BRADENTON, Fla. - A goal by rookie Dane Richards helped lift the New York Red Bulls past the Kansas City Wizards 3-1 in a 90-minute scrimmage on Tuesday at the IMG Academy. Richards, who found the back of the net for his second consecutive scrimmage, chipped over the Kansas City goalkeeper in the 55th minute just after a Jack Jewsbury penalty kick conversion put the teams level.
Midfielder Dave van den Bergh also scored his second goal in two games, while trialist Peter Philipakos scored a second-half penalty kick.
"I think everybody was solid, everyone did their job," said Red Bulls assistant coach Richie Williams. "Everyone looked sharp in what they needed to do in terms of position."
Utilizing the same starting 11 as in their 4-0 win over the U.S. U-17 national team last Saturday, the Red Bulls dominated possession in the first half and generated a number of scoring chances. Forward Jozy Altidore almost put New York ahead in the first half when his shot off a Van den Bergh cross went just over the bar. Moments later, Seth Stammler collected a pass from defender Todd Dunivant and blasted a shot that Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman was forced to parry.
In the 16th minute, the Red Bulls struck first. Dema Kovalenko took control of the ball deep in the midfield and played a long, precise pass to a streaking Marvell Wynne. Wynne, who beat his defender, ran to the touchline before delivering a low cross into the penalty box which Van den Bergh slotted in.
Less than four minutes later, Altidore again tested Hartman as the 17-year-old blasted a shot from the top of the 18-yard-box.
"I think in the first half, we moved the ball very well," Williams said. "We did well with our passing and possession and we created chances and were solid in the back. We were happy with what we saw and again, it's 10 days into the season and you're not winning championships a week and a half into the season."
In the second half, the Red Bulls changed their entire lineup and Kansas City soon drew even after trialist Marcel Mahove brought down a Wizards attacker in the 54th minute. Jewsbury stepped up and shot it past goalkeeper Nick Rimando and inside the right post.
However, less than a minute later, Richards put New York up for good. Right back Joe Vide played a ball over the top to Richards on the left wing. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Richards took a few steps before lobbing the ball from over 20-yards out into the back of the net.
"Dane's obviously very, very fast and on top of it, he could play soccer pretty well," Williams said. "He's able to get crosses in, even when playing on the left side [as he did Tuesday]. He usually plays on the right side. He's scored goals in college and he took his goal very nicely and we've been happy with the way he's been playing."
Fifteen minutes before full time, Philipakos was taken down in the box by a Wizards defender and he stepped up and converted the penalty kick.
The Red Bulls' next scrimmage and last in Bradenton is Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET, when they will face D.C. United at the IMG Academy.
Red Bulls Starting 11 (First Half):
Ronald Waterreus, Todd Dunivant, Carlos Mendes, Jeff Parke, Marvell Wynne, Seth Stammler, Dave van den Bergh, Dema Kovalenko, Claudio Reyna, Markus Schopp, Jozy Altidore
Red Bulls Starting 11 (Second Half):
Nick Rimando, Eric Denton, Hugh MacDonald, Marcel Mahouve, Joe Vide, Dane Richards, Blake Camp, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Peter Philipakos, Jerrod Laventure, Randi Patterson
Scoring Summary:
NY - Dave van den Bergh 2 (Marvell Wynne 1, Dema Kovalenko 1) 16
KC - Jack Jewsbury (penalty kick) 54
NY - Dane Richards 2 (Joe Vide 1) 55
NY - Peter Philipakos 1 (penalty kick) 75
