After being down 1-0 at halftime, the New York Red Bulls came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, scoring four goals to come away with a 4-1 over San Jose on Saturday.
A big reason for the scoring barrage came off the foot of Alex Muyl, who recorded his first career brace after he came in as a sub for Florian Valot, who left the match late in the first half with an injury.
Muyl, who wasn’t featured on the roster against Santos Laguna in the second leg of the Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals, returned to the gameday roster and showed the type of character that garnered high praise from Bradley Wright-Phillips.
“I had a little word with Alex just telling him how much character that shows,” Wright-Phillips said. “Getting left out when he wants to help the team win, and to come back and score two, and to help us get that win is a credit to him.”
Sean Davis also spoke highly of Muyl and mentioned how the team is lucky to have him.
“I think he's a guy that cares about the team and he always puts the team first,” Davis said. “He shows up every day, ready to work, willing to work. And even when his numbers not called on, he has a great attitude. It's something that maybe people from the outside don't see but we're lucky to have a guy like Alex. For him to come in and score a brace I think we're all fortunate to be playing with him because every time he puts on the jersey, he just gives absolutely everything he has and that's all you can ask of a player. I'm so happy for him.”
Captain Luis Robles spoke with reporters after the match about the character inside the locker room, how the selflessness each player has is what will be needed to make this season special.
“It’s guys like Alex who understand that they have to be ready when their number is called upon,” Robles said. "It also reflects the character inside this locker room, and if we are going to do something special this year, it’s the character we have to strive for the rest of the season and hold on to that because it’s one thing to be a really good team but I think to be a good team with that type of character, I believe that’s the type of group we are.”
