HARRISON, NJ (July 21, 2014) – The New York Red Bulls U-23s defeated Greater Binghamton FC Thunder (GBFC Thunder) at Red Bull Training Facility on Saturday night by a final score of 4-0 to win the 2014 National Premier Soccer League’s (NPSL) Northeast Regional Championship. By winning, the Red Bulls U-23s continue on into the NPSL National Playoffs, powered by Mitre, to the NPSL National Semi-Finals to face Lansing United, the winners of the Midwest Regional Championship.
"This was our best performance of the season. There was a real confidence to our play and some of the ball movement on the night was outstanding. We knew we had to make improvements defensively after conceding three goals against Brooklyn on Wednesday night and the response from the players was first class,” said U-23s Head Coach Simon Nee, “To advance in competition like this you need to continually raise your level and I thought we did that tonight. There was a real purpose and energy in everything we did tonight."
The U-23s leading scorer over the regular season, Victor Manosalvas, scored the game-winner in the 21st minute in what was the only goal of the first half. After the break, Dan Bedoya put the game out of reach in the 51st minute with an assist from Mike Innocenzi, who bagged a brace in the Regional Semi-Final against the Brooklyn Italians. Sean Sheridan scored from the penalty spot in the 75th minute and Kendan Anderson scored less than a minute after coming on as a substitute in the 86th minute to round out the scoring for the U-23s.
"Entering the national stage of the competition is a challenge the team is looking forward and the ability to host the game makes it all that more special."
The Red Bulls have earned home-field advantage throughout the postseason after finishing as the top overall seed in the NPSL with a record of 12-0-0 in the North Atlantic Conference. The National Semi-Final against Lansing United will take place at Red Bull Training Facility in Hanover, NJ, on Sunday, July 27. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The match will be open to the public.
