MONTCLAIR, N.J. – New York Red Bulls II impressed in a dominant 5-1 win over Carolina Core, advancing in the MLS Next Pro playoffs to the Eastern Conference semi-final. Two goals from Rafael Mosquera and Nehuen Benedetti provided the power as Carolina showed little on offense and even less on defense.
The scoring started in the third minute when striker Roald Mitchell was brought down in the box by Daniel Chica. Mosquera stepped up to the spot and easily beat the Core keeper. Red Bulls II continued to apply the pressure, finding the back of the net again in the 34th minute when Mitchell played Benedetti through on goal. Michael Bradley’s boys continued to apply the pressure, surviving a bit of physical play to take their lead into the half.
Red Bulls II didn’t let up in the second half as the team scored two more goals in the first three minutes of kickoff. First it was Mitchell adding his name to the scoresheet and then Benedetti added another. The team didn’t let up and found a fifth goal in the 80th minute, a second from Mosquera to put a final period on the result.
The Core did find a consolation goal in the 82nd minute from Glory Nzingo but it did little other than break up the clean sheet. Red Bulls II will carry this momentum into the semi-final where they will select their opponents as the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
STARTING XI:
New York Red Bulls II: Stokes; Mina (86′ Nelich), Gutierrez, Collahuazo (74′ Ofori), Dos Santos, Worth, Mehmetti, Benedetti, Mosquera (86′ Modelo), Mitchell (66′ Jimenez), Rojas (88′ Rosborough)
Carolina Core: Sutton; Thomas, Covi (71′ Cuevas), Chica, Juarez, Alenga, Canete, Leonardi, Pineda, Lundeen (70′ Nzingo), Ibarra (70′ Rodriguez)
SCORING SUMMARY:
3′ (New York Red Bulls II) Rafael Mosquera (1) – Penalty
34′ (New York Red Bulls II) Nehuen Benedetti (1) assisted by Roald Mitchell
47′ (New York Red Bulls II) Roald Mitchell (1) unassisted
48′ (New York Red Bulls II) Nehuen Benedetti (2) assisted by Nate Worth
80′ (New York Red Bulls II) Rafael Mosquera (2) assisted by Adri Mehmetti
82′ (Carolina Core) Glory Nzingo (1) assisted by Anthony Sumo Jr.
DISCIPLINE:
2′ (Carolina Core) Daniel Chica – YELLOW CARD
30′ (Carolina Core) Kai Thomas – YELLOW CARD
43′ (New York Red Bulls II) Rafael Mosquera – YELLOW CARD
44′ (Carolina Core) Antonio Pineda – YELLOW CARD
73′ (Carolina Core) Paul Leonardi – YELLOW CARD
