HANOVER, N.J. (March 11, 2016)– New York Red Bulls II hosted first-year USL club Bethlehem Steel FC at the Red Bulls Training Facility on Friday afternoon and played to a 1-1 draw. Red Bulls academy player Noah Powder scored in the 74th minute and Bethlehem’s Eric Ayuk leveled the match in the 75th.
Amidst the USL players and NYRB II trialists in the starting lineup were five MLS players and Aaron Etienne, Derrick Etienne Jr.’s cousin, who was listed as a guest player.
The match was even from the start, with both teams sharing possession in the opening 25 minutes. New York’s best chance came in the 27th minute on a corner kick. Stefano Bonomo rose above the crowd to meet the ball and direct it into the ground, but his header flew just wide.
In the 38th minute, Red Bulls II thought they earned a penalty kick when Alex Muyl was taken down in the box. Despite pressuring the official to blow the whistle, no foul was called and play continued.
In the second half, trialist Junior Flemmings nearly opened the scoring in the 63rd minute. Following a free kick that bounced around in the box, Flemmings headed a shot towards goal, but caught the wrong side of the crossbar.
New York did capitalize in the 74th minute, thanks to Red Bulls U-18 defender Powder. The defender pressed high up the field during a spell of NYRB II possession and collected the ball near the penalty spot. Powder struck a left-footed shot which proved too much to handle for the Bethlehem goalkeeper, who got a hand on the shot but was unable to keep it out.
Bethlehem answered back immediately, pressing high and jumping on a defensive miscue. Ayuk collected a pass that was not properly controlled by a defender around the penalty box and finished the chance to level the match.
The home side had one final opportunity in the 82nd minute which nearly broke the deadlock. On a corner kick, an inswinging ball was met by Tim Schmoll at the near post and flicked on towards goal. The ball just went wide of the far post and the teams could not be separated on the day.
Red Bulls II will be back in action next week on Friday, March 18, when they host Harrisburg City Islanders at 1 p.m. at the Red Bulls Training Facility.
Scoring Summary:
- NY: Noah Powder, 74’
- BSFC: Eric Ayuk, 75’
Lineups:
NY: Ryan Meara* (Rafael Diaz, 45’), Justin Bilyeu* (Noah Powder#, 65’), Aaron Long (Tim Schmoll, 61’), Konrad Plewa (Cheikh M’baye, 45’), Aaron Etienne (Pat McCann, 42’), Tyler Adams, Devon Williams (Vincent Bezecourt, 45’, Dan Metzger, 65’), Alex Muyl* (Fernando Cortez, 45’), Derrick Etienne Jr., Stefano Bonomo (Florian Valot, 65’), Junior Flemmings* (Kyle McCord, 65’)
Subs not used: Brandon Allen
MLS Player
Trialist
* Guest Player
# Academy Player
