The Red Bulls U-17's hosted the defending Italian Serie A U-17 champions Inter Milan on Saturday night at Lubetkin Field on the campus of NJIT. Dylan Mencia scored the opener and Giorgi Chirgadze netted the final two goals for the Red Bulls in the victory.
"It was definitely a great night to play," said Red Bulls U-17 coach Paul O'Donnell. "The boys were very excited playing a top level team and every one of their players could play, but I think tonight we showed on any given day we have quality as well. The boys came to play and they were outstanding tonight.
I think definitely the mentality going into this game and being focused for 80 minutes, for the full game. I think at times the competition we play is not always Inter, it's not always these top teams from around the world , but if we come focused to games and have the mentality that this is a high level game, a pro level game, it's something we have to take into the next game and continue to take that on as we move forward."
Inter Milan took the early lead in the 23rd minute when Guiseppe Angarano went down the left side and pulled Red Bulls keeper Paul Brandon out of the net inside the box and crossed it to Filippo Fracaro, who hammers the pass into the right side of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Red Bulls Dylan Mencia leveled the score in the 40th minute when he took a pass inside the 18-yard box and fired a curling shot that beat Inter Milan goalkeeper Di Gennaro to the right side in the 40th minute
The Red Bulls took control of the game in the opening minute of the second half as Giorgi Chirgadze scored his first of the match when he left-footed a shot inside the 18-yard box off a high bounce and put it over Inter Milan goalkeeper Di Gennaro into the net to put the Red Bulls up 2-1. Chirgadze scored his second of the match in the 49th minute when he unleashed a laser beam from 30 yards out on the left side and it went through he outstretched hands of the Inter Milan keeper Di Gennaro.
Scoring
Inter Milan 1- 0 --1
RBNY 1-2 -- 3
Summary
Inter Milan - Filippo Fracarro (Guiseppe Angarano), 23rd minute
RBNY - Mencia, 40th minute
RBNY - Chirgadze, 41st minute
RBNY - Chirgadze, 49th minute
Officials
Referee - Mark Geiger
Assistant Referees - Ryan Doe Reas, Neil Barbulescu
4th Official - Mike Corin
Weather- 75 degrees and clear
