On Youth Night and under cooperative skies, Red Bull New York II fell 4-1 to the New England Revolution II at MSU Soccer Park on the campus of Montclair State University.
About a hundred young fans came out to Montclair State to watch the Baby Bulls lose their fourth straight match– their worst stretch of the 2026 season and lose the season series against New England two games to one.
Red Bull New York II had three shot attempts and earned seven free kicks in the opening 20 minutes, with first team defender Omar Valencia letting fly from distance only to have his sharp attempt blocked.
In the 13th minute, New England’s Joe Buck fouled Red Bulls II’s Dennis Nelich just outside the 18-yard box. On the ensuing free kick set up 20 yards away, Buck atoned for his error by blocking Nate Worth’s free kick.
Just minutes later, the visitors took a 1-0 lead on a free kick just inside Red Bulls II’s half of the field. The Revs II took the free kick short and a through ball and a cross eventually led to Matthew Jean-Baptiste touching the ball with the bottom of his right foot into the bottom corner. The goal was assisted by Carlos Zambrano and Cristiano Oliveira and was Jean-Baptiste’s third of the season.
The run of play stayed with Red Bulls II through the next 10 minutes as forwards Andy Rojas and Sean Baitinger had shot attempts blocked by opponents. However, in the 28th minute, New England’s leading scorer Myles Morgan took control of the ball, after Aimar Sánchez couldn’t trap a long ball, and scored one-on-one with Morristown native and Red Bulls II goalkeeper, Tobias Szewczyk.
Morgan made another dangerous run that almost ended with him one-on-one with Szewczyk again but center back Erick Londono tracked back and broke up the play. However, upon doing so, Londono pulled up, grabbed his leg and went down. The Red Bull New York II medical staff treated Londono on field and he eventually made his way off the field under his own power. But he was subbed out of the game by head coach Dominik Wohlert for 17-year-old Jason Bori.
In the first half, Red Bulls II had nine shot attempts while New England had only three but New England converted the little chances they had thanks to shoddy defending from the hosts.
After halftime, Wohlert made two substitutions: jack of all trades Juan Mina came in for Benjamin Rodriguez at right wing and Joshua Munson replaced Sánchez at center back.
Immediately, the changes had a negative effect as the Revolution II scored two goals in three minutes to take a commanding 4-0 lead. On the first Revolution II goal in the second half, Munson failed to clear a ball that fell to him after Szewczyk made a diving save from point-blank range which led to Judah Siqueira one-timing a half volley into the bottom corner. On the second goal, Morgan curled a beautiful shot past a diving Szewczyk from just outside the box.
The Red Bulls II actually earned their first shot on goal in between these two goals when Mina crossed to the back post for Worth who volleyed the ball straight into the hands of Revolution II goalkeeper Donovan Parisian.
Things got heated in the 59th minute after New England defender Gabe Dahlin nutmegged Rojas. Rojas chased Dahlin and shoved him from behind. The 20-year-old who has played 56 first team minutes this year, was shown a second yellow card and players from both teams came together and exchanged words about the play.
A minute later, recently subbed on midfielder and Brooklyn, New York native Paul Sokoloff ripped a high shot from the center of the field that was grabbed easily by Parisian. Then a few minutes later, Baitinger passed it to Nelich who niftily volleyed a pass to Mina who ran onto it and dribbled skillfully past opponents into the 18-yard box, before taking a low shot that was kept out by Parisian,
Despite playing the final 30 minutes of the match down to 10 men, the Baby Bulls kept their noses to the grindstone and got on the board. Valencia sent a cross to the back post off a free kick and Bori headed it home for his first career MLS NEXT Pro goal in the 79th minute.
In the 82nd minute, New England’s Levi Katsell slide tackled Sekou Kone from behind and was shown a straight red card reducing the visitors to 10 men.
In the 87th minute, the Red Bulls II sprung out on a counter attack and eventually Nelich ended up with the ball 20 yards from goal. Nelich was about to shoot before he was disrupted by Dahlin’s sliding tackle.
Despite the 4-1 scoreline, the Baby Bulls dominated stretches of the game through ball possession and drawing fouls, so the game wasn’t as lopsided as the scoreline suggests.
During the post-match press conference, Red Bull New York II head coach Dominik Wohlert praised the way his team fought back to earn a goal in the second half.
The young guys who came in, they show some life, they show some character. They are putting everything on the line they have, and that’s enjoyable to watch. There would have been the one other team in this league after 50 minutes down four nil, and then also receiving the red card — it could be X or more.There is the chance to fall apart, and just everyone is in their own sorts. When I have to mention something positive about the game, I have to say that we showed character in the end.
A troubling theme for Red Bull New York II this season has been their streakiness, as they have now gone on two 5-game winless streaks in 21 matches played and currently find themselves on a 4-game losing streak.
Bori described what the difference has been in the matches that they have played recently.
We’ve been working really hard in training. In game it’s just like executing in matches because our training have been amazing, and it really just comes down to execution when it matters.
Red Bull New York II have fallen in the standings from 7th to 9th by virtue of this loss.
The Baby Bulls will have a week of training before heading out to Columbus, Ohio to face Columbus Crew 2 at Historic Crew Stadium on August 8 in what will be the first match of a two-match road trip.
