Recap: Red Bulls Secure 2-1 Win Over Montreal

Date: May 26, 2023

By: Louie Pasculli

This article was originally written on May 20, 2023

The Red Bulls celebrate a win against Montreal.

Red Bulls Communications

A misty Saturday night made great playing conditions for an MLS football matchup. Facing CF Montreal at home, the Red Bulls embraced the atmosphere and put on a performance that certainly didn’t disappoint.

In total, three goals, four yellow cards, and a New York victory capped off matchday 14. Goals from Andreas Reyes and Cory Burke provided enough offensive output for the win.

The match started with high intensity. The possession in the opening portion was nearly even. Then, in the 16^th minute, CF Montreal Rudy Camacho was shown a yellow card for a foul on Cory Burke. The ensuing free kick didn’t lead to a chance for New York, but the tide would soon turn.

A few minutes later, the Red Bulls lined up for their second corner of the match. Andres Reyes was in a good position to finish a rebound and netted the first goal of the contest and his second of the season, putting the Red Bulls up 1-0.

Watch the goal. Stay for the Andrés celly.@Audi I #RBNY pic.twitter.com/DD64QWyfNM
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) May 21, 2023

Shortly thereafter, Montreal answered. A threating attack from the Canadian team ended with a Joel Waterman goal. The Red Bulls had a chance to clear it off the line but were unable to do so and found themselves tied at 1-1.

CFM striker Bryce Duke was pressing aggressively and committed a foul worthy of a yellow card in the 32nd minute. The Red Bulls kept generating chances and an opportunity came to go ahead.

Midfielder Cristian Casseres played a nifty through ball to striker Cory Burke. Burke received the ball and made a few dribble moves around defenders and Montreal keeper Jonathon Sirios. He finished in the bottom corner for his second goal of the season and the third goal of the match.

Scory Burke scores, no matter what the whistle says @Audi I #RBNY pic.twitter.com/dCsQEGHkcp
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) May 21, 2023

Much to the dismay of the NY faithful, the play was initially ruled as offsides. After some delegation, the referee group decided to go to VAR to see if the goal should have counted. Upon further review, it was decided that Burke was indeed onside, and the goal counted.

Celebration followed and the Red Bulls found themselves up 2-1. The scoreline remained for the rest of the first half.

Winning 2-1 gave the Red Bulls a decision: the squad could either sit back and defend or they could still try to generate scoring chances. Head coach Troy Lesesne decided on the latter, and NY players followed.

New York played sufficient defense, holding the opposition to five shots and three on target in the game as a whole. Most of the second half chances came from the counterattack.

One of those instances came in the 69^th minute when substitute Cameron Harper had his shot saved. Just two minutes after coming on, he sent a shot on net that was saved.

As New York generated more scoring chances, time kept ticking off the clock. The Red Bulls played more defensively for the final few minutes of the 90 expected to be played and the six minutes added. When the ref blew the whistle to signify the end of the game, the Red Bulls held on to win.

This much needed three points puts the team in 11^th place in the Eastern Conference in the MLS. Only siting three points out of a natural playoff spot, New York will look to keep the good form in the next league game against the Seattle Sounders.

New head coach Troy Lesesne is unbeaten with his new team. The squad’s next fixture is a midweek matchup against Cincinnati FC in the U.S. Open Cup.

Louie Pasculli can be reached at louis.pasculli@student.shu.edu.

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