HARRISON, N.J. – It was never going to be easy.
Flying back from Cameroon and recovering physically in two days while also catching up on two weeks’ worth of preparations, all in time for one of the biggest games in New York Red Bulls history.
But that is exactly what Ambroise Oyongo had to go through before delivering a performance that was markedly mixed in the team's 2-1 loss in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Championship of the MLS Cup Playoffs, presented by AT&T.
Filling in at left back for suspended starter Roy Miller, Oyongo was involved in each of the three decisive plays Sunday at Red Bulls Arena. He was first beaten deftly by a moment of magic from Teal Bunbury, rebounded by producing an impressive play of his own that helped set up New York’s goal and then took part in the sequence that gave New England the advantage on aggregate heading into Saturday’s second leg at Gillette Stadium (3 pm ET; NBCSN, get tickets here).
The performance was far from the 23-year-old’s best of the season and came just four days after he started in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ivory Coast. He arrived back to the New York area on Thursday, which left him with the tough task of having only Friday and Saturday to recover from the lengthy travel and prepare for the match.
“It was difficult and a quick transition between the two,” Oyongo said through a translator on Sunday. “It took a little bit more time to recover, took a little bit lighter training, and the travel time was really long from Cameroon. But going into the match, I felt good and felt that I properly recovered.”
Regardless of if Oyongo was in optimum condition and prepared enough to play, his shift on Sunday started with him being partially to blame for New England’s opener in the 17th minute. Bunbury deserves credit for lacing his shot into the top corner, but Oyongo was beaten in the preceding one-on-one battle.
The Cameroon international bounced back, however, 10 minutes after Bunbury’s goal. Oyongo faced up Lee Nguyen on the left flank, craftily pushed the ball to the Revolution midfielder’s right while running around his left side, and slipped a pass to Peguy Luyindula.
Oyongo didn’t get an assist, as Luyindula’s ensuing shot caromed off the post. But Bradley Wright-Phillips’ headed rebound would not have been possible if not for the versatile youngster’s contribution.
“On that play, I saw they were putting too much pressure, they were playing too high,” said Oyongo. “It started with Ibrahim [Sekagya], and when I got the ball I saw
there was a little bit of room between the central defender and the fullback. I saw Peguy, the opportunity, and slipped it to him.”
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Oyongo held up for much of the rest of the game but was involved in the Revolution taking the lead in the 85th minute. He sent a booming ball up field instead of to an open Dax McCarty on the left flank and was unable to close down Bunbury before he fed Jermaine Jones for the winner.
They are mistakes he’ll look to eliminate as New York fight for their playoff lives in the second leg.
“Considering he just flew in from Africa and he played two games there and was put in a difficult position, we’re very confident in his ability,” said goalkeeper Luis Robles. “We remain confident in his ability moving forward.”
Franco Panizo covers the New York Red Bulls for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached by email at Franco8813@gmail.com.
