After a 3-2 win against FC Cincinnati, the New York Red Bulls visit Real Salt Lake in Week 2 on Saturday afternoon.
Here are the Keys to the Game, presented by Honda:
Attempt to Repeat Week 1 First Half Performance
With a change of setting and a new opponent in front of them, the Red Bulls might have a complicated time to repeat that exact first half performance against FC Cincinnati, but they can certainly bring into the match the same intensity and cohesion they showed throughout those first 45 minutes.
A stat to keep in consideration after the Week 1 result is that since the Red Bulls implemented their high-press system in 2015, New York improved to 70-12-16 when scoring the first goal of the match. Last Sunday, Kyle Duncan stormed through the right side of the pitch several times, which allowed him to score the first goal of the day.
Matching Sunday’s intensity and creating dangerous early plays could once again get it going for New York.
Fullback Contributions
Right-back, Kyle Duncan, was named Player of the Match after the victory against FC Cincy.
Kaku observed that his movements into the box were of a forward, allowing Florian Valot and him to find more options when looking for scoring targets.
Patrick Seagrist, who made his MLS debut last Sunday, is also known for his aggressive style of play.
Duncan and Seagrist’s contributions will be important as the team builds momentum at the start of the season.
Danny Royer’s Influence in the Final Third
Before Valot gave the last pass that led to Duncan’s opener on Sunday, Royer had to slide near the sideline to keep the ball in play. It was a play that highlighted Royer’s influence in the final third.
In the second half when he scored the team’s third goal, he showed a lot of determination in finding the right spot from where to shoot.
He finished Sunday with a goal and assist and will be looking to find ways to contribute more to the team as they play their first away match of the season.
