HARRISON, N.J. (July 25, 2015) – New York Red Bulls II claimed their second consecutive victory in a high-scoring affair at Red Bull Arena against Richmond Kickers, 4-3. Chris Tsonis grabbed a brace, while Juan Sanchez and Daniel Bedoya also tallied in an important win for New York.
The win propels New York Red Bulls II to 8-7-4 on the season, one-point behind the fourth place Richmond Kickers.
If the victory against Chelsea FC this week added confidence to the Red Bulls II players, it showed throughout this match. New York pressed high from the sound of the opening whistle and won a free kick in the 11th minute. Taken quickly, the ball bounced to Tsonis, whose shot deflected off of a Richmond defender, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, and into the back of the net for the opening goal of the game.
Richmond responded quickly via Jason Yeisley, who equalized seven minutes later. Alex Lee, running down the right side, spotted Yeisley making a central run and delivered a cross. Yeisley left his feet, diving forward and nodded in from close range.
The Kickers took the lead five minutes later, when Yeisley again punished Red Bulls II. Fred Owusu Sekyere spotted Yeisley at the back post and sent in a cross. Yeisley, in behind the New York defense, sent a header to the far post and in.
Despite the quick responses from Richmond, Red Bulls II remained calm and climbed back into the match. Devon Williams, in space just outside of the penalty box, struck a driven shot which was re-directed off of Sanchez and into the net to tie the game again, 2-2.
Red Bulls II snatched the fifth goal of the first half when Colin Heffron, taking the ball to the endline, delivered a low-driven ball to Tsonis, who tapped in for his second goal of the game.
Williams, who nearly scored a bending 30-yard shot earlier this week against Chelsea FC, tried again from the same distance in stoppage time, but the dipping ball, struck with the outside of his right foot, banged off of the crossbar and out to end a hectic first half.
The second half was slightly tamer, with box-to-box play for the majority of the opening 25 minutes. In that period, Mike Da Fonte picked up a yellow card, his fifth of the season, and will be suspended for the next match against Saint Louis FC.
The Kickers nearly found an equalizer when a corner kick, deflected by Santiago Castano, bounced to a Kickers forward whose shot was blocked by Konrad Plewa, standing tall in front of the empty net to prevent the goal.
In the 81st minute, Plewa delivered a ball over the top to Bedoya, who ran by the Richmond defense with ease, thanks to the high line being played by the back four. Bedoya, entering the box from the right side, slowed as goalkeeper Ryan Taylor came out to confront him, and slid his shot past the keeper with his left foot.
Just when fans thought the game was over, Richmond found themselves with an odd-man break and capitalized with a goal in the 89th minute.
The remaining five minutes were tense, with Red Bulls II defending to preserve their lead, but the whistle blew after four added minutes and the Red Bulls II players, with a win last weekend against Harrisburg City Islanders, and with the First Team against Chelsea FC in the International Champions Cup, claimed their third win in eight days.
The next New York Red Bulls II match will take place at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, August 2 against Saint Louis FC at 5 p.m. EDT.
Scoring Summary:
- NY: Chris Tsonis 11’
- RIC: Jason Yeisley (Alex Lee) 18’
- RIC: Jason Yeisley (Fred Owusu Sekyere) 23’
- NY: Juan Sanchez (Devon Williams) 40’
- NY: Chris Tsonis (Colin Heffron) 45+
- NY: Daniel Bedoya (Konrad Plewa) 81’
- RIC: Nate Shippman (Samuel Asante) 89‘
Discipline Summary:
- NY: Mike Da Fonte, Caution 56’
- NY: James Thomas, Caution 90+’
Lineups:
NY: Santiago Castano, James Thomas, Konrad Plewa, Mike Da Fonte, Colin Heffron (Henry Martin, 72’), Bolu Akinyode, Devon Williams, Dan Bedoya, Franklin Castellanos (Victor Manolsalvas, 77’), Chris Tsonis, Juan Sanchez (Ethan Lochner, 57’)
Unused Substitutes: Rafael Diaz, Alex Clay
RIC: Ryan Taylor, William Yomby, Braeden Troyer (Nate Shippman, 81’), Jalen Robinson, Alex Lee, Fred Owusu Sekyere (Samuel Asante, 59’), Uriah Bentick, Sascha Gorres (Hugh Roberts, 85’), George Davis IV (Yudai Imura, 59’), Jason Yeisley, Adam Bedell
Unused Substitutes: Drew Romig, Mike Callahan, Eli Garner
