RECAP: Rojas Scores Twice to Send NYRB II Thru

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – New York Red Bulls II needed a late goal from Costa Rican Andy Rojas in extra time to take the Eastern Conference semifinal against Chicago Fire II on Sunday night at MSU Soccer Park. The back-and-forth affair saw New York take three different leads in the 90 minutes before finally finding the winner deep into extra time.

New York Red Bulls II kicked off the game the same way they ended the first round of the playoffs with an early goal. Rojas found a ball from Rafael Mosquera, burying the effort past the Chicago goalkeeper just five minutes into the game. The Fire II responded immediately after the continuation, when Jason Shokalook scored his first of two on the night.

Both teams continued to go back and forth, taking advantage of midfield turnovers and counter-pressing. Red Bulls II found their second goal in the 25th minute when Roald Mitchell put away a pass from Juan Jose Mina. This time it took Chicago just three minutes to find the equalizer when goalkeeper Austin Causey couldn’t handle a ball after the save. Shokalook was quick to pounce, finding yet another equalizer. Undaunted, New York continued to push and found their third goal, just before halftime when defender Jair Collahuazo headed in the go-ahead goal.

The offense didn’t let up in the second half but the scoring did. Despite numerous chances, Red Bulls II couldn’t find their killer instinct to put the game away. Sam Williams found the equalizer in the 53rd minute, sending the game into extra time as both teams took to physicality late in the contest.

The first 15 minutes of extra time saw little in the way of excitement with both teams continuing their physicality. Neither team wanted to surrender the game-winning strike and did little other than negate each other in the midfield. It was deep into the second part of extra time that New York found their moment. Nehuen Benedetti made the pass to the left side of the box where Rojas slotted away his second of the night.

The win sends New York Red Bulls II into the Eastern Conference finals and will host Philadelphia Union 2. A hard-fought win that took more than the usual 90 minutes can be a motivational moment for the club as they continue on their search for a second lower division title in their history.

STARTING XI:

New York Red Bulls II: Causey; Mina, Gutierrez, Collahuazo, Dos Santos (106′ Ofori), Worth, Mehmeti, Benedetti (117′ Rosborough), Mosquera, Mitchell (71′ Jimenez), Rojas

CHICAGO FIRE II: Molenda; Fleming, Pfrommer (112′ Berg), Diouf, Kanyane, Poreba, Nagle, Williams, Borso (112′ Boltz), Shokalook, Nigg

SCORING SUMMARY:
5′ (New York Red Bulls II) Andy Rojas (1) assisted by Rafael Mosquera
6′ (Chicago Fire II) Jason Shokalook (1) assisted by Jean Diouf
25′ (New York Red Bulls II) Roald Mitchell (2) assisted by Juan Jose Mina
28′ (Chicago Fire II) Jason Shokalook (2) unassisted
42′ (New York Red Bulls II) Jair Callahuazo (1) assisted by Nate Worth
53′ (Chicago Fire II) Sam Williams (1) assisted by Josue Pfrommer & Damian Nigg
111′ (New York Red Bulls II) Andy Rojas (2) assisted by Nehuen Benedetti
120′ (New York Red Bulls II) Mijahir Jimenez (1) assisted by Rafael Mosquera

DISCIPLINE:
80′ (New York Red Bulls II) Juan Jose Mina – YELLOW CARD
89′ (Chicago Fire II) Jason Shakalook – YELLOW CARD
97′ (New York Red Bulls II) Andy Rojas – YELLOW CARD
102′ (Chicago Fire II) Jean Diouf – YELLOW CARD
120′ (New York Red Bulls II) Mijahir Jimenez – YELLOW CARD