Red Bulls Keep Rolling with Second Win to Start the Season

Published: Saturday, February 28, 2026

by Thomas Kvaloe

HARRISON N.J. – The New York Red Bulls (2-0-0) win their first home game of the season in the early kickoff of the day against the New England Revolution (0-0-2) by a score of 1-0. It was a perfect home debut for new coach Michael Bradley with the sun shining and the crowd singing. 

As many were expecting, it was the same starting lineup for the Red Bulls in this second game as seen in the first. It was an impressive display from the young side, which would continue into this game as well.

The first 15 minutes were relatively uneventful, with the home side feeling out the visitors but not creating any real scoring opportunities. There was a long-range shot from center back Justin Che that challenged Matt Turner and a yellow card for the Revolution, but not much else of note. 

A little later in the 20th minute, the stadium erupted in protest as Ronald Donkor seemed to have broken into New England’s box but was called back and given a yellow card because of an apparent hand to the face of an opposing player. Captain Emil Forsberg tried appealing the call, but to no avail.

More controversy came in the 32nd minute as a ball struck a New England player’s hand off a corner, but no penalty was given. Every NYRB player in the vicinity of the referee flocked to him, demanding a penalty, but he did not budge, and the call stood.

The Red Bulls were able to break the deadlock in the 53rd minute when the ball landed next to a goal-hungry Julian Hall, who slotted it into the back of the net. Hall had been quiet in the first half, but made up for it here, netting his third of the season. Adri Mehmeti is credited with the assist, making this the second link-up goal of the season for the teenagers. 

A huge moment came in the 68th minute as the Revolution looked destined to score. They had the goalkeeper Ethan Horvath beat, but trade-acquisition Jahkeele Marshall-Rutter stood on the goal line and headed it over the goal. Both Mehmeti and Che were quick to go over and praise the clearance.

In the last quarter of the game, there was a lot of pressure put on the Red Bulls' backline. The visitors knew they needed a goal, and they got close on multiple occasions. New England fans were making noise, trying to encourage their players and show their distaste for the referee. 

It ended up being a hard-fought victory in the end for the home side. Horvath and his defense stood strong, and no matter what the opposition threw at them, they kept shutting them down. This marked the first MLS clean sheet for the veteran goalkeeper, who is getting his first games on American soil, as he has spent the first ten years of his career abroad. 

The New York Red Bulls will look to continue their perfect start to the season as they welcome the struggling CF Montreal to Sports Illustrated Stadium next Sunday, March 8 at 4:30 P.M.

Thomas Kvaloe can be reached at thomas.kval@student.shu.edu

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