JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (February 27, 2016) – The New York Red Bulls defeated the Jacksonville Armada, 5-1, on Saturday evening at Jacksonville’s Community First Park in the final test of the 2016 preseason. Gonzalo Veron scored a hat trick to lead New York, with Gideon Baah and Sean Davis each adding a goal.
New York’s starters saw extended minutes in the last preseason match before the MLS opener next Sunday, March 6, when Toronto FC visits Red Bull Arena.
The Red Bulls found their legs after the first 15 minutes, gathering momentum that would pay off with two goals just four minutes apart.
The scoring began with Veron’s first in the 24th minute. Bradley Wright-Phillips got the ball at the top of the box and laid off for Sacha Kljestan, who played Veron through the defense. The Argentine took a touch and finished with a clean shot to the bottom right corner.
Wright-Phillips had a chance to strike again minutes later, running onto the end of a through ball from Kljestan. Wright-Phillips was able to round the Jacksonville ‘keeper, but a sliding effort from Armada captain Miguel Gallardo kept the ball out of the net.
Baah did double the lead on the ensuing corner kick, getting his head on the offering from Kljestan in the 28th minute.
Veron got his second and third goals second apart at the 60-minute mark. Veron finished a loose ball in the box to put the Red Bulls up 3-0.
On the ensuing restart, New York stole the ball from the Armada and started in on goal, with Wright-Phillips finding Veron on the break for a cool finish back across the face of goal.
Davis, appearing in a substitute role, added a fifth goal in the waning moments with a laser from the top of the box.
The Armada got one back in the 84th minute with a long strike from Charles Eloundou, denying Red Bulls’ goalkeeper Luis Robles a clean sheet despite a strong outing that included several noteworthy saves.
Next Sunday’s home opener is set for 1:30 p.m., with coverage in English and Spanish on MSG and the Red Bulls Radio Network.
BOX SCORE
- New York 5, Jacksonville 1
- Preseason Match
- Saturday, February 27, 2016
- Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville
Scoring Summary
- NY – Gonzalo Veron (Bradley Wright-Phillips, Sacha Kljestan) 24’
- NY – Gideon Baah (Sacha Kljestan) 28’
- NY – Gonzalo Veron (unassisted) 60’
- NY – Gonzalo Veron (Bradley Wright-Phillips) 61’
- NY – Sean Davis (unassisted) 84’
- JAX – Charles Elounduo (unassisted) 86’
Discipline Summary
- JAX – Patrick Otte (caution, foul) 40’
- JAX – Lucas Scaglia (caution, foul) 86’
Lineups
NY: Luis Robles; Kemar Lawrence (Connor Lade, 76’), Gideon Baah (Zach Carroll, 80’), Ronald Zubar (Karl Ouimette, 70’), Sal Zizzo (Chris Duvall, 77’), Sacha Kljestan (Alex Muyl, 80’), Dax McCarty © (Sean Davis, 72’), Felipe, Lloyd Sam (Shaun Wright-Phillips, 80’), Gonzalo Veron (Mike Grella, 66’), Bradley Wright-Phillips (Anatole Abang, 71’)
JAX: Miguel Gallardo; Tyler Ruthven, Beto Navarro, Mechack Jerome, Bryan Burke, Richie Ryan (Matt Bahner, 56’), Alhassane Keita, Junior Sandoval (Lucas Scaglia, 62’) Patrick Otte, Pascal Millien (Charles Eloundou, 77’), Matt Fondy
