Revolution Silence Red Bulls In Playoff Race

In a must-win matchup in New England, the NY Red Bulls go with a rather odd starting eleven. They start the match with the fan’s most diminutive favorite striker Tom Barlow, Brazilian midfielder Luquinhas, and new addition Columbian Jorge Cabezas. The back line which has been the team’s strong point stays somewhat familiar with Sean Nealis and Hassan Ndam at center backs with Duncan and Tolkin on the wings.

The Red Bull is hurting not just in the standings but also on their roster, they lost talented players in the transfer market during the windows, they lost key pieces to bad injuries and poor recovery, and the number of leg injuries is absolutely insane, with all the technology and medical advancements and yet this one team is constantly losing players to groin, hip, hamstring, and knee injuries. If they don’t lead the league in leg injuries, they’re surely knocking on the front door hard. Let’s also not forget to start the season this team could’ve called themselves the New York Yellow Cards, they raked them up with ease and often, saw player suspensions due to it.

In the 30′ Revolution goal was scored by Giacomo Vrioni, assisted by Mark-Anthony Kaye to open the scoring, it just happens to be the side normally defended by Cam Harper. Not the first half start the Red Bulls were looking for in a must-win match.

I spoke with Troy post-game and asked him about the bench, substitutions, thinning options, and more looking forward.

“Yeah, I think as you pointed out, you know, we suffered a couple of losses from the Miami match and then even in training in Cory Burke and Elias [Manoel] so both those guys weren’t available tonight. That happened kind of last minute but with that said, you know, that opened up an opportunity for Ibrahim Kasule to come on. I was really happy for him to get his first appearance with the team. He’s earned that, he’s on 15 goals with the second team. The second team just clinched the playoffs and credit to Ibra and his staff they’ve worked incredibly hard. So I think with you know, Wiki coming on, Cam coming on, Dante coming on late and he’s coming off an injury himself. You know, we were trying to figure out how to inject some energy into the group and, and we just weren’t able to turn the tide and really create clear chances in the second half, even Andres bringing him on was because of the dynamic he would bring on set pieces and we never really got a good serve into, good targets. But credit to New England, I think that they scored their goal and they made a really difficult on us tonight.” —Troy Lesesne HC RBNY

At the half it is 1 – 0 Revolution, Troy Lesesne will need to figure things out fast, once again the offense has been anemic at best. The Revolution is without their number one keeper who was transferred to Chelsea and their Head Coach Bruce Arena. Yet the Red Bulls have struggled to get anything going, the problem has existed all season, however, as of late it’s been glaring with the defense unable to keep the opposition off the scoresheet.

I spoke post-game with Red Bulls captain Sean Nealis about what needs to change heading into Philly.

“Yeah, I think that can be kind of a momentum changing game. We struggled playing there, playing against them the last couple of years and I think a big result against them could kind of swing things back in the right direction. Like you said, unfortunate result for us tonight. But, the games keep coming and nobody’s going to feel sorry for us. So we got to pick ourselves up and keep going and like you said, it’s a big one against Philly.” —Sean Nealis Captain RBNY

Neither side makes a change at the halftime window, the New York Red Bull has 45 minutes to figure out this Revolution side who has packed the midfield and kept the Red Bull pinned down.

Spoke with Sean Nealis about needed improvements on the offensive side, here is what he had to say.

“Yeah, I think collectively we can all add to that. There’s a lot of set pieces that we’ve had and myself and other guys on the team could get our heads on the end of these things. That’s what good teams do. They find a way to win and find a way to win any way. We’ve got eight games left. It’s a big opportunity for us to get as many points as we can, you know, it’s 24 points on the board. And it’s kind of a last push here, especially with a big game on the weekend.” —Sean Nealis Captain RBNY

The match was tough to watch on multiple levels, neither side performed well at all during the 90’+4 that had been played. It came down to one right back getting caught flat-footed and a decent finishing ball. Neither team truly controlled the match or maintained possession of any significance. Either side could have won the match it was there for the taking. It wasn’t a hot or humid day in New England, no bad weather, just really poor soccer played on both ends of the pitch.

Had a chance to speak with team striker Dante Vanzeir post-game about his season, missing family from back home and more. Here is just some of what he had to say.

“It’s always great like we understand each other through and through I think she she’s there for me always when I have difficult times also in soccer because she kind of gets it also in like, I see myself in her as well when I was younger and seeing her going through things that I’ve been through going to school playing soccer or having to deal with a lot of things. So, she’s also a kind of like inspiration for me and I think after games the first person I talked to is like my dad or my sister. To talk about the game and yeah, we have each other’s back and it’s nice to see each other I think achieve what we’re, what we’re achieving right now.” (Speaking of the bond between him and his sister with soccer and how they push each other). “I’m trying to stay as fit as possible. Help the team as much as possible and also for me, it’s important to find my goals and my confidence. In that and yeah, I think we still have eight games left and actually the team is feeling good and it’s just small details that I think make us win the game or just lose the game. But definitely is a great opportunity to show what we’re capable of and to reach the playoffs. I think that’s the goal.” (On some of the struggles and trying to stay fit here in the U.S. to help his team make the playoffs). Dante Vanzeir RBNY Striker

For New England they stayed pace in the supporter’s shield, for the Red Bull it made the playoff push harder. The Red Bull sit just one win out of the playoffs but that is a lot for a team that has only 23 goals scored. For perspective, no one else besides Toronto (23 goals) and Colorado (16 goals) have the same or fewer goals scored. Oh, I should mention Toronto is last in the East and Colorado is last in the West. In the remaining 8 games the Red Bull (5) are on the road, which makes the challenge even greater since the team is 1-7-4 (W-L-D), and New York City FC who is tied in points with them are (1-7-7). Again, for perspective, Toronto is (0-9-4), Kansas City is (1-6-6) and Portland is (1-7-5), while last place Colorado is (2-8-3 road and 1-4-7 home).

The Red Bulls have to face the following teams on the road, 9/3 at Philadelphia, 9/16 at NYCFC (first match after a 13-day period of no matches), 9/23 at D.C. United, 10/4 at FC Cincinnati and 10/21 at Nashville (after a 14-day period of no games). The three remaining home matches are 9/20 vs. Austin, 9/30 vs. Chicago, and 10/7 vs. Toronto. 7 of their 8 opponents are in the playoff race and or seeking better playoff positions. Only Toronto is eliminated from playoff contention barring some miracle of unseen proportions.

The team record under Troy Lesesne is 9-5-7 as of August 30 following their defeat to New England. The last and only road win was on May 31. 2023 in Ft Lauderdale, it came after a Tom Barlow tap-in from 4 yards out after his teammate hit the 2nd post and the ball sat right on his foot with an open net. Since then, the team has either lost or drawn on the road and can’t seem to find goals in the big moments.

Maybe the South Carolina-born head coach needs to use the break following Philadelphia to go back home and go upstate to Anderson, SC, and enjoy a delicacy many in SC enjoy and attribute to greatness a good old-fashioned Skin’s Chili dog. There truly is nothing else like it in this country and there is a reason it’s been consistently voted in the top 10 foods in America and wins awards yearly. From the steam bun and dogs to the secret recipe chili invented by Loyd “Skin” Thrasher, to the staple from the natives of hot sauce and mustard. The onions are up for debate on whether needed or not, some like ’em, and some despise ’em but no matter what they taste amazing, and you can never have just one. Anyone who tells you a varsity dog is better has never had a dog from Skin’s or has no taste buds.

#LoydSkinThrasher #SkinsFamous Legend has it they help win championships they are that good.