On a wet Sunday at MSU Soccer Park on the campus of Montclair State University, Red Bull New York II (Baby Bulls) hosted Huntsville City for the second straight match in the MLS NEXT Pro Cup Playoffs’ first-ever play-in round match.
In the seventh minute, after a long ball was driven down the center of the field into Red Bull’s half, Morristown’s Tobias Szewczyk ran out to try and intercept the long ball outside of the 18-yard box. Szewczyk didn’t get to the ball nor did the Red Bull defender gain possession. Instead, Huntsville’s forward Zidane Yáñez took control of the ball and kicked it from 40 yards out into the empty net to give Huntsville the lead first for the second straight match against Red Bull New York II.
Huntsville continued to look like the more threatening side in the early goings when Yáñez broke free of a tackle down the right wing in the 19th minute. He then strode into the box and unleashed a right-footed shot that skidded just wide of the left post.
In the 32nd minute, the Baby Bulls almost tied the match. Connor Faello dribbled the ball from the left wing straight at the backline before threading a through ball into the Huntsville 18-yard box for Mijahir Jiménez. The Red Bull New York first team striker latched onto the ball 1-on-1 with Will Mackay and managed to get a shot off before being tackled that missed just wide of the post.
Ten minutes later Red Bull left-midfielder Omar Valencia dribbled down the left wing and fired a shot on the run that hit the cross bar.
However, all was forgiven when Faello and Jiménez combined for a nice give-and-go play in the attacking third and the Baby Bulls levelled the contest. A Red Bull throw-in was collected by Jiménez, who had his back to a Huntsville defender. He held off the defender and passed to Faello, who nutmegged a Huntsville player with a pass back to the Panamanian on the edge of the 18. Jiménez then took a touch before ripping a right-footed shot on the ground past a diving Mackay and into the bottom right corner of the net.
In the 45th minute, Jiménez drew a foul giving the Red Bulls their second free kick from 25 yards out or less. Pedrinho Castro, one of the Baby Bulls most recent loanees, took the free kick and sent a perfect shot sailing into the upper 90 past Mackay. It was Castro’s first MLS NEXT Pro Cup Playoff goal and gave the Baby Bulls their first lead of the match right before the end of the first half.
In the 64th minute, Huntsville made three substitutions.
Malachi Molina came on for forward Misei Yoshizawa.
Leo Christiano for left-back Isaiah LeFlore.
Nick Pariano for midfielder Landry Walker.
In the 69th minute, Red Bull New York II made three subs as well.
Benny Rodriguez entered for forward Nelich.
Tanner Rosborough entered for forward Castro.
Christian Gallagher entered for striker Jiménez.
In the 74th, newly signed center back Josh Munson made a key defensive play for the Baby Bulls. The Red Bulls Academy product laid out and got a foot on an aerial cross ticketed for a Huntsville player at the near post, clearing it behind the byline.
The visitors had a few more opportunities after that, but the Baby Bulls stood their ground; the first, on a free kick from 40 yards out, Veliz crossed into the box and his service was headed well wide by recent substitute Maximus Ekk. Shortly after that, a Huntsville player persisted dribbling down the wing and chipped a short cross into the center of the Red Bull box. The ball bounced over to Yáñez, who turned and shot well over the bar. Lastly, with under three minutes left, Molina took a shot from distance that skidded wide on the ground.
Huntsville would rue those missed opportunities as the Baby Bulls scored to make it 3-1 in the 89th minute.
Recent Brazilian loanee, Kevin Wender sent a perfect pass to the back post where Rosborough smashed it off Mackay’s mitts and into the net to put the home team in front by two for the first time all evening and that iced the game.
It rained throughout the entire match and Red Bull conceded early, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the defending MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions.
Red Bull New York II scored twice at the end of the first half and once at the end of the second half to seal their sixth MLS NEXT Pro playoff victory since joining the league in 2023.
After the match, Red Bull New York II head coach Dominik Wohlert was asked about the resilience his team showed after going down a goal early in a playoff match.
We spoke a lot about our togetherness on the field, about taking that extra step for your teammate, and that’s exactly what the guys showed today. I thought the effort was fantastic. The togetherness, the atmosphere, and the way we played in the end. I was really, really happy with that.
The playoff win was Wohlert’s first as the head coach of a pro soccer team and after the match, he described what it meant to him.
Actually, it’s not about me. I’m just really, really happy to share the locker room and share the pitch with these guys because the commitment the players bring into the facility every day is just enjoyable. I come to work with a big smile. It’s basically a whole new roster. I think we had 15 new players come into the squad. To see the players developing, to see the amount of players who were able to sign contracts this season, and the players who were able to take steps into the first team and get minutes or training call-ups that’s the reward for us as a coaching staff. It’s not about us. It’s more about creating a good environment where the guys can take the next step in their development. When we see something like this, that’s actually the win.
Lastly, the Baby Bulls captain Nate Worth spoke about the confidence and momentum that this resounding result has given his team.
When you get to the playoffs, it’s all about form, team spirit, confidence, and all those kinds of things, which I think we have. A few games back, we didn’t quite get the results we wanted, but we had good performances. Now, with this win especially, and with the conditions and everything, the group is in a really good place mentally. We know what we’re capable of, and we’re excited to keep it going.
Red Bull New York II will travel to Matthews, North Carolina and take on Crown Legacy FC (affiliate of MLS’s Charlotte FC) on Sunday Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
