QUEENS, NY – This was not the result what Coach Ibrahim Sekgaya and his team wanted, nor needed.
Fresh off of their wild win against Carolina Core FC in penalties on Sunday, New York Red Bulls II traveled east to Belson Stadium in Queens to face an NYCFC II team that has earned just one point in their last five matches, including losing three in a row.
Meanwhile, NY Red Bulls II were on a good run of form, earning eight points through their last four matches putting themselves in second place in the Eastern Conference, just four points behind Chattanooga FC.
The last time these cross-town rivals met was back on March 30, with Red Bulls II scoring thrilling a 3-2 win at Sports Illustrated Stadium. But despite winning only once at the campus of St. John’s University, recent results have proven that winning at Belson Stadium was easier said than done.
NYCFC II wanted to jump on the vistors early and did just that, quickly taking the lead, scoring just seven minutes into the match. After taking a brilliant pass on a through ball from Peter Molanari, Seymour Reid netted his fifth goal of the season.
But then NY Red Bulls II struck back in the 18th minute. Aiden Jarvis too a touch towards the end line and whipped a great cross to the far post, where defender Matthew Dos Santos vollleyed the ball into the net for his second goal of the season to bring the match level at one goal apiece. The 35th minute saw Steven Sserwadda dishing the ball over to Andri Mehmeti, and he scored a banger that glanced off the left post and in the back of the net, giving Red Bulls II a 2-1 lead.
However, the lead would not last as the hosts got even in the 57th minute. NYCFC II midfielder Sebastiano Musu whipped the ball from a corner kick toward the six yard box that a confused Ibrahim Kasule inadvertently knocked it into the back of the net for an own goal.
Seymore Reid then scored his second of the game, and his sixth of the season in 64th minute. The beneficiary of a great build up play created by Julien Lacher, setting up the goal, giving the hosts the lead. Then just two minutes later, Seymore Reid struck again. Taking advantage of a very feeble defensive effort by NY Red Bulls II, the hosts padded their lead as he scored his third goal of the night in the 68th minute.
Things almost went from bad to worse in the 72nd minute when Sabastiano Musu earned a penalty kick after being fouled in the box by Aiden Stokes, but Stokes saved the shot, holding NYCFC II to a two goal lead at the moment. But the final insult came three minutes into stoppage time as Evan Lim took a pass from Zidane Yanez, scoring the fith goal of the match for NYCFC II completing the dreadful second-half collapse for NY Red Bulls II.
For Head Coach Ibrahim Sekgaya, a humilating defeat to chew on as they head back to New Jersey to figure out how to hold on a lead and close out a match, as the curse of Belson Stadium continues for New York Red Bulls II. For NYCFC II, joy, relief and a bit of revenge, getting thier season back on track at their rival’s expense.
Starting Lineups:
New York City FC II: Alex Rando; Prince Amponsah (Jack Loura,86’), Pierce Infuso, Christopher Tiao, Collin McCamy, Jacob Arroyave (Julien Lacher, 33’), Peter Molinari, Leo Guarino (Piero Elias, 46’), Evan Lim, Sebastiano Musu (Zidane Yanez, 79’), Seymour Reid (Uriel Zeitz, 86)
New York Red Bulls II: Aidan Stokes; Juan Gutierrez (Caio Ramalho, 77’), Brooklyn Schwarz, Matthew Dos Santos, Rafael Mosquera (Christian Gallagher, 73’), Aiden Jarvis (Dylan Sullivan, 60’), Nehuen Benedetti, Steven Sserwadda, Adri Mehmeti, Ibrahim Kasule (Andy Rojas, 60’), Mijahir Jimenez (Tanner Rosborough, 46’)
Scoring Summary:
7′ – New York City FC II – Seymour Reid, assisted by Peter Molanari
18′ – New York Red Bulls II – Matthew Dos Santos, assisted by Aiden Jarvis
35′ – New York Red Bulls II – Andri Mehmeti, assisted by Steven Sserwadda
57′ – New York City FC II – Own Goal, charged to Ibrahim Kasule
64′ – New York City FC II – Seymour Reid, assisted by Julien Lacher
68′ – New York City FC II – Seymour Reid, unassisted
90+3′ – New York City FC II – Evan Lim, assisted by Zidane Yanez
Disciplinary Summary:
29′ – New York City FC II – Peter Molanari – Yellow card
38′ – New York City FC – Christopher Tiao – Yellow card