Region I Premier League semifinal
Once again, the Red Bulls' U-18 team kept busy last weekend, playing matches on both Saturday and Sunday. And once again, as is starting to be the pattern, the young Red Bulls did not disappoint, not only winning both matches but providing some exciting soccer while doing so.
On Saturday, the U-18s played in one of the most exciting matches in recent memory against traditional power FC Delco of Pennsylvania in their Region I Premier League Semifinal contest. The Red Bulls U-18s pulled off an unlikely comeback, using a goal in the last minute of stoppage time and some excellent late goalkeeping by Conrad Rusnak to pull off a win in the penalty shootout and advance to the final.
"This was truly a thrilling game that could have gone either way," said head coach Paul O'Donnell. "The team was tremendous because they simply refused to quit. First, we came back from 2-0 down, and then we thought we won it at the end of overtime. However, Conrad Rusnak was outstanding in saving the penalty kick at the end of the game and then in the shootout."
The game went into halftime scoreless as the Red Bulls U-18s missed the only solid scoring opportunity, sending one over an open net after rounding the 'keeper in the first five minutes.
FC Delco jumped out to a 2-0 lead with two goals within a five minute span in the second half, putting the Red Bulls in serious danger. After a terrific goal on a diving header put FC Delco up 1-0, the Red Bulls had a lapse in concentration, conceding another only minutes later due to sloppy defending in the midfield.
However, the Red Bulls U-18s proved their resilience after switching to a more offensive-oriented 3-4-3 formation, generating more opportunities, and finally breaking through in the 65th minute to close the gap to 2-1 on a Matt Kassel free kick from 25 yards. The team created several other opportunities, but was unable to find the equalizer as the game entered into injury time.
In injury time, the Red Bulls went all out, sending all 11 players - including the goalkeeper - into the final third to get the equalizer. FC Delco were able to keep the ball out of the net and counterattacked, looking likely to put the game out of reach before goalkeeper and man of the match Rusnak tackled the ball away while recovering.
Rusnak was not done saving his team there, however. In the 94th minute, Rusnak stopped a penalty kick that would have once again sealed the victory for FC Delco, and soon after, the Red Bulls got the equalizer in the final seconds of injury time on a Jackson Sengbloh blast off a long throw-in by John Tardy.
In the last minute of overtime, Johnny Exantus nailed a 25-yard rocket that seemingly put the match out of reach. However, FC Delco answered immediately, scoring with only seconds left to send the game to a penalty kick shootout.
In the shootout, Rusnak once again came through for the team and four consecutive Red Bulls U-18s converted, completing the amazing comeback.
Region I Premier League Finals
The championship match would provide the same result for the Red Bulls U-18s, although with much less nailbiting and drama along the way. Battling injuries and fatigue, the young Red Bulls found a way to dominate both halves. Despite controlling the tempo of the game and creating many scoring chances, the Red Bulls were only able to net one goal. But one goal proved to be enough, as the U-18s now set their sights on the Region I Championships.
"Despite playing 120 minutes in the semifinal match and receiving several injuries in the game, the team was absolutely brilliant," said O'Donnell. "Looking at how we played in the final, you would think we did not have such a difficult match less than 24 hours earlier."
Controlling the game in the first half despite going into a harsh wind, the U-18s nearly scored several times. Going with the wind in the second half, the Red Bulls began to pour on the pressure, being denied by great saves or nearly missing several times before an Andrew Cuevas header hit off the crossbar and was rebounded by Sengbloh, who found the back of the net from close range.
The win guarantees a berth in the Region I Championships, which will be held in Maine from June 28 through July 3. The remainder of the spots in the Region I Championships will be earned by state champions from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.
The Red Bulls U-18 team will play their next match, the New Jersey State Cup Semifinals against Arsenal Premier World Class, on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET at Fort Dix, N.J.
U-16 update
The Red Bulls U-16 side won their first match of the Super-Y-League season, 3-0, over Hoekenssen S.C. of Delaware last weekend. Controlling the run of play from the outset, the U-16s scored twice in the first 21 minutes of the game and added a third in the 70th minute to seal the victory.
The first goal came from a beautiful 40-yard diagonal ball into the path of a streaking Zack Gomez, whose first-time cross found Eric Jorgensen in front of the net for the early lead. The second goal came four minutes later as Evans Asiamah's precise cross found Gomez, who knocked it in. Dylan Mencia took a flick-on from Eric Jorgensen and finished off his breakaway to cap the game off in the 70th minute. Chris Todd and Jason Rosenzweig combined for six saves in the shutout.
U-15 update
The Red Bulls U-15 had the most lopsided result last weekend, picking up a 6-1 victory over Super Nova on Saturday. The young Red Bulls fell behind early, but came back quickly and continued to pour it on throughout the rest of the game.
"I'm very positive and looking forward to getting the group together and to continue working to get the results that will bring the team to National Finals again," said head coach Antonio Meza. "They played very well and that is a good thing moving forward."
After conceding an early goal in the second minute, the U-15s answered quickly as Mamadee Dukuly brought them even just two minutes later. Dukuly scored again in the 10th minute off an assist by Clifford Lyle, at which point the flood gates opened. The Red Bulls scored two more goals to make it 4-1 at the half, and Corey MacDonald and Beau Gordon netted goals of their own in the second half.
Goalkeeper Travis Ives prevented Super Nova from narrowing the gap early in the second by making a great save on a penalty kick and once again turning the momentum back in the Red Bulls' favor.
