The New York Red Bulls' youth squads continued their strong runs at Day 2 of the United Soccer League Super Y-League, with the U-14 and U-15 sides each winning on Saturday.
After two days of group play, the Red Bulls are a combined 4-1-1 at the championships in Tampa, Fla.
Here are the recaps of Saturday's games:
NYRB U-14s 3, Atlanta Silverbacks 0
The Red Bulls U-14 squad put one foot into the semifinals with a comprehensive 3-0 win over the Atlanta Silverbacks on Saturday. Boosted by an Oscar Gonzalez brace and a goal by David Najem, the win put the Red Bulls on top of Group C with six points. The team needs only a draw Sunday in their final game against Weston SC.
After a scoreless first half, Gonzalez put the team up and the game opened up after that point.
"It was a great result against a strong team," Savarese said. "The team played really well. They still need to improve but they showed individual talent and they showed collective talent. We were able to be patient with the ball and they were able to score three goals."
Savarese said that although the Red Bulls were not able to make their mark on the scoreboard in the first half, led by the strong play of individuals such as Franklin Castellanos and Gabriel Avans, the team did not change its style of play after the intermission.
"That was the good thing," Savarese said. "They didn't do anything different. They played with patience the whole way."
The team's final group match is on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET against Weston SC.
NYRB U-15s 1, Spokane Shadow 0
Behind a second half goal by Walter Avans, the Red Bulls U-15 side defeated the Spokane Shadow of Washington 1-0 in the second of three group games. Avans put the Red Bulls ahead for good after quickly knocking in a loose ball from inside the penalty box into the back of the net.
"The team played better than they did yesterday," said Red Bulls director of youth soccer and player development Giovanni Savarese. "They're getting stronger. They're connecting passes and now is a good time to start stepping it up."
After the U-15s tied 0-0 in their opening group match against Juventus Sport Club, the Red Bulls needed a win. According to Savarese, after scoring the first goal, they looked even more dangerous in the attacking third.
"We were able to create more chances and we looked like we could score a second goal," he said. "The most important thing was I saw a team that looked better than before and had the desire to play well."
The victory sets up a must-win situation on Sunday, when the Red Bulls battle Kendall FC. The top team in each group advances to the semifinals, and Kendall is currently at six points after winning both of their games. Only a victory for the Red Bulls, who currently have four points, will do if they want to advance.
Savarese said that getting an early lead will be very important in Sunday's game against a quality opponent.
"Kendall is a very good team and it's going to be a very interesting game," Savarese said. "We have our fate in our own hands. If we win, we pull through."
The match is at 1 p.m. ET.
NYRB U-17s 1, Kendall FC 2
A second half stoppage time goal dropped the Red Bulls' U-17s to a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Kendall FC.
After Walter Hines put the Red Bulls up with his third goal in two games, Kendall was able to equalize about 15 minutes before time, setting up their last-gasp game-winner.
Final group matches on Sunday:
NYRB U-15s vs. Kendall FC - 1 p.m. ET
NYRB U-14s vs. Weston SC - 3 p.m. ET
NYRB U-17s vs. Victoria United - 5 p.m. ET
