Red Bulls Get Assist from VAR

The Red Bulls entered tonight’s match in need of a win and three points, they take on a Revolution side that has been top three of the league throughout the season. The Red Bulls have been below the Mendoza line all season. A win today over the Revs will help push them into the playoff talks pending what Charlotte and NYCFC do as well. The good news is the Red Bulls beat New England twice last season, but the two teams are not even close to what they were last season.

The Revolution also entered tonight’s match on a seven-match unbeaten streak and have just three losses this season. It is never easy playing against the Revs, at home or on the road are dangerous under Bruce Arena. They have the third-highest goals for this season with (35) trailing just Atlanta (39) and Columbus (42). They’re sixth in Goals Against this season with (25) only Orlando (23), Philadelphia (22), Cincinnati (21), NY Red Bulls (20), and Nashville (16) are better than them.

An early yellow card in the match and it goes to Bobby Wood of the Revolution after he stomps on Daniel (Star-Lord) Edelman’s foot at midfield while contesting a heading opportunity in the 6′ of the first half.

The Revolution with the best look of the half in the 10′ of the first half, Esmir Barjraktarevic misses a golden chance from just a few yards out of the goal, he places the ball over the crossbar instead of tapping it into the open 1st post. Troy is giving the fourth official an earful and the fourth official in his first MLS match is telling Troy to stop, that’s enough and we’re just minutes into the match. Troy is one yellow card away from a suspension for accumulation.

Red Bull has had three consecutive chances since the Revolutions missed an opportunity. But in typical Red Bull fashion this season they have squandered the chances by shooting right to the opposing goalkeeper or hitting their teammates with the shots. Now 15′ into the match and momentum swung the Red Bulls way but they fail to capitalize from it so far.

Omir misses the far post twice in a row now, not even close to getting it on the frame, on the last attempt he is bailed out by a misplay from the Revolution defense. The corner kick attempt is handled by New England easily and the danger is adverted in the 17′.

Another corner was wasted by the New York side in the early minutes of the first half of play. Through 25 minutes of play the Red Bulls have hung with New England but they should be leading the match not still trying to find their first goal of the match. The more the Red Bulls miss their chances the more likely they will concede a goal first to the highly powered New England side. Just again in the 27′ Omir misses a tap-in chance hitting the goalkeeper instead.

The Red Bull keep possession in the box for a solid minute and Sean Nealis heads the ball to where Tom Barlow was, the problem Barlow ran out of his position and into a crowd. The ball is cleared by New England instead of giving them issues in the 29′. The Red Bull already has 11 shots (3 on target, 3 off target, and 5 blocked) and 4 corner kicks for the match in just the opening 31′ and yet zero goals to speak of. Dante clears the danger from the Revolutions corner kick attempt in the 35′ preventing Woods from an open look at the goal.

Huge save by Carlos Coronel in the 37′ stopping Emmanuel Boateng on a breakaway going from left to center with the ball and getting blocked just below the penalty spot as he tried to go near post.

The fourth has indicated a minimum of one additional minute to the first half.

Troy will need to find a goal from his starting eleven cause the bench is bare in the goal-scoring cupboard. The one bright light for offensive creativity is Donker, who would he come on for Omir, maybe Luquinhas maybe, the issue has been finishing their chances and they’ve had a boatload tonight just in the first half. They had 11 chances before the 30′ and none since, that is troublesome if you’re Troy Lesesne trying to beat a powerhouse New England side who is down their best striker.

No lineup changes were made by either side to start the second half of play, so far more of the same, the Red Bulls create chances and then hit the goalkeeper with the ball. New Assistant coach Zach Prince is not aware of Tom Barlow’s reputation in the league when he asks for a foul call at the top of the box after a Barlow flop.

Red Bull goal by Frankie Amaya in the 58′ after Dante Vanzeir went wide left and played a brilliant cross right onto Frankie’s head and he placed it low 2nd post for the opening goal. The Red Bulls finally break through on a chance tonight to take a 1 – 0 lead.

In the 60′ Latif Blessing went studs up above the knee on goal scorer Frankie Amya, after Amaya beat him to the ball for the goal. Easiest Red Card an official can give and hopefully the league will sit Blessing for 3 games or more after the bush league move. The Revolution will play with 10 men for the rest of the match. Blessing’s shouts some words at Troy Lesesne who refuses to engage the dirty player on his way off the pitch.

Bruce Arena unhappy with his team’s performance pulls off a 4-player substitution in the 68′ of the second half of play.

Vanzeir gets a bit of a standing ovation leaving the field in the 73′ for Wiki Carmona. The Revolution tied the game up in the 76′ off a corner kick where Brandon Bye finds the back of the net. Bou took the corner kick, and Bye went up over two Red Bull players to head the ball into the lower 1st post.

The Red Bull players since gaining the man advantage, have played a sloppy game and it has already led to losing their lead. The Red Bull players are playing frustrated and sloppy getting themselves in bad situations and taking unnecessary yellow cards.

In the 83′ Wiki Carmona is credited with the go-ahead goal but the video replay shows it hit a defender and took a crazy bounce to the goal. For now, it stands as Wiki’s first goal but will probably be changed to an OG. The assist goes to Frankie Amaya on the goal, the Red Bulls lead 2 – 1.

Bruce is going all Hulk on the 4th official unhappy with the added time to the half. Goal New England in the 90’+2′ Bou from long-distance hits the far post and enters the goal. VAR steps in and says the play was offside and Bruce loses his mind on the sideline, and he has every right to be. The player they’re calling offside was nowhere near the ball and never caused Coronel to go the wrong way. The game should’ve ended as a 2 – 2 tie and not a 2 – 1 Red Bulls win.

Tonight, was Omir Fernandez’s 100th appearance in MLS!! Congratulations Omir on reaching this milestone.

Photo Credit: © Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sportsn

Thank you to Nino’s Pizzeria in Harrison, New Jersey for the pre-game slices, if you’re in the area go stop by and say Hi to the family-owned pizzeria. You can’t go wrong with Nino’s Pizzeria, everything from the Pizza on down is solid. They’re located at 442 Bergen Street, Harrison, NJ (973) 484-5770 to order Nino’s – Harrison or just stop in.