Minnesota United FC 0, New York Red Bulls 3 | 2017 MLS Match Recap

Phil West

The New York Red Bulls defeated Minnesota United FC, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon in the teams' first meeting. A 16th-minute goal from Daniel Royer put the Red Bulls ahead, with a 67th-minute goal from Bradley Wright-Phillips and a 90th-minute goal from Alex Muyl providing the insurance needed for the Red Bulls — who now have their first three-game road winning streak in four years.

Meanwhile, Minnesota's scoring woes continued; despite some good attempts throughout the match, the Loons now stand at nearly six hours of playing time without a goal. Their last goal in MLS play came June 29 in a 3-1 loss at NYCFC.

Royer, Kljestan spark red-hot Red Bulls in victory over Minnesota

Goals

16' – NY – Daniel Royer Watch
67' – NY – Bradley Wright-Phillips Watch
90' – NY – Alex Muyl Watch

Three Things

THE ROYER TREATMENT: The Austrian international scored his eighth goal of the 2017 campaign, and his fourth in three games, to give the Red Bulls a first-half lead they wouldn't relinquish. He also nearly had a second goal in a 1-on-1 situation toward the end of the first half, and assisted on BWP's insurance goal to round out an outstanding, profile-raising performance.

FROM THE PLANE TO THE PITCH: Minnesota boosted its injury-riddled lineup with two international signings earlier this month: New Zealand centerback Michael Boxall (fresh from the most recent Confederations Cup) and Scottish winger Sam Nicholson. Both were pressed into sooner-than-expected action and made their debuts Saturday, with Boxall going the full 90 and Nicholson lasting to close to the hour mark.

KLJESTAN COMES THROUGH:
With New York's final goal of the match, stalwart
Sacha Kljestan
reached a notable team milestone: Kljestan passed Thierry Henry on the Red Bulls' all-time assist list with his 43rd. It came on an impressive sequence that saw multiple attacking players touch the ball before Muyl slotted it home. It came in a match where analysts grappled with what numbers to assign the unconventional formation that ultimately paid dividends.

So here were the average positions for the Red Bulls starting XI today. You're guess of a formation is as good as mine. 3-1-5-1? #MINvNY pic.twitter.com/kNpxHctPRD
— Ben Baer (@BenBaer89) July 22, 2017

They Said It

"It was really hot for a first game. The heat was hard for me. I’m used to always the cold temperature in Scotland, so it was a hard one. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but I thought we played well. It was a hard one for us to take, especially three-nil. I don’t think the result reflected the performance. But that’s soccer I suppose."
—Sam Nicholson, Minnesota United FC