HARRISON, NJ – Returning home after gaining just one point in two matches, the Red Bulls face a Minnesota United FC team looking to nab three points on the road. With midfielder Lewis Morgan sidelined with yet another injury during the Toronto FC match, Sandro Schwarz is looking to keep the good feelings at home before heading off to the West Coast to deal with the San Jose Earthquakes next weekend.
Eleven minutes into the match, the Red Bulls struck first. Minnesota United goalkeeper Wessel Speek diving for the ball to make the save, tripping Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in the process, the official was about to award a penalty, but waited until the play was over. By that time Emil Forsberg, following the play, immediately pounced on the loose ball, and tapped it into the net.
Speek would be replaced by Alec Smir in the 20 minute after he was not able to continue after picking up and injury with his collision with Choupo-Moting.
Minnesota United would answer in the 32nd minute as Joaquín Pereya chipped the ball over to himself to get past midfielder Felipe Caballo and got it over to Kelvin Yaboah to level the match, stunning the home supporters as they witnessed the visitors dismantle the New York defense with ease.
Minnesota would take advantage of poor set piece defending by the Red Bulls at the stroke at halftime. From a long throw-in by Michael Boxall, the ball glanced off the head of Jefferson Diaz, and wound up with Anthony Markanich, who chested it down and slammed it in the back of the net to give his team the lead.
By the time the half-time whistle has blown, the fans showed their displeasue by booing the team off the field, giving head coach Schwarz something to think about for the next half.
Red Bulls thought they received a lifeline in 62nd minute, when Eric Choupo-Moting, who was involved in a collision with a Minnesota goalkeeper in the 11th minute was involved yet again as both him and keeper Alex Smir collided in the box.
However, replays show that Choupo-Moting was actually brought down by a high boot to the face by Smir, but the official deciced that no foul was made, to the chagrin of the home supporters and especially head coach Sandro Schwrz who was apolipictic on the sidleines.
In the 76th minute, Anothony Markanich nearly scored his scecond goal of the match after taking a nice pass from D.J Taylor, but his shot slammed off the crossbar.
However, the Red Bulls finally broke through the tough, compact Minnesota defense and equalized in the 90th minute as Kyle Duncan delivered a brilliant pass to Eric Choupo-Moting and he didn’t miss from close range.
Referee blew the final whistle just as the Red Bulls was about to start a break after clearing the ball from thier own net, which incensed the players and head coach Sandro Schwarz who already on a yellow card, will be suspended once again after receiving a a red card by charging at the official demamding why to play didn’t continue while his team had possesion with the ball.
In the end, the Red Bulls couldn’t overcome the two mistakes that lead to goals and had to settle for a draw, keeping the home streak alive, after a wild ending on a very warm and humid night in Harrison. The Red Bulls will now try to find a way to get three points on the road next week, something they have done only once this season.
Starting Lineups:
New York Red Bulls: Carlos Coronel, Sean Nealis (Alexander Hack 78′), Kyle Duncan, Noah Eile, Mohammed Sofo, Felipe Carballo (Ronalkd Donkor ’58), Peter Stroud (Wiktor Bogacz 78′), Omar Valencia (Julian Hall 78′), Emil Forsberg (11′), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (90′), Serge Ngoma (Wikelman Carmona ’58)
Minnesota United FC: Wessel Speel (Alec Smir 20′), Anthony Markanich (45′) (Devin Padelford 78′), Nicolas Romero, Jefferson Diaz, Michael Boxall, Julian Gressel, Bongokuhle Hlongwane (D.J. Taylor 68′), Robin Lod, Wil Trapp, Joaquin Pereyra, Kelvin Yeboah (32′)
Scoring Summary:
11′ | New York Red Bulls – Emil Forsberg, assisted by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
32′ | Minnesota United FC – Kelvin Yeboah, assisted by Joaquín Pereya
45′ | Minnesota United FC – Anthony Markanich, assisted by Jefferson Diaz
90′ | New York Red Bulls – Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, assisted by Kyle Duncan
Disciplinary Summary:
44′ | New York Red Bulls – Emil Forsberg – Yellow card
66′ | Minnesota United FC – Alec Smir – Yellow card
84′ | Minnesota United FC – Nicolás Romero – Yellow card