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NYRBII Sets Another Record In Win Over Montreal

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(HARRISON,NJ) New York Red Bulls II came into the match with absolutely no pressure on their shoulders. They had already secured a playoff birth, the USL regular season cup, and the highest point total for any team in USL history. Considering this is a team that does not focus on results, it was an impressive haul.

NYRBII Sets Another Record In Win Over Montreal

FC Montreal had given up the chase for the playoffs weeks ago. However, since the start of August, Montreal had put together a very impressive 5-1-1 record. For a team languishing for much of the season at the bottom of the table, this was a sign of hope. An upset may have been convenient to the story line, but it was not to be.

New York was dominant through the first half with a number of chances that were just off the mark. They ultimately would break through in the 20th minute. Florian Valot worked the ball down the left flank. Montreal goalkeeper Maxine Crepeau saved it and the ball fell to Brandon Allen. Allen finished for his 14th goal of the season. The goal would ultimately prove to be the game winner.

The normally stoic John Wolyniec seemed to be glowing after the game. “It speaks to a lot of things, our cap, our first team, Jesse (Marsch) and the league. What we are doing day and day out, it speaks to a lot of things. First credit goes to these guys because I know they work really, really hard.”

The Red Bulls scored three more times in the second half. Florian Valot had a lovely touch of a header on a Derrick Etienne Jr. corner kick that beat both Crepeau and the defender at the back post in the 54th minute. Valot’s goal was NY’s 57th of the season, setting a new record for goals in a season.

Twenty-minutes later, Derrick Etienne Jr. found the back of the net himself. Zack Carroll played a long ball out of the back that was flicked on by Brandon Allen. Etienne collected the ball in stride and fired past Crepeau from the top of the box. Crepeau was able to get a hand on the shot, but couldn’t keep the ball out.

Stefano Bonomo nearly gave the Red Bulls a four to nil lead in 78th minute. Crepeau took down Bonomo on the breakaway and the Montreal keeper was whistled for a foul. Bonomo stepped up to take the kick, but his effort was off frame. He would eventually score rhe Red Bulls final goal of the night. Brandon Allen collected the ball on the left flank. His cross to the back post found Bonomo, and he volleyed it home in the 94th minute.

The score line showed New York as the dominant side, but Montreal threatened on a number of occasions. Ballou Tabla, Anthony Jackson-Hamill, and Michael Salazar had a number of good looks at goal. NY goalkeeper Kyle Reynish was called upon on each occasion and came up big. Reynish has played few minutes this year, but each appearance shows a keeper who remains sharp in spite of the lack of minutes.

Wolyniec was pleased that his team kept a clean sheet. He attributed the near record for clean sheets in a season as a result of terrific play from Reynish and a good game plan. “You’ve got to give credit to Kyle, because Kyle made some big saves, especially towards the end of the game. We started to open up a little bit. Listen, they have some very good individual players up top, between Jackson-Hamill, Tabla, and Salazar. So, the had some first team guys up there, and it was hard for us. But we did a good job of taking them away, even when we had the ball, and accounting for guys, and communicating through the team.”

The Red Bulls will close out the season against Charleston Battery. Battery are looking to trade places with Charlotte Independence for fourth place in the East. A win for Charleston over the first place Red Bulls, and a loss or draw for Charlotte will be enough for the table shake up. The Red Bulls will be aiming for yet another record if they manage a shutout in their final contest, tieing the current record for shutouts in a season. For the Red Bulls, their historic season looks more and more like a championship is in their future.

SCORING SUMMARY

20 – Brandon Allen

54 – Florian Valot (Derrick Etienne Jr.)

74 – Derrick Etienne Jr. (Brandon Allen, Zach Carroll)

90+4 – Stefano Bonomo (Brandon Allen)

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