NEW YORK RED BULLS II __ 1
LOUISVILLE CITY FC _ 0
6-16-19
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<SPENCER
RASMUSSEN
DAVIS IV <MATSOSO MKOSANA
<DELPICCOLO
JIMENEZ CRAIG SOAHY PEAY
HUBBARD
SUBS: MCCABE TOTSCH DEE
UNUSED: BALLARD JANE MCMAHON DOBROWOLSKI
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In a significant turnaround from last season’s Triumvirate led 6-4 destruction, John Wolyniec’s fine young New York Red Bulls 2 took care of a jaded looking Louisville City side Sunday in Montclair, New Jersey.
The 1-0 scoreline was wholly unrepresentative of the disparity on the day, the margin kept close only by the heroics of 24-year-old USL debutant Chris Hubbard, in for the injured and recalled (to FC Cincinnati) Ben Lundt.
Some will cite the 4 day turnover after 120 minutes of hard yakka at Nippert Stadium on Wednesday and the unavailability of several regulars, but this was a capable lineup on paper that was patiently overcome by another young opponent that dismantled it using pace and precision.
The early going was satisfactory enough with the only real chance in the first 20 minutes coming when Magnus Rasmussen delayed in favor of a left-footed cross for Luke Spencer who upon tapping into the net from close range was flagged for offside.
This misjudgment might have turned the course of the game as chances in the first half for the visitors all but dried up and the home side took over the play.
Napo Matsoso drew a yellow for a late midfield challenge on Kyle Zajec and captain Paolo DelPiccolo went into the book right below for feeling the need to lawyer to the official against his decision.
Through varying versions since he inaugurated the program, John Wolyniec’s Baby Bulls have never missed a beat in relation to putting together squads packed with youth and offensive vigor and before long, as expected, his lively lads would be coming on in waves, threatening repeatedly to unlock a City rear unit unchanged from its Wednesday night Open Cup battle in Cincinnati.
In the 21st, standout attacking midfielder Jared Stroud collected on the left and spread play wide to Edgardo Rito steaming into the right channel. The full back fed on to former Union/Steel wide man Marcus Epps who from the corner of the area left both Oscar Jimenez and George Davis IV in coverage grasping at air as he made the byline and drilled the ball into the 6 yard area where Alexis Soahy was in perfect position to intercept just in ahead of the waiting Mathias Jørgensen.
Epps was at it again over the following minutes and the City defensive shield was absorbing as much as it could handle with Rito joining the thrust whenever he could and key central midfielder Vincent Bezecourt always sniffing for a setup opportunity.
Countering again, Rito carried out of defense drawing attention of the central mid triangle as he slid the ball through the three of them to Stroud in the pocket. The future MLS 22-year-old pressed forward using Jorgensen as a decoy and slipped the ball out to Bezecourt whose left foot strike from the edge of the area skidded narrowly wide of Chris’ far post.
City were seeing few opportunities to get forward in numbers but after 31 minutes an Oscar outlet on a City breakout hit Magnus in space on halfway. The dashing Dane gained ground and sent wide to George Davis IV who entered the area but his dangerous cross was well cut out by ‘keeper Evan Louro, with Luke ready to turn it in to the net just behind him.
Janos Löbe now moved forward up the left line and fed inside through Epps and Stroud, and Bezecourt’s instant strike from outside was deflected a hair wide of Chris’ right post by Paco Craig.
The Bulls were enjoying much the better of the back and forth but an Epps giveaway deep in his half with Rito overlapping on ahead, went directly to Magnus who turned it to Napo and he fed Luke, now in the area vacated by Rito. The opportunity of a return pass to Napo, who had made his way into the adjacent opening, was spurned as the striker opted to chip to the center for the current hot hand but Magnus could not corral the ball and Louro would collect.
Up to the 35 minute mark Chris in goal had had little of consequence thrown his way but the Baby Bulls really began working the Morados hard, repeatedly threatening to blow the game wide open with the visitors struggling to clear their lines.
As resistance in front of him dissolved for a time, the debutant goalie was called upon to make a string of critical saves, the first after Taylor Peay conceded a left wing corner and as Chris Lema delivered Taylor lost center back Sean Nealis who drew Epps’ marker Paco and returned central to Epps but he was defied from close range by a fine Chris reflex save.
However, City failed in the transition as Luke was casual checking back to receive and Jordan Scarlett and Bezecourt quickly shuttled to the oft lethal Stroud who checked left to elude Magnus and struck a left-footer against the grain demanding all Chris’ agility as he launched himself at full stretch to magnificently tip the ball wide of the upright.
Lema’s corner kick was not cleared and he got back the ball and sent over a nasty one-hopper that appeared to handcuff Paco as the ricochet off his torso again brought a fine reflex save by the leg of Chris. The ball seemed ticketed for the side netting but somehow came back off the post and into the grateful arms of the beleaguered netminder, the closest the New Yorkers had come to that point.
They would not let up either as Scarlett put Bezecourt in behind the also beleaguered Paolo and the playmaker caught Oscar unaware sending Epps in one-on-one on Chris. And the netminder came up trumps again, getting his angle right and blocking with his stomach, seemingly having employed every body part to keep his side level as they struggled to stem the tide.
The Morados had been paying the price for too many giveaways in midfield and failing to find the compactness to slow the highly mobile home offense.
George IV did get one savable effort on Louro after a crossfield ball by Luke but the Bulls came right back as Stroud, before City could recover from Paco’s misplaced clearing header, fired in a vicious dipper which Chris got another fingertip to as the ball ricocheted over off the top off the bar.
As the half moved into stoppage time the action was not over as Scarlett shouldered George IV and Oscar’s free kick dropped over Luke’s head but into the path of Lucky Mkosana whose touch on was just too subtle as Louro dropped low to collect. As he came up with the ball, Paco, in an effort to buy more time for the retreat, disrupted Louro’s clearance and the consequential tit-for-tat earned both protagonists cautions – Paco’s tear on Cards moving to four straight games.
The whistle to end the half could not have come quickly enough for a Purples unit searching for answers in how to deal with the powerful Bulls’ charge and climb back into the match.
Few adjustments were evident as the sides began the second still apparently happy to trade blows, as George Davis won a corner and later, from a Napo through ball, forced Louro again to dive to cut out a cross, this time with Magnus hovering in front of the goal.
City were determined to seize the initiative and as an attack reloaded Paolo sliced Scarlett and the defense finding Magnus ghosting into a soft space inside the area as he is often inclined. The midfielder quickly set and drove in on Louro who once again was equal to the task.
The Baby Bulls countered and inside 18 seconds Chris had to be down sharply to save a deflection off Alexis as Bezecourt set up Jorgensen’s outside effort.
After Oscar’s free kick had been headed wide by Taylor, Scarlett again sent forward a precision ball and Epps caught Oscar and Paco ill prepared as he dashed in behind and diagonally toward the City goal. His ball inside to a wheeling Jorgensen could not be kept down however, and in spite of a plethora of opportunities the scoreline remained at zeroes.
With Louisville appearing to have little answer to New York’s high press, high octane game, affairs remained wide open as Epps collected near the circular paint, ran at the defense, danced right through with a nifty back heel and played a one-two in the area with Jorgensen, only to misfire on the return pass while in a handy position.
Now, just after the hour mark, a double substitution as Sean Totsch and Niall McCabe replaced PDP and Luke Spencer, inevitably pushing the tireless Lucky into the center forward spot.
For a time, the influx of energy aided the Morados, with Sean in particular chugging hard and staying involved, and In the 67th his searching ball forward was headed out as far as Napo whose
give-and-go with Oscar resulted in a worthwhile, albeit wide, effort from 27 yards.
City were coming more into the match and Sean whipped the ball away from Lema and fed inside to Magnus who charged forward and slipped Lucky in behind Scarlett. The surprisingly agile Louro however was quick to spot the danger and dove at Lucky’s feet before he was able to get off a shot.
Wolyniec responded to the City change with his own double substitution, Sebastian Elney and Ben Mines for Epps and Bezecourt who had each delivered a marvelous performance on the day for their head coach.
Oscar and George IV put pressure on Nealis resulting in the former’s drive from the angle that Louro was able to beat out.
The Bulls had been finding less opportunity going forward but the two replacements were in action as, from a giveaway by Taylor, Lema sent Elney up the left wing and he cut back inside and fired at Chris who had to stay strong to blot out Mines on the rebound.
With the rising temperature arrived a hydration break and a new introduction as ex Cardinal Geoff Dee joined the fray, on for the busy Napo Matsoso in a move to further shore up the center of the park.
With the City midfield sitting deeper the home side applied the pressure, forcing a pair of corners and keeping their guests pinned back in their own territory.
Now, with under 10 minutes left on the clock and Los Morados still perhaps seeming good for a point, a seemingly minor event occurred that this time would turn the course of the game. It began when Paco skied a clearance and Geoff and Sean, both endeavoring to nod the ball on, bumped heads resulting in the latter needing to leave the field to have blood removed from his bleeding lip and the former assuming temporary charge in the deep mid pocket. And, uncannily, it would be mere seconds before the game would fall apart for Hack’s battle weary braves.
An innocuous lay back by Magnus to Geoff at the center spot found the new sub’s touch wanting. Mines recognized and was on him in a flash, taking the ball away and instantly feeding Jorgensen who outstripped Alexis for pace, reached the penalty area and whipped a low strike across Chris and into the bottom corner of the net. With Sean off the field the goal had occurred within 25 seconds of the restart.
Aside from this critical absence, what essentially defeated the debutant ‘keeper was the artificial surface as he unfortunately lost his left foot while pushing off, but it was all academic as Red Bulls had finally created the breach they needed and closing out the match became their target.
With time winding down, Oscar’s delivery from deep was headed in on frame by Magnus but directly to Louro. In spite of several forays into the New York end no further clear cut chances would develop and Baby Bulls would hold on to lift themselves to within a point of leaders Tampa Bay Rowdies, with Los Morados 5 behind them on 24 points and in 6th spot.
The ease with which Wolyniec’s young chargers were able to scythe through the Purple midfield would have to be of major concern, however with a run of matches against deep lying opponents coming up before the return of Speedy Williams, other worries, specifically how to induce goalscoring, will come into primary focus.
With Abdou Thiam likely to be missing at least through July, Brian Ownby’s return for Saturday’s 7 pm encounter with 15th placed Charlotte Independence might well help in this department.
See you all there!
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@LouCityKiwi’s PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF 10:
Oscar Jimenez: 5
Didn’t enjoy the astro turf, his marking assignment (Epps), and especially the necessity of playing the full 90 after a tough 120 midweek in Cincy.
Paco Craig:_5
Tentative and mistake prone in his area at times and saw yellow for the 4th straight game after yet another completely unnecessary decision. Might need a little talking to during the week regarding dipping form and discipline.
Alexis Soahy:_6
Again the stronger half of the center back pairing, though didn’t make a quick enough read and beaten for pace on the only goal of the match.
Taylor Peay:_4 1/2
Without doubt the least convincing outing in his short Morados career. Mistakes all too common and marking not up to par. Like Sean Totsch, secretly would prefer a starting slot at center back.
Paolo DelPiccolo:_5 1/2
Got through an hour in this one after struggling to manage a decidedly second best midfield. Caught out repeatedly defensively and unable to help a lot going forward. Probably exhibiting signs of fatigue after a tough back-to-back while still returning to match fitness after his long injury layoff.
George Davis IV : 6 1/2
Okay 1st half, and prominent at the beginning but needed to stay in the game a lot more.
Napo Matsoso:_8
Far and away the most competitive midfielder in a purple jersey. In spite of a 1st half yellow card, a positive step forward in this game for the youngster.
Magnus Rasmussen:_6
After a string of fine USL performances just not his day as the legs perhaps weren’t fully back after going 120 plus minutes on Wednesday night.
Lucky_Mkosana:_7 1/2
Helpful contributor all the way up and down the wing, but needed to be more incisive around the opposition goal.
Luke Spencer: 7
Also needs to be more effective in the danger zone but looked useful again when stepping outside of the center forward pocket. Disappointingly withdrawn on the hour mark after a promising start to the 2nd half.
Niall McCabe: 6 1/2
Rested after going late in the Cup OT in Cincy and came on for 30 minutes of ultimately unrewarded toil.
Sean Totsch:_7 1/2
Brought much needed fresh legs and some steel upon taking over The Captain’s holding role. Unfortunate to be off for repairs for the Baby Bulls’ goal.
Geoffrey Dee:_4
Subject of an awkward 79th minute reset and the absence on the field of Sean Totsch (for a blood injury) as his tragic error within a few ticks of entering resulted in the Red Bulls’ winning goal.
“LOS MORADOS NO. 1 ⭐️ OF THE GAME”
⭐️⭐️⭐️Chris Hubbard⭐️⭐️⭐️
9 1/2
As well as Ben Lundt has performed, the most brilliant display by any of the 4 ‘keepers used this season. A nigh superhuman first half followed by a near excellent 2nd half stretch until a perhaps inevitable New York winner finally got by him. Morados last line should remain in good stead, even without the
services of the trusty German.
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