It’s Do or Go Home for RBNY, There Is No Try

Tonight, is a crucial match for the New York Red Bulls aka (RBNY), as they must secure a victory at home to have a chance to advance to game 3 next week in Cincinnati. Where are the Fans in New Jersey? Red Bull Arena looks ready for a funeral more than a playoff victory.

The team’s performance in Cincinnati was disappointing, primarily due to veteran center-back Andres Reyes’s lack of defensive effort. Reyes struggled to contain FCC’s (aka FC Cincinnati) attacks, conceding three goals. Additionally, fellow center-back Sean Nealis injured himself while trying to cover the space left open by Reyes, allowing FCC to make a near post run early in the first half. Nealis was substituted at halftime, and his absence further destabilized the Red Bulls’ defense.

In tonight’s match, the Red Bulls cannot afford to repeat their previous mistakes. They must take the initiative and pressure FCC from the start. However, there are concerns about Nealis’ fitness, as he only made limited movements during warmups and did not test his injury. The team must assess his condition carefully before deciding on his involvement in the game.

Despite concerns about Sean Nealis’ fitness, he has been included in the starting lineup for the Red Bulls. Surprisingly, FCC has not yet tested Nealis with sharp movements or exploited any potential weaknesses in his game. Nealis has been supported by his teammates, who have been able to control the movements of FCC effectively. The match has been evenly contested so far, with neither team dominating proceedings. This is a positive development for New York, as it allows them to stay in the game and maintain their chances of securing a crucial victory.

In the 23rd minute of the first half, Tom Barlow was fortunate to escape a potentially costly turnover in his box. However, his teammate, Tolkin, came to his rescue and managed to prevent any immediate danger. The Red Bulls were able to avert the threat and maintain their defensive stability.

Unfortunately, Tom Barlow has once again committed a costly turnover, this time in the offensive zone. His mistake has denied his team a promising opportunity to create a solid scoring chance. Adding to the frustration, Barlow’s error follows a poor header attempt from just seven yards out, despite receiving a beautiful cross into the box from JMi. These mistakes are proving to be detrimental to the Red Bulls’ offensive efforts and will require them to regroup and refocus to regain control of the match.

Tom Barlow’s struggles continue as he commits his third turnover of the game, this time in the defensive box. However, he manages to recover and make his way downfield, only to stumble and fall, costing his team two more potential scoring opportunities. Despite Barlow’s mistakes, the score remains surprisingly 0-0 in the 37th minute. This provides some relief for Barlow, as his errors have not yet resulted in goals for the opposing team. The Red Bulls will need to address Barlow’s performance and find a way to capitalize on their chances to secure a positive result in the match.

That was the most personal yellow card in recent history, as Barreal just took out Luquinhas in the 40′ of the first half. In a concerning turn of events, Tom Barlow has escaped with only a yellow card after a reckless challenge on the center-back of FCC. Barlow went in with studs up and made contact with the opponent’s ankle, displaying a lack of regard for the safety of his fellow player. The fact that he was not shown a red card for such a dangerous tackle is surprising and maybe a point of contention for both teams. Players must prioritize fair play and avoid such reckless challenges that can cause serious injury.

In a controversial turn of events, Tom Barlow’s goal in the 45th minute stands despite him being in an offside position. The goal was allowed because the defender was deemed to have actively played the ball just before it reached Barlow’s foot. This decision was reviewed and upheld, giving the Red Bulls a late goal and the lead. The referee has determined that the defender’s involvement with the ball nullified the offside offense. As a result, a minimum of seven minutes will be added to the half. This turn of events has sparked debate and discussion among fans and pundits alike, highlighting the subjective nature of certain refereeing decisions.

In the 76th minute, Aaron Boupendza of FCC finds the back of the net, equalizing the score. It took some time, but FCC has finally figured out their attacking strategy and now poses a threat to RBNY. With plenty of time left in the match and the possibility of penalty kicks looming, the game has become even more intense and unpredictable. Both teams must remain focused and determined to secure a victory and advance in the competition.

In the 77th minute, Troy Lesesne, the coach of FCC, is issued a yellow card for dissent towards the fourth official and center referee. Dissent towards match officials is considered a violation of the rules and can result in disciplinary action. Lesesne’s frustration or disagreement with the officials’ decisions may have led to his outburst, but coaches need to maintain their composure and respect the authority of the officials. This yellow card serves as a warning to Lesesne and emphasizes the need for sportsmanship and fair play on the sidelines as well.

It seems that there are concerns about Troy Lesesne’s performance as a coach and his player’s behavior during the match. If Lesesne’s player gave up on a play and Lesesne blamed the referees without any valid reason, it could be seen as a lack of accountability and a failure to take responsibility for their actions. These incidents may raise doubts about Lesesne’s ability to effectively lead and manage the team. Ultimately, the decision of whether Lesesne should return to the Red Bulls next season would depend on various factors, including the team’s overall performance, the management’s evaluation, and any other relevant considerations.

It appears that the match between Red Bulls and FCC is heading towards a potential penalty shootout. With a minimum of 6 additional minutes added to the match, both teams have a chance to score and avoid penalties. At the moment, FCC seems to be dominating the match and posing a significant threat to Red Bulls. However, it is worth noting that anything can happen in football, and the outcome of the match is still uncertain.

Additionally, Troy Lesesne has been ejected from the match, which could indicate that this is his final match with the team. Ejections can have a significant impact on a team’s dynamics and strategy, as they are left without their head coach on the sidelines. This situation may further complicate the New York Red Bull’s efforts to secure a victory.

As the match enters its final minutes, both teams will need to remain focused and determined to either find a winning goal or prepare for a penalty shootout. The outcome of the match will ultimately be determined by the players’ performances on the field.

As the match between Red Bulls and FC Cincinnati heads to penalties, the outcome of the Red Bulls’ season will be determined by the kicks from 12 yards out. Penalty shootouts can be intense and nerve-wracking, as each team takes turns attempting to score from the penalty spot.

In this case, FC Cincinnati has elected to go first, meaning they will take the first penalty kick. This decision can be strategic, as it puts pressure on the opposing team to respond and potentially catch up if they miss their first kick. The direction of the kicks was predetermined by “MLS” per the center referee, who made Sean Nealis and Acosta aware of it before the toss. The teams will shoot toward the Southward, the #RBNY supporter’s section.

Penalty shootouts often require a combination of skill, composure, and mental strength from the players. Each kick will be crucial in deciding the fate of the match and the season for both teams. It will be an exciting and tense moment for the players, coaches, and fans alike.

Round 1: Acosta O : Fernandez O The keeper guessed right, and Omir got lucky.

Round 2: Kubo O : Amaya O

Round 3: Arias X (Save Coronel) : S. Nealis O

Round 4: Vazquez O : Harper O

Round 5: Barreal O : JMi X (hits the post)

Round 6: Miazga O : D. Nealis O

Round 7: Boupendza O : Manoel O

Round 8: Santos O (coronel thought he got enough but no) : Stroud O

Round 9: Mosquera X : Gnoma X

Round 10: Moreno O : Reyes X

This may be the last time fans see Troy Lesesne at the helm and it could be JMi’s final game ever at Red Bull Arena with the offers he is drawing from England and Italy’s big clubs.

Cincinnati advances on penalties, and Miazga will not miss the next match for his team, as they await the winner of the Philadelphia Union and New England Revolution. This is the second year in a row Cincinnati has come to Red Bull Arena and knocked off the Red Bulls who yet again have failed to make it out of the first round. The last time the Red Bull made it out of the first round was in 2018. The Union won game 1 by a score of 3 – 1, the two sides will meet on November 8th at Gillette Stadium for game 2. Miazga could be punished even more by the league after he decided to invade the Officials Locker Room post-game in full view of two media members who alerted FCC staff to what Miazga had done. He was removed in a fairly quick manner by a member of the FCC staff, their official position was unknown at the time. Will write more about the post-game incident in another article.

Photo Credit: NY Red Bulls