MONTCLAIR, NJ – The New York Red Bulls Reserves dropped a 6-1 decision to the Columbus Crew Reserves on Monday at Montclair State University. Marcos Paullo scored the lone Red Bulls’ goal, while the Crew got two-goal games from both Bernardo Anor and Chris Davis.
The Red Bulls took the lead 19 minutes into the match. Guest player Semso Nikocevic fired a long shot towards goal that Columbus keeper Andy Gruenebaum parried away, but the ball fell right to New York forward Marcos Paullo. The Brazilian was unmarked and easily fired the rebound into net.
Columbus evened the match just a minute later. Crew rookie forward Justin Meram took on the Red Bulls defense, and from the top of the box, tapped a through ball to Cole Grossman. From there, Grossman tucked the ball underneath goalkeeper Alex Horwath.
In the 26th minute, Meram turned from facilitator to goalscorer as he broke the tie on an impressive finish. From his own half, defender Eric Gehrig floated a long ball over the Red Bulls’ defensive line. Meram ran on to the loose ball and from the right side of the box, placed his shot into the top left corner. The Crew took a 3-1 lead when Anor received a pass near the midfield line, and turned upfield before letting go a right footed shot that sailed past Horwath’s reach.
The Crew widened its advantage in the 59th minute on Anor’s second goal of the afternoon. Off a corner kick, the ball was played directly to Anor at the top of the box. He fired towards goal, and the ball took a fortuitous bounce off a Red Bulls defender. Horwath was unable to react in time as the ball bounded into the net. Columbus got its fifth and sixth goals just three minutes apart, both coming from substitute Davis. Davis’ first came in the 82nd minute off a feed from Meram, and he scored again in the 85th minute with a blast from the right side of the box.
New York Red Bulls – Alex Horwath (GK), Teddy Schneider, Tyler Lassiter, Sacir Hot, Matt Kassell (Bolu Akinyode* 69’), John Rooney, Corey Hertzog, Marcos Paullo, Dane Murphy* (Brandon Adler* 59’), Sean Davis, Semso Nikocevic
Substitutes Not Used: Chris Konopka (GK)
* Denotes non-roster player
Columbus Crew – Andy Gruenebaum (GK) (Alex Riggs 46’), Eric Gehrig, Korey Veeder (Ben Sippola 68’), Cole Grossman, Mike Jones, Aaron Horton (Chris Davis 68’), Bernardo Anor, Justin Meram, Julius Ubildo (Andy Adlard 46’), Shawn Francis, Dejan Rusmir (Kevin Burns 46’)
Subsitutes Not Used: None
Scoring Summary
NY: Marcos Paullo (unassisted) 19’
CLB: Cole Grossman (Justin Meram) 20’
CLB: Justin Meram (Eric Gehrig) 26’
CLB: Bernardo Anor (unassisted) 45’
CLB: Bernardo Anor (unassisted) 59’
CLB: Chris Davis (Justin Meram) 82’
CLB: Chris Davis (unassisted) 85’
Disciplinary Summary
NY: Matt Kassel (caution) 30’
CLB: Dejan Rusmir (caution) 45’
NY: Sacir Hot (caution) 46’
