Red Bull Win
3/18/23
J.J. Pavlick
The two sides entered today's match just 2 points apart from each other early in the season. The teams went 1-1-1 last season in head-to-head play. Despite having only given up 2 goals this season, Red Bull is now one of six teams to lead in fewest goals against and not win a game. The Red Bull has also only allowed 3 shots on target which is the fewest allowed in MLS history in the first 3 matches of a season along with LA Galaxy in 2010. The Red Bulls celebrated women's empowerment night tonight, they have the Metropolitan Riveters of the Premiere Hockey Federation in the house, the New York Liberty of the WNBA, and the general manager of Gotham FC along with other youth sports organizations.
"He can direct some players in different directions, in the end, he knows what direction to come in to, to score the big goal." "The cross from Johnny Tolkin was very sexy, this makes the life much easier for Dante to score."
The Red Bull earned an early corner kick after a blown breakaway opportunity. Unfortunately like the breakaway, the chance went without a registered shot. In the first 15 minutes of play, the sides are pretty evenly matched. New York has squandered their breaks so far. Casseres Jr had the best shot of the night and the only shot on target through 32 minutes of play. Saved by Eloy Room. The Columbus Crew found the opening goal in the 33rd minute by Alexandru Matan making it 1 - 0 Crew. The goal was head-scratching at best not sure what happened between Carlos and Andres Reyes on that play, seemed to be a communications breakdown between the two. The 4th official showed a minimum of 6 minutes added to the first half. Will be interesting to see what happens with Burke for the second half. The match had been stopped twice in the first half for him. A yellow card was issued to Columbus #31 Steven Moreira in additional time.
The 1st half was lackluster for both sides with the only goal coming from miscommunication between Reyes and Coronel in the 33rd minute. Would expect Struber to make at least one change if not two. Burke struggled with some type of discomfort and Edelman made no impact on the field at all in the 1st half, the team desperately needs offense.
"My stomach before the game I felt like I had to throw up. In the first five minutes, I felt it, I just had to get it up, so I could feel better." "It's been a while since linking up with the boys, for me to go now it was very important for us to get this win before I depart for the national team." -- Cory Burke
Photo Credit: @NewYorkRedBull
The second half started and Struber went to the bench bringing on Elias Manoel for D. Edelman in the 46th minute of play. The sides went back and forth and in the 53rd minute a yellow card is shown to Casseres Jr. Five minutes later Luquinhas finds the equalizer for the Red Bull running onto the ball and driving it home. In the 62nd minute Columbus subs on J. Russel-Rowe for Yaw Yeboah. Just a minute later Burke finds himself in the book with a yellow card shown after a nasty challenge. In the 76th minute, Red Bull bring on Belgian star Dante Vanzeir for Cameron Harper. In the 81st the Crew sub on J Medranda for W. Sands, two minutes later a yellow card is shown to J. Russel-Rowe of the Crew. What a goal by the Belgian wonder Dante Vanzeir with a stunning goal from the sharpest of angles beating Eloy Room near post off a beautiful pass from Tolkin. The goal was assisted by J. Tolkin and Casseres Jr. in the 86th minute of play. In the post-game, Tolkin was asked about the goal and had this to say, "I saw the space and just floated it to the back post, the angle looked a little tight to me I will have to watch it back later. I had a quick look inside and what can I say Dante has that striker instinct, he just knows how to find the net." He was asked to describe the game in one word, and his response "Though question, I would say Quality!"
"It's great it was a moment we were all waiting for, especially myself. It is a great start, a great moment to build on." "I didn't know if Johnny saw me, it was a great cross, it gave me time to think of where to place it, thank god it went in." "It was not the easiest goal, it was difficult to take on a one-touch but glad it went in, I hope to score even nicer goals in the future." Asked by a reporter it took some guts to go near post there on that goal? "Indeed, indeed but it was a difficult angle, I think to put that ball second post most of the time it's a little bit a curve it goes next to the post. I think first post for a goalkeeper is sometimes hard to react to and a little unexpectable." -- Dante Vanzeir Photo Credit @NewYorkRedBulls
In the 88th yellow card shown to Medranda of the Columbus Crew. Red Bull make a sub in the 90th minute bringing on Omir Fernandez for Luquinhas, seconds later Omir blows a perfect pass from the Belgian star missing a wide-open net and hitting the post with no pressure on him. The fourth official shows a minimum of five additional minutes to the second half of play. The Belgian star almost scores again but a last-second touch by the crew sends the shot off target. The Red Bull win and get their first of the season, it was a great second half for the team scoring two unanswered goals, should've been at least three, I'm sure Struber will work on that ball being finished in the future.