Emil Forsberg’s sixth minute goal wasn’t enough to secure victory and Red Bull New York fell to Atlanta United 2-1 on Saturday at Mercedes Benz stadium.
This was Red Bull’s first match following a two-week break from Major League Soccer (MLS) action. Red Bull’s last game on August 1 was a strong win over Orlando City SC, but the break didn’t seem to have interfered with Red Bull early in this road game against their bitter eastern conference rivals.
After losing possession in the Atlanta box, Red Bull rookie defender Matthew Dos Santos made a slide tackle on an Atlanta player. Julian Hall took possession of the loose ball, passed to rookie midfielder Adri Mehmeti who threaded a pass into the box for Forsberg. Forsberg then turned and took a left-footed shot that beat Atlanta goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos to give Red Bull a 1-0 lead. The goal was the Red Bull captain’s third of the season.
In the 19th minute, Forsberg nearly doubled his team’s lead when Mijahir Jimenez made a short pass to him inside the Atlanta box and he ripped a left-footed shot on frame that was saved by the strong hand of Hoyos.
Red Bull conceded their first chance against in the 26th minute when Atlanta forward Miguel Almiron cut the ball back for Tristan Muyumba who was wide open on the doorstep of the six yard box but he shot over the bar.
It took until the 69th minute for Muyumba to redeem himself, but he did. An Atlanta player crossed toward the top of the Red Bull box where Aleksei Miranchuk was waiting. Miranchuk touched the ball over to Muyumba who no one on New York closed down on. Muyumba then finished with a feathery touch into the upper right corner to tie the game at 1-1.
Between the 72nd and 79th minute, Red Bull New York head coach Michael Bradley made four substitutions including bringing on designated player Jorge Ruvalcaba for Jimenez in an attempt to find the go-ahead goal.
In the 81st minute, Almiron took a corner kick short and then received the ball back. He then floated a cross to the backpost which was headed off of Red Bull goalkeeper Ethan Horvath and in by Atlanta forward Fafa Picault, giving the hosts a 2-1 lead.
Hall ripped a low shot from the edge of the Atlanta box that appeared to have Hoyos beat but the Atlanta goalkeeper kept it out with a strong hand yet again to deny New York the equalizer.
Atlanta United took the three points from Red Bull who have lost three of four games since Major League Soccer’s (MLS) World Cup pause.
The Red Bulls will next be in action August 19 at Sports Illustrated stadium where they will face the Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC. That game will begin a three-game homestand for Red Bull New York and be an opportunity for Michael Bradley’s side to correct their course.
