HARRISON, N.J. (April 4, 2015) – New York Red Bulls II claimed the first victory in club history with a 4-1 victory over Toronto FC II at Red Bull Arena. Anatole Abang opened the scoring in the 8th minute and Shawn McLaws supplied the game winner in the 39th. Marius Obekop converted a penalty and Leo Stolz capped off the match with the fourth and final goal in the 86th minute.
Red Bulls II controlled the tempo in the first and tallied the first two goals of the match. The second half was more evenly matched with TFC II getting one goal back, but NYRB II would once again take control of the game and score two more to claim the win. Red Bulls Academy signing Tyler Adams made his debut as a second half substitute along with Red Bulls Under-18 captain Derrick Etienne who put together another impressive cameo.
The lineup also featured 11 players loaned from MLS. After the match head coach John Wolyniec spoke about the advantages of having members of the First Team in the lineup and the growth process of Red Bulls II.
“It’s a process, it’s doing something that’s a bit new especially to a new team,” Wolyniec said. “A lot of these guys have played for different coaches and different clubs…it’s going to take time so having some First Team guys helps instill that a bit more, but it was a good performance.”
At the sound of the opening whistle, Red Bulls II hit the ground running. In the 8th minute, Red Bulls loanee Abang struck the first goal in NYRB II history. Sean Davis, another Red Bulls player, and academy product, on loan to the USL side, forced a turnover in the final third and sent a cross towards Abang. The 18-year old forward hit Davis’ cross with the outside of his foot on his first touch and sent the historic goal into the back of the net.
Red Bulls II followed up on the goal with noticeably strong midfield play. Similar to the first team, NYRB II applied high pressure, maintained an up-tempo style and forced turnovers. TFC II was unable to establish much possession and let up a second goal in the 39th minute. Forward Manolo Sanchez laid it off to McLaws. McLaws bolted down the right side of the box, beat his man and cut a shot across the face of goal into the side netting. Red Bulls II headed into the locker room with a 2-0 lead after an impressive first half performance.
Toronto FC II, however, would rebound from a disappointing first stanza. In the 52nd minute, Toronto FC II lashed a shot into NYRB II defender Karl Ouimette which deflected into the goal to put the Reds on the board. The goal marked a fifteen minute spell of momentum for Toronto. The most dangerous moment of the Toronto attack came when Jordan Hamilton blew by the Red Bulls II defense and ran by a charging Kyle Reynish, but his touch was too heavy and nothing came of the opportunity.
But Red Bulls II would not be denied. Second half substitute Derrick Etienne found a charging Abang. The TFC II defender, unable to keep up, hauled down Abang in the penalty area. Obekop stepped up to the spot and confidently sent his shot into the upper right hand corner to re-establish a two goal lead. Stolz applied the finishing touch on the match thanks to a pass from Etienne and powered home Red Bulls II’s fourth goal.
Etienne, already with one assist in hand, nearly scored his first goal in the 90th minute when he sent a rocket off of the woodwork. By the time the final whistle blew, Red Bulls II had captured the first victory in club history, 4-1.
SCORING SUMMARY
- NY – Anatole Abang (Assisted by Sean Davis) 8’
- NY – Shawn McLaws (Assisted by Manolo Sanchez) 39’
- TFC – Karl Ouimette (OG), 52’
- NY – Maruis Obekop (PK), 75’
- NY – Leo Stolz (Assisted by Derrick Etienne) 86’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
- TFC – Jordan Hamilton, Caution, 22’
- TFC – Marcos Nunes, Caution, 18’
- NY – Conor Lade, Caution, 49’
- NY – Shawn McLaws, Caution, 51’
LINEUPS
NY: Kyle Reynish ©, Shawn McLaws, Mike da Fonte (Andrew Jean-Baptiste, 79’) , Karl Ouimette, Colin Heffron (Dan Metzger, 43’) , Sean Davis, Leo Stolz, Conor Lade (Tyler Adams, 67’) , Manolo Sanchez (Derrick Etienne, 64’) , Anatole Abang, Marius Obekop (Victor Manosalvas, 89’)
TFC: Alex Bono, Wes Charpie (Marcus Godinho, 82’) , Daniel Fabrizi (Manuel Aparicio, 64’) , Adam Bouchard, Mark Serjeant (Raheem Edward, 45’) , Chris Mannella ©, Luca Uccello, Jay Chapman, Jordan Hamilton, Mo Babouli (Mark-Anthony Kaye, 82’) , Marcos Nunes (Massimo Mirabelli, 46’)
