red Bulls began to convert their possession into quality chances on goal and came close to equalizing on several occasions. In the 56th and 63rd minutes, Bryan Gallego (Kinnelon, NJ) and Richmond McCarthy (Bronx, NY) narrowly missed on headers from Davis corner kicks. In the 67th minute, substitute Kyle Roach (Plainsboro, NJ), who had just entered the game in the 65th minute, served a ball to the back post from 35 yards out and Dan Metzger (Holmdel, NJ) chested the ball down and fired a shot into the lower left corner to tie the game. In the closing minutes of the game the Red Bulls continued to apply pressure but could not get the winner.
“We definitely played better soccer today over the course of the game. Overall, I am very pleased with the character and commitment that the players showed during the games as they fought from behind in each game. I felt that if we had five more minutes in each game we could have pulled out the win. Sean Davis and Dan Metzger were outstanding this weekend. Their work rate was tremendous,” stated O’Donnell.
Lineup: Santiago Castano, Paul Ehrenworth (Kyle Roach 65’), Brandon Adler, Bryan Gallego, Richmond McCarthy, Mark Nicholas, Sean Davis, Dan Metzger, Clint Caso, (Damian Bziukiewicz 65’ (Edison Sanchez 83’), Brandon Allen, Kyle McCord (Antonio Matarazzo 80’).
Subs not used: Jake Wagmeister, Brandon Alvarado.
Goals (Assists): Dan Metzger (1) 67’ (Kyle Roach, 1).
U16s: Amando Moreno (Morganville, NJ) opened the USDA season with two goals and Kyle Goodwin (Kendall Park, NJ) added a goal and assist as the U16 Red Bulls beat U16 Potomac 3-2, on Saturday, November 13. Luke Rossi (East Hanover, NJ) went the distance in goal for the win.
“We played very well and created a lot of chances to score goals today,” said head coach Rob Elliott. “We had a one minute span where we tuned out and gave up two goals but played very well for the other 79 minutes.”
Lineup: Rossi, Tetro, Korman, Miazga, Boschen(Kapitula, '59), Akinyode, Sheridan(Elliot, '67), Haskel(Ceron, '53), Basuljevic, Goodwin(Munoz, '78), Moreno.
Goals: '33 Moreno(Goodwin), '70 Goodwin (Basuljevic), '77 Moreno(Ceron)
After starting the game off very well and missing two breakaways the U16 Red Bull found themselves down 4-0, to U16 DC United on Sunday, November 14. Despite creating numerous chances, the Red Bulls would have to wait until second half sub Freddy Elliot (Roseland, NJ) got on the scoreboard in the 64th minute on a pass from Moreno. Elliot returned the favor two minutes later as Moreno finished an Elliot cross to close the gap to two, but could not climb any closer, dropping a 4-2 decision.
“We started the game very well but did not take our chances,” said Elliott. “As a result we let DC in the game and gave away a couple of sloppy goals. We played some very good soccer, but DC was a little bit better in saving our chances and a little bit better in finishing their chances.”
Lineup: Rossi(Ohaus, '60), Tetro, Korman(Dorador, '55), Miazga, Boschen(Kapitula, '64), Akinyode, Sheridan(Ceron, '40), Haskel(Elliot, '46), Basuljevic, Goodwin(Munoz, '56), Moreno.
Goals: '64 Elliot(Moreno), '66 Moreno(Elliot).
U15s: The Red Bull U15s did not play last week.
U14s: The U14 Red Bulls defeated U14 DC United, 4-0, on Sunday, November 14. The Red Bulls broke open a 0-0 game in the second half when Dante Perez (Hightstown, NJ) headed in a cross from Chris Lema (Ridgefield, NJ). Perez scored two more goals and Joe Swenson (Massapequa Park, NY) added one to complete the scoring for the Red Bulls. The defense was led again by Kevin Politz (Morganville, NJ) and Brandon Tetro (Freehold, NJ) at center back and Tyler Pinho (Cranford, NJ) and Connor Maki (Short Hills, NJ) at outside back. Gianni Carillo (Pine Bush, NY) and Evan Louro (South River, NJ) split time in goal to share the shutout. The Red Bulls improved to 14-0-0 on the season with the win.
U13s: The U13 Red Bulls defeated U13 Oakwood SC, 2-1, on the road on Sunday, November 14. The Red Bulls dominated the possession in first half but could not find the back of the Oakwood net. In the second half the U13s continued to play attractive soccer and got their reward when Orestis Sousonis (Dover, NJ) superbly headed home an Anthony Sileo (Mahwah, NJ) cross. Sileo got himself on the score sheet five minutes from full time when he smashed the ball inside the far post from just inside the area. Oakwood pulled one back with a minute left in the game on a PK.
“I was very happy with the performance today, we came to play from the first whistle and controlled the game from start to finish,” said head coach Antonio Meza.
