New York Red Bulls finished their 2024 Leagues Cup campaign in the group stage after suffering a penalty kick loss to Pachuca after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. Second half goals from Elias Manoel and Salomon Rondon left both clubs sharing in the points, sending the competition to the deciding penalty kicks for the second straight game. Once again the team underperformed with Lewis Morgan and Dylan Nealis missing their efforts.
Overall Red Bulls played a stunningly strong game against the Concacaf Champions Cup winners Pachuca. Head coach Sandro Schwarz sent a stronger line-up which included the likes of Dante Vanzeir and Carlos Coronel. While the team pushed Pachuca, creating dangerous chances, they were unable to break through and take the lead until the second half.
Manoel opened the scoring in the 47th minute when he buried a chance in the box, hitting the crossbar before it deflected into the net. Red Bulls continued to push for a second but found it frustrating, despite the high-level opportunities.
Disaster struck in the 56th minute as Rondon threaded a shot past Coronel from the middle of the box. While Pachuca remained dangerous for the remainder of the game, almost taking the lead in stoppage time, Red Bulls appeared to be the more likely team to score. Their inability to convert chances eventually doomed them to penalties where they once again failed in key moments.
The two losses leaves Red Bulls with just two points in their two group stage games. No matter what happens between Toronto and Pachuca, New York will be unable to advance in the competition that they progressed further in last season. Now there is a long wait for the club as they await the return of MLS play on August 24th against Charlotte FC.
STARTING XI:
New York Red Bulls: Coronel; D. Nealis, S. Nealis, Reyes (46′ Eile), Duncan, Carmona, Edelman, Donkor, Morgan, Manoel, Vanzeir (88′ Gjengaar)
Pachuca: Moreno; Rodriguez (74′ Sanchez), Cabral, Barreto, Lopez, Pedraza (45′ Gonzalez), Deossa, Gonzalez (57′ de los Rios), Marchand (57′ Mena), Idrissi (74′ Alvarez), Rondon
SCORING SUMMARY:
47′ (New York Red Bulls) Elias Manoel unassisted
56′ (Pachuca) Salomon Rondon assisted by Owen Gonzalez
DISCIPLINE:
14′ (New York Red Bulls) Dylan Nealis – YELLOW CARD
15′ (New York Red Bulls) Dante Vanzeir – YELLOW CARD
40′ (New York Red Bulls) Kyle Duncan – YELLOW CARD
40′ (Pachuca) Luis Rodriguez – YELLOW CARD
70′ (New York Red Bulls) Elias Manoel – YELLOW CARD
photo by Matt Kremkau