New York Red Bulls vs. Club Tijuana
2018 Concacaf Champions League – Quarterfinals, Leg 2
Red Bull Arena - Harrison
8 pm ET – March 13, 2018
WATCH: UDN, UnivisionDeportes.com, go90.com
After making history at Estadio Caliente, the New York Red Bulls are looking to close out their Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal series with Club Tijuana and book a first-ever appearance in the tournament’s semifinals at what should be a frigid Red Bull Arena Tuesday night.
Despite being outshot 30-11, the Red Bulls defeated Xolos, 2-0, in the opening leg to become the first MLS team to win a knockout round match in Mexico and the only to win any competitive match there by more than one goal. Bradley Wright-Phlllips took his chances well to score a brace and Luis Robles made a career-high 13 saves in a heroic effort.
- Even with two-goal lead, Red Bulls plan to go on offensive in second leg
- Baer: No victory lap yet but MLS teams have already taken big leap in CCL
- Warshaw: The clear paths - plural - for Concacaf Champions League victory
- Rugged RBNY "empty the tank" in CCL upset road win
- Job half done: Red Bulls wary of Tijuana in Leg 2
- Best week ever for MLS vs. Liga MX in CCL
New York Red Bulls
With an eye toward Tuesday’s second leg, Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch made nine changes for the MLS opener against the Portland Timbers Saturday night and his heavily rotated squad rolled to a 4-0 victory at Red Bull Arena.
Ben Mines scored on his MLS debut, the 17-year-old becoming the third youngest player to score in club history after Eddie Gaven and Jozy Altidore, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Carlos Rivas struck twice late in his first game in a Red Bulls uniform and Wright-Phillips came off the bench to net his fourth goal in the last three games in all competitions.
On the day young Argentine attacking midfielder Kaku made his first start -- proving to be a quick study in the Red Bulls way -- the names on the back of their jerseys might have been different, but the way the Red Bulls played was the same.
- Suspended: Sean Davis
- Suspended after next caution: Tyler Adams, Aurelien Collin, Daniel Royer, Alex Muyl, Luis Robles, Derrick Etienne Jr.
- Injury Report: None
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Luis Robles — Michael Murillo, Aaron Long, Tim Parker, Kemar Lawrence — Tyler Adams, Marc Rzatkowski — Alex Muyl, Kaku, Daniel Royer — Bradley Wright-Phillips
Club Tijuana
The Xolos defense continues to be solid, just as their attack continues to struggle to put away chances. Such was the story in a 1-0 loss to Tigres in the 11th round of the Mexican Clausura Saturday. Like the Red Bulls, Tijuana used a rotated lineup with Argentine coach Diego Cocca making eight changes from the side that fell to the Red Bulls last Tuesday.
“The team made an effort. It defended well, it had the ball, it created counterattacks, but we continue having trouble scoring goals,” he said. “The players are putting in a great effort, they are running, fighting and creating scoring chances, while looking to improve.”
Tijuana will need to reverse that trend Tuesday in order to book their second-ever trip to the CCL semifinals.
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Alberto Garcia, Pablo Aguilar, Damian Perez
- Injury Report: OUT: F Gustavo Bou (leg), F Juan Lucero (leg)
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Gibran Lajud — Omar Mendoza, Pablo Aguilar, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Damian Perez — Jose Rivero, Damian Musto — Luis Mendoza, Miller Bolanos, Mateus Goncalves — Alberto Garcia
All-Time Series
- The Red Bulls won the opening leg, 2-0, at Estadio Caliente last Tuesday in the first-ever appearance between the teams.
- CONCACAF Champions League history: Tijuana - 1 appearance, (2013-14) 6 wins, 4 losses, 2 ties (17 goals) … New York Red Bulls - 3 appearances (2008-09, 2014-15, 2016-17) 5 wins, 3 losses, 7 ties (17 goals)
Referees
To be announced …
