On Father’s Day, the New York Red Bulls II (NYRB II) defeated Chattanooga FC 5-2 at MSU Soccer Park.
The NYRB II had won four straight games coming into today’s game while Chattanooga, the MLS NEXT Pro eastern conference leaders coming into this game, had won four of their last five. This game was a great opportunity for Ibrahim Sekagya’s NYRB II side to take advantage of playing on their home turf where they are undefeated this season and take care of business against the top dogs in the Eastern Conference.
NYRB II midfielder Nehuen Benedetti got the hosts on the scoreboard first in the 14th minute when he received a pass from NYRB II defender Matthew Dos Santos inside the 18 and one-timed it off the post and in.
The two teams battled tooth and nail for every opportunity from the 14th minute until the 44th minute when NYRB II stretched its lead to two. The NYRB II earned a free kick about 30 yards away from goal. Benedetti whipped a cross in towards the goal where it was headed in by NYRB II Juan Gutierrez Ruiz.
In first half stoppage time, NYRB II tacked on another goal. This time it was Rafael Mosquera receiving a through ball from Benedetti and ripping a shot with his left foot that beat the diving Chattanooga goalkeeper.
Just four minutes inside the second half, Mosquera was taken down inside the 18 by Chattanooga’s Nathan Koehler. Koehler received a yellow card and Mosquera was given the chance to put NYRB II up 4-0. He did just that, scoring into the right side of the net with his left foot.
In the 55th minute, Chattanooga FC were given a free kick about 30 yards away from goal. The free kick was whipped in towards goal by Tate Robertson and NYRB II goalkeeper Aidan Stokes came off his line and punched the ball but he made contact with a Chattanooga player. The referee awarded a penalty and Chattanooga’s Tate Robertson scored it to make the score 4-1.
Fast forward to the 68th minute and Chattanooga were knocking on the door again. This time, NYRB II’s backline left Milo Garvanian wide open at the backpost where he headed in a cross off a free kick from Robertson to make the score 4-2.
In the 84th minute, Chattanooga’s Callum Watson was shown a second yellow card for going into a challenge studs up with a NYRB II player.
NYRB II tacked on an insurance goal in the 97th minute to make it 5-2, when Tanner Rosborough tapped in a ground cross from left back Curtis Ofori.
The NYRB II beat the top dogs in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference to take over sole possession of first place.
During the postgame press conference, NYRB II manager Ibrahim Sekagya described how his team executed their game plan today against the top team in the conference.
No, we knew that they were first and we were second, and we knew this game was going to be this week, but yeah, I think the plan what we talked about is this is the game we need to show, last year, we remember when we played at their place, but I think the players, the plan we put in place, I think they did well because they knew this is the first place team. It was not an easy game, but the guys, they showed that they can manage it.
Red Bulls II captain Adri Mehmeti started his 11th straight game. After the game, Mehmeti described what went into such a positive result.
I think how we determine the game is on our start. I think our start was very strong, and we came out flying, and especially when they had all of those set pieces at the start of the game, it is hard to react and we reacted very well, we got the three goals in the first half, and then when they got the red card it was just up from there. The mentality had to shift because they scored two, and then again, we just had possession the rest of the game and got another goal and then closed it out.
After spending ten years with the club as an assistant coach and head coach, this was Sekagya’s last game as manager of the NYRB II. After the game, a ceremony was held on the field to honor Sekagya’s time with the club.
Sekagya described the changes he’s helped bring about at NYRB II.
I think the confidence of the players, I think we have good young players which are growing up and we talked about the family. I think now the team, you can see they are happy when this is the thing which we did not have for a long time. I think now, when you see the players together, we talk about family, it has been fantastic. I think this is the thing for me, mostly not just players but also the staff I had behind me, helping me, and also growing up. This is something which is great, I think I do not know, it is hard for me to talk about it, to know what I can say, but this is the team which is in my blood, I think Red Bull has given me a lot, and I’m still going and this is something which you cannot take for granted.
A victory was a fitting way for the NYRB II to send off their manager who will become an assistant coach with the first team after today. The next manager of the Red Bulls II will be Michael Bradley and his first game at the helm will be on the road against Carolina Core FC on June 21.
