It was a crystal clear night for soccer at Montclair State University’s MSU Soccer Park where the first place team in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference, New York Red Bulls II hosted the second place team Philadelphia Union II. Thanks to a brace from Panamanian sensation Mijahir Jiménez, the Baby Bulls won 2-0.
The Red Bulls II manager Michael Bradley went with a 3-4-3 formation, featuring Rafael Mosquera at left wing, Mijahir Jiménez at center forward and first team midfielder Dennis Gjengaar at right wing. Steven Sserwadda who had played in 10 consecutive matches before sitting out Monday night was out with an ankle injury.
In the first minute, NYRB II forward Rafael Mosquera was taken down running down a through ball deep into Philadelphia’s half. Union II defender Isaiah LeFlore was shown a yellow card and Mosquera took the free kick well over the bar.
The Union II looked like they had taken control of the match by storming back on the counterattack and earning two corner kicks. The first one was blocked by NYRB II defender Aiden Jarvis and the second went wide.
In the 11th minute, the Red Bulls II’s pressing paid off when Mijahir Jimenez stole the ball from the Union II goalkeeper Andrew Rick inside the box, dribbled the ball in and tapped it into the net.
In the 20th minute, Oscar Benitez collided hard with NYRB II midfielder Andy Rojas and was shown the match’s first yellow card. On the ensuing free kick taken by Gjengaar, the first ball was headed out by a Union II defender. The second ball came to Rojas who ripped a volley with his right foot which was saved by a diving Rick.
Right before halftime, a Baby Bulls counterattack led to Mosquera playing a pass across the 18-yard box to Mijahir Jimenez. Jimenez squared and fired a right-footed effort into the bottom left corner of the net for his second goal of the game to give the Baby Bulls a 2-0 lead.
The momentum continued in the Red Bulls favor as the second half began. Mosquera sent a right-footed cross into the box for Jimenez, who one-timed it but his effort was saved by Rick. The ball then popped up in the air and had to be cleared by Union II center back Neil Pierre.
Then NYRB II goalkeeper Aidan Stokes got busy for the first time. In the 55th minute, a cross came in from Giovanny Sequera that had to be tipped over the bar by Aidan Stokes. Then a good ball delivered off a free kick by the Union II had to be grabbed by Stokes.
In the 68th minute, the Union II subbed on leading scorer Malik Jakupovic and this seemed to breath some life into their offense. A ball came to Jakupovic inside the 18 yard box and he shifted the ball onto his favored left foot before unleashing a strike but it was blocked. Then the ball came to another Union II player and his shot was again blocked.
But it was short lived as the Red Bulls II continued to show more energy and more sharpness in the trenches than the Union II.
After suffering a minor injury, midfielder Nate Worth was subbed off for Ibrahim Kasule in the 77th minute. The crowd lets out a cheer for Kasule, the club’s all-time leading goal scorer.
In the 89th minute, the Union II generated their most dangerous scoring chance of the night. A through ball sent ahead from inside the Red Bulls II half for Stas Korzeniowski was caught up to by the Union II forward. Korzeniowski then let rip a hard shot that Stokes stopped with his body to preserve the clean sheet. And that’s how it would end as the Red Bulls II cruised to a 2-0 win over the team that was tied with them on points in the standings coming into tonight’s pivotal eastern confernence clash. Newly acquired Baby Bulls from the Red Bulls Academy Benjamin Rodriguez and Paraguayan 17-year-old Sebasthian Chavez made their second team debuts in the second half.
After the game, Baby Bulls manager Michael Bradley talked about beating their rivals and creating a little separation in the standings.
“We’re really pleased. Philadelphia are a reallly good team in our league. We talked a lot before the game about how to play in these types of games. How to make sure that we were ready for the moments of the game that were going to play out in the way they wanted but also then being able to put the game back on our terms. Really, really complete performance.” – NYRB II manager Michael Bradley
The Baby Bulls captain Adri Mehmeti played a solid defensive game (contributing a clearance and completing 82% of his passes) for 95 minutes which helped his team hold down the fort in the second half.
Being an academy homegrown player himself, Mehmeti discussed the rivalry with Philadelphia throughout the academy levels and now with the second team.
“I would say playing them through all the age groups in the academy, the games are always physical, and it’s always bragging rights to whoever wins the game, It’s always a good experience playing against them, because it gives you that physical demand, to push games. It’s always high intensity so you always just have to be alert and be ready for the game, whatever’s to come.”
The Baby Bulls were definitely ready for this game, but there is a quick turnaround for their next game which will be on the road against New England Revolution II on Friday Aug. 15.
