HARRISON, N.J. – Red Bull New York carried a three-goal lead after the first half to an easy 4-1 win over San Diego FC on Saturday night at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Star youngster Julian Hall led the way for the club, scoring the opening salvo after his fantastic start with the US Men’s national team just a week ago. Goals from Jorge Ruvalcaba, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Devin Padelford made it a far less stressful second half and solidified the club’s place in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Red Bull knew that San Diego was a high-scoring team but also were aware of their inability to stop the opposition from scoring as well. That led to early efforts being rewarded in the 15th minute when a pass from Ruvalcaba across the face of goal was found by Hall for his 11th goal of the season. The 18 year-old continued his dazzling debut season as a week-to-week starter, quickly putting the visitors on notice. Just five minutes later, it was Devin Padelford, the new defender, who doubled the lead after a cross from Cade Cowell found his head in front of goal.
The fantastic display of offense continued in the 27th minute when Ruvalcaba scored his eighth goal of 2026 from an awkward angle, beating the San Diego goalkeeper and effectively killing any chance of a comeback. The opponents didn’t go quietly as they earned a penalty opportunity just before halftime but were unable to convert as goalkeeper Ethan Horvath saved a less-than-creative attempt at goal.
The second half saw much of the same as New York continued to pressure, coming close to adding to their scoreline on several occasions. San Diego, to their credit, also continued pushing forward with substitutes Alejandro Alvarado and Cedric Bakambu providing more danger in front of goal. It was Bakambu who eventually found San Diego’s only goal in the 60th minute with a header of his own. Veteran striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting added one more goal for good measure, adding insult to an already lopsided scorecard.
The win pushes Red Bull into seventh place momentarily as they away the rest of the weekend’s results. The game erased a negative feeling around the club after the 3-0 loss to St. Louis City SC just a week prior. Hall’s 11th goal and Ruvalcaba’s return to the scoresheet, gives New York the confidence as they continue into the final stages of the regular season. Next up will be a midweek game against rivals DC United, with an attempt to galvanize their place in the Eastern Conference.
STARTING XI:
Red Bull New York: Horvath; Nealis, Che (61′ Parker), Bazan, Padelford (88′ Dos Santos), Donkor (71′ Kone), Mehmeti, Sofo (71′ Choupo-Moting), Ruvalcaba (80′ Marshall-Rutty), Hall, Cowell (71′ Forsberg)
San Diego FC: dos Santos; Verhoeven, Duah, Murphy (61′ McVey), Sargeant, Godoy (90′ Valakari), Tverskov (46′ Alvarado), Pirani (61′ Mimbang), Dreyer, Ingvartsen (46′ Bakambu), Achouri (79′ Pellegrino)
SCORING SUMMARY:
15′ (Red Bull New York) Julian Hall (11) assisted by Jorge Ruvalcaba & Mohammed Sofo
20′ (Red Bull New York) Devin Padelford (1) assisted by Cade Cowell
27′ (Red Bull New York) Jorge Ruvalcaba (8) assisted by Ronald Donkor & Adri Mehmeti
60′ (San Diego FC) Cedric Bakambu (2) assisted by Anders Dreyer & Alejandro Alvarado
90′ (Red Bull New York) Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (4) assisted by Matthew Dos Santos
DISCIPLINE:
30′ (San Diego FC) Jeppe Tverskov – YELLOW CARD
42′ (Red Bull New York) Julian Bazan – YELLOW CARD
55′ (San Diego FC) Manu Duah – YELLOW CARD
82′ (Red Bull New York) Devin Padelford – YELLOW CARD
85′ (San Diego FC) Kieran Sargeant – YELLOW CARD
