New York Red Bulls won a dramatic round of 16 game on Wednesday night over FC Dallas on penalties after a stoppage time equalizer from captain Emil Forsberg. The game at SI Stadium became another memorable clash as Red Bulls trailed twice, having to pull even first from Mohammed Sofo and then again from the captain with only seconds remaining in regulation. From there it was back-up goalkeeper AJ Marcucci who became the star with a late penalty stop to send Red Bulls through to the quarter finals.
Much of what has haunted New York in recent games continued to do so on Wednesday night. The team was able to control the ball for spells but find few legitimate chances at goal. Necessary roster rotation saw players like Forsberg and Eric Choupo-Moting on the bench with Wiktor Bogacz making only his second start since joining the club in the off-season.
Defensively the team had issues once again with Nealis and Eile as a pair. The game’s opening goal put that on display as Peter Musa found Bernard Kamungo with a pass. Kamungo ran into the box and was able to get a shot off that beat Marcucci for the opening salvo. Dallas found more success running in behind the defense but wasn’t able to find the second goal.
Red Bulls were saved by Sofo’s effort in the second half as the team’s pressure finally broke Dallas. From there it appeared as if New York would find a second and take the lead until Kamungo again was involved in the action, finding former MLS MVP Luciano Acosta for the team’s second lead of the game.
It was first team substitutes like Forsberg and Choupo-Moting who made the difference. The captain lined up a free kick with just seconds remaining in regulation, burying the deflected effort to give Red Bulls life. The game went to extra time but little was decided. In penalties it was a miss from Acosta and a save from Red Bulls keeper Marcucci that decided the game.
New York now awaits their quarterfinal opponents which will be decided on Thursday morning. The team has had a hectic schedule which shows no signs of letting up as they travel to DC to play rivals DC United on Saturday and then return home on Wednesday to play Charlotte FC.
STARTING XI:
New York Red Bulls: Marcucci; Duncan (85′ Hack), S. Nealis, Eile, Edwards (101′ Valencia), Stroud (85′ Donkor), Edelman, Gjengaar (63′ Harper), Bogacz (63′ Choupo-Moting), Carmona, Sofo (63′ Forsberg)
FC Dallas: Paes; Moore, Abubakar, Urhoghide, Norris (65′ Farfan), Ferreira (105′ Pedrinho), Benetti, Julio (65′ Pomykal), Acosta, Kamungo (81′ Ibeagha), Musa (90′ Farrington)
SCORING SUMMARY:
28′ (FC Dallas) Bernard Kamungo assisted by Petar Musa
62′ (New York Red Bulls) Mohammed Sofo unassisted
77′ (FC Dallas) Luciano Acosta assisted by Bernard Kamungo
90′ (New York Red Bulls) Emil Forsberg unassisted
DISCIPLINE:
26′ (FC Dallas) Ramiro – YELLOW CARD
38′ (FC Dallas) Nolan Chandler Norris – YELLOW CARD
90′ (FC Dallas) Maarten Paes – YELLOW CARD
90′ (FC Dallas) Luciano Acosta – YELLOW CARD
91′ (New York Red Bulls) Alexander Hack – YELLOW CARD
98′ (New York Red Bulls) Raheem Edwards – YELLOW CARD
113′ (FC Dallas) Ramiro – RED CARD
photo by Jordan Bank