An own goal by Matt Polster gives the Red Bulls a 1-0 win at New England Revolution. Ashley Fletcher launched a ball into the box that pin-balled into the Revolution net. Red Bulls win at New England for the first time since July 2017. They also record their third straight road win to start the season, first time ever in franchise history. New England are winless in their last three league games.
Team News
Bruce Arena makes numerous tweaks to the team that lost at Charlotte. Brad Knighton is in goal over Earl Edwards Jr, Andrew Farrell and Henry Kessler are the center back pairing over Omar Gonzalez and Jon Bell. Justin Rennicks partners Jozy Altidore in attack, Emmanuel Boateng and Adam Buksa are on the bench. Gustavo Bou is not in the eighteen due to injury. The ever-dangerous Carles Gil is in the number 10 position.
The Red Bulls make one change as they go to a 4-4-2 for this game. Dylan Nealis is on the bench, Tom Barlow partners Patryk Klimala up top. John Tolkin and Tom Edwards are the full back pairing, Omir Fernandez and Lewis Morgan are the wingers. Luquinhas and Ashley Fletcher are on the bench. New York looks to open their season with a third straight road win, a first for the franchise.
Revolution lineup (4-3-1-2): Brad Knighton; DeJuan Jones, Henry Kessler, Andrew Farrell, Brandon Bye; Tommy McNamara, Matt Polster, Sebastian Lletget, (C) Carles Gil; Justin Rennicks, Jozy Altidore
New England subs: Edwards Jr, DeLaGarza, Gonzalez, Kaptoum, Maciel, Spaulding, Traustason, Buksa, Boateng,
Red Bulls lineup (4-4-2): Carlos Coronel; John Tolkin, Sean Nealis, (C) Aaron Long, Tom Edwards; Omir Fernandez, Dru Yearwood, Frankie Amaya, Lewis Morgan; Tom Barlow, Patryk Klimala
New York subs: Casseres Jr, Edelman, Fletcher, Luquinhas, Marcucci, Monzon, Nealis, Ryan
First Half: Red Bulls-Revolution opening frame is a physical affair
Aaron Long had an early chance in the box from a throw in but his shot hit side netting. Klimala came close to opening the scoring from a turnover but his effort was parried away for a corner. From the short corner, the cross went headed away safely. Kessler got the games first yellow card for a mistimed tackle on Morgan.
Amaya had a decent chance with a rip outside the box but was pushed away for a corner. He would then get a yellow for booting the ball away after a whistle. Tom Barlow also got a yellow for time wasting. Another yellow, for Dru Yearwood as the cards piled up in the first half.
Frankiiieee 😭 so close#NEvRBNY | #RBNY pic.twitter.com/DLg3omfWMh
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) April 3, 2022
Four shots apiece for each team, few clear-cut opportunities to open the scoring. The physicality is set with 20 fouls committed in the first half alone, and four yellow cards administered. Both Yearwood and Amaya on yellow cards spells trouble for New York as they’ll both need to stay disciplined. Subs, as usual, will make a difference for Struber. Yearwood especially, as he’s been great with two tackles in the first half. DeJuan Jones has been providing the threat at full-back with three key passes.
Carles Gil was kept quiet after limping a bit early on in the match. In many sequences of play, there are a lot of open spaces in the middle of the pitch. That’ll be something both teams will look to exploit. New York had the slightly better chances to score, but it remains scoreless going into the second half.
Second Half: Red Bulls win wild game on own goal
Buksa enters the match for Altidore to start the second half. Red Bulls make a double change, with Casseres Jr and Luquinhas coming on for Barlow and Fernandez respectively. Boateng came on for Rennicks. Maciel is on for McNamara.
Lletget nearly opened the scoring off a run from deep but Coronel got down low to deny him. Amaya would be sent off for a second yellow on a foul on Boateng. Ashley Fletcher and Dylan Nealis entered the game for Klimala and Morgan respectively.
Coronel made another spectacular save to deny Lletget once again. The Red Bulls would take the lead in the 90-minute. Ashley Fletcher on his lonesome would whip a ball in the box that went off Polster into the net for an own goal.
FLETCHER THAT'S ALL YOU 🥳 @AshFletcher___ #NEvRBNY | #RBNY pic.twitter.com/w2iC67Fw3M
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) April 3, 2022
Buksa would be sent off for kicking out at Sean Nealis. The final whistle blew, and the Red Bulls would win an incredible, wild game.
Three Takeaways from Revolution vs Red Bulls
.@NewYorkRedBulls walk away with all three points after a late own-goal. pic.twitter.com/vNklMfXVEc
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 3, 2022
A historic first for the Red Bulls. Three straight road wins to start the season, a franchise first is an incredible achievement. This was likely not expected but it speaks to the progress Struber speaks about with this group. Wins at San Jose, Toronto and now New England are indicative of a team ready to take the next step. It’s still early, but early signs are very positive from this team.
Revolution need a pick me up soon. Bruce Arena’s team are now winless in four in all competitions. Three league defeats in a row, this is a surprise given this is the reigning Supporters Shield holders. They didn’t have Gustavo Bou, Carles Gil was held in check and Buksa was sent off – it also wasn’t a pretty game they played. Revolution visit Inter Miami next week, desperate for points in a competitive Eastern Conference.
Red Bulls are turning some heads. Don’t look now but New York is tied for second in the East with Atlanta, and are proving to be a formidable threat. With more depth at their disposal, this team can throw more headaches at the opposition. This result was a tricky one, but to win this game and shut out the Revs shows incredible character. A great performance all around.
