CINCINNATI, OHIO – The New York Red Bulls (1-0) travel to Ohio this Sunday to matchup against a talented C.F. Monterrey (0-1) squad. It will be the second match both teams will play in this year’s Leagues Cup tournament.
To say Thursday night’s win over Chivas de Guadalajara was massive would be an understatement for the Red Bulls. Thanks to captain Emil Forsberg’s late game heroics, the Red Bulls were able to earn three vital points over a popular Liga MX side.
Interestingly enough, Forsberg’s goal pushed him closer to tying an incredible club record. According to Red Bulls communications, Forsberg is one goal away from tying club legend Sacha Kljestan for most goals scored by a midfielder in all competitions. The number of goals scored by Kljestan was 22.
Looking back at the Red Bulls starting eleven on Thursday, manager Sandro Schwarz mixed it up with a youthful attack and experienced defense. It was different between the posts as well with goalkeeper AJ Marcucci selected to start instead of the usual keeper, Carlos Coronel. To the credit of Marcucci, he stepped up when New York needed him in the biggest moments.
Marcucci finished the contest with four saves and earned himself his first career shutout in any competition with New York. When he has played this season, Marcucci has looked solid for the Red Bulls. Whether that was in the U.S. Open Cup or when he started vs Toronto FC back in March, he has stepped up greatly.
Schwarz reinforced how well Marcucci had played in his prematch press conference on Saturday, but added Coronel would have the start in goal vs Monterrey.
“What we have seen altogether is it was a really good performance from AJ [Marcucci], but we have also seen a lot of really good performances from Carlos [Coronel] as well,” Schwarz said. “But it’s clear Carlos is playing tomorrow… but AJ was really good.”
Now with Thursday behind them, New York will fly over to Cincinnati to face a Monterrey club desperate to bounce back. Thursday saw the Liga MX side fall to Evander and FC Cincinnati 3-2 and with the pieces they have, the result was unacceptable for them. With the likes of former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos and a great scorer in Germán Berterame, it was a disappointing loss for Monterrey.
It’s essentially a must-win for a Monterrey club that has tussled with some of the best clubs this summer. Monterrey competed in the FIFA Club World Cup and managed to get out of their group and were featured in the Round of 16. They would end up falling to Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in that round of that tournament.
“Monterrey is a really good team with their individual quality as well and very strong,” Schwarz told the media Saturday. “We have to defend very strong and also to find our moments with the ball which is very important.”
For the Red Bulls, fans should expect to see some similarities and differences in the starting eleven Sunday night. While the young attack worked well, Forsberg and forward Eric Choupo-Moting should start after subbing on in game one on Thursday. Defender Tim Parker may also stay put as one of the starting center-backs given his great play vs Guadalajara.
“For us, it’s kind of matching the intensity from the beginning and then taking advantage of our opportunities when we get them,” Parker told the press Saturday.
If New York were to secure three points vs Monterrey, their road to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals could start becoming a reality for them.
The Red Bulls’ second match of phase one kickoffs Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.
