The month of August has featured two comeback matches for Red Bulls II that have resulted in multiple strong results.
After going down a man and a goal against Atlanta United 2 on August 9, New York scored two goals in the final eight minutes of the match, including the winner in the 90th minute, to secure a dramatic three points.
On August 20, New York weathered an early surge from Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Highmark Stadium and battled back from two goals down to earn a strong road point in the 20th all-time meeting between the rivals.
“It [Pittsburgh] was a big one from the boys,” Interim Head Coach Ibrahim Sekagya said. “We knew it in the week the team that we were going to face and all the history between the clubs. To go down 2-0 in that environment, the guys are believing and stuck to what we have to do in our principles.”
The Pittsburgh match marked the first time since September of 2021 in which Red Bulls II earned a point or more after going down by multiple goals.
New York’s victory over Atlanta also saw some history, as O’Vonte Mullings scored the fourth-latest match-winning goal in club regular season history.
The two goals to vault Red Bulls II into the lead came after a weather delay at the beginning of the match and also playing part of the second half down a man and a goal.
“We went a man down and a goal, but the guys were believing. We were at home, we need wins, and then we got three points,” Sekagya said. “Those games get you to the next game, and also from training, the dressing room, the guys have a belief.”
The club will look to do what it did last season, finish strong. Over the final eight matches of the 2021 season, Red Bulls II earned a result in six, including a strong road point in Tampa Bay and two three-goal victories against Loudoun United FC.
“It doesn’t matter how many games and what teams we’re going to face,” Sekagya said. “You can see all the games we played, there isn’t a huge difference. It’s just a little bit of mistakes, which we are correcting.”
With nine matches left on the schedule, including six on the road, New York will look to build and continue the momentum it has generated in August, which has seen numerous player and team milestones.
“I think the belief which we have from the team in the dressing room and at training, everyone sees how the team goes and the direction we are going,” Sekagya said.
