ChampionsGate, Fla. (January 31, 2016) – The New York Red Bulls went 1-1 on Sunday in a pair of split-squad scrimmages, defeating the Jacksonville Armada (NASL), 5-2 and falling to Montverde Academy, 1-0. Jesse Marsch put out two lineups for the first match against the Armada, with a group that included nine starters from last season.
Bradley Wright-Phillips put away a penalty kick in the 27th minute after Dax McCarty drew a foul in the box to pull New York even, 1-1.
Sacha Kljestan put New York ahead just before the end of the first half, using his first touch to place a cross from Gonzalo Veron into the lower left corner.
Jacksonville scored twice on the day, in the 12th and 50th minutes.
The Red Bulls transitioned to a second group for the second half against the Armada. Sean Davis made it 3-2 Red Bulls in the 57th minute, getting a foot on a low ball from Mike Grella. Grella took a long pass on the wing, cut in and used a double-move to wrong foot his defender and play the ball across the face of goal.
New York pushed it to 4-2 in the 67th minute. The play started with trialist Kenny Cooper finding Grella, who paused at the top of the box and picked out Stefano Bonomo for the finish.
Homegrown defender Connor Lade rounded out the scoring in the 85th minute, receiving a pass from Davis in the penalty area, taking a touch and beating the Armada ‘keeper.
BOX SCORE
New York Red Bulls 5, Jacksonville Armada 2
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Omni Resort - ChampionsGate, Fla.
Scoring Summary
- Jax: 12’
- NY: Bradley Wright-Phillips (penalty kick) 27’
- NY: Sacha Kljestan (Gonzalo Veron) 45’
- Jax: 50’
- NY: Sean Davis (Mike Grella) 57’
- NY: Stefano Bonomo (Mike Grella) 67’
- NY: Connor Lade (Sean Davis) 85’
New York line up​
First group: Ryan Meara; Kemar Lawrence, Ronald Zubar (Zach Carroll, 25’), Aaron Long, Sal Zizzo (Connor Lade, 30’), Sacha Kljestan, Felipe, Dax McCarty ©, Lloyd Sam, Gonzalo Veron, Bradley Wright-Phillips
Second group: Kyle Reynish; Connor Lade, A.J. Cochran, Zach Carroll, Chris Duvall, Mike Grella ©, Sean Davis, Tyler Adams, Vincent Bezecourt, Stefano Bonomo, Kenny Cooper
