New York Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill scored twice to push Australia past China, 2-0, in the knockout round of the Asia Cup yesterday. Cahill sparked his side with this highlight-reel bicycle kick early in the second half:
After the ball is cleared, an Australian player puts a header back into the box. Cahill puts himself in good position, tracks the ball perfectly and pulls off the bicycle with perfect form, playing the ball back across goal and inside the far post.
The Red Bulls midfielder gave the Socceroos some breathing room later in the game with a second goal, a vintage Cahill header that found its way to the back of the net. His two goals have Australia back in the Asia Cup Semifinals, where they await the winner of Japan and the United Arab Emirates.
Red Bulls defender Ambroise Oyongo scored his first international goal for Cameroon in his first Africa Cup of Nations appearance. Oyongo made a deep run into the box, brought down a long ball and displayed a deft touch with his right foot to finish in close quarters. His 84th minute goal earned Cameroon a 1-1 draw with Mali.
Matt Miazga and the U.S. Under-20 team have advanced to the playoff round of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship. The United States finished second in Group A with a 3-1-1 record and plus-10 goal differential. Most recently, the team earned a 1-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago. Miazga went a full 90 minutes in that contest. The U.S. awaits their opponent for Saturday’s playoff round game. A win in that contest would secure them a spot on the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
After starting the CONCACAF U-20 Championship on the bench, Red Bulls U-18 captain Derrick Etienne made a substitute appearance for Haiti in their 1-1 draw with El Salvador. He earned his first start and played a full 90 minutes as a forward in the team’s 3-2 loss to Honduras. Haiti is 0-2-2 in the tournament, and will close out group play later today with a match against Mexico. Etienne, a homegrown player, has been with the Red Bulls Academy for six years. He is committed to the University of Virginia for next Fall.
The New York Red Bulls open the 2015 season on the road against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, March 8. The fifth season of soccer at Red Bull Arena will kick off on Sunday, March 22 when New York hosts rival D.C. United.
