Julian Hall had a brace in the first half as the New York Red Bulls looked dominant throughout their season-opening 2-1 win over host Orlando City SC in coach Michael Bradley’s first game in charge Saturday.
Hall tallied twice from close range, first in the eighth minute off an assist from Emil Forsberg and again in the 40th off an assist from 16-year-old Adri Mehmeti as the Red Bulls were unstoppable in the first half.
New York held a 15-2 shot advantage in the opening half, led in possession 54-46% and took five corners while Orlando City had none. Expected goals revealed the breadth of the Red Bulls’ dominance: 3.2-0.05 in New York’s favor.
Bradley started Mehmeti and two 17-year-olds, Hall and Matthew Dos Santos, and that vibrant youth was on display from the opening whistle. New acquisitions Jorge Ruvalcaba and Cade Cowell made a difference on both wings, as well.
New Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was tested early and often. In the fifth minute, Ruvalcaba worked down the left and sent the ball into the middle, with Cowell firing a shot to the bottom left corner that Crepeau sent away.
Forsberg, who’s older than the combined ages of Mehmeti and Hall, had 11 goals and 11 assists last season. He took a centering pass from Cowell minutes later and broke down the defense in front of him, worked the ball past Crepeau, and found Hall on the left side for the easy finish.
New York’s relentless onslaught continued throughout the half. Ruvalcaba got behind the Lions’ defense following a poor turnover in the 11th minute before Crepeau saved his effort.
A slew of new Red Bulls factored in the effort. Cowell had 12 goals and five assists in two years with Chivas Guadalajara, and Ruvalcaba tallied 16 goals and nine assists in 100 appearances with Pumas UNAM.
Cowell nearly opened his New York account, hitting the bar with a right-footed attempt.
Despite the dominance, frustration was apparent as New York failed time and again to double its advantage, until Hall found himself in front of the goal again in the 40th minute.
Crepeau and new Red Bulls goalkeeper Ethan Horvath made save after save in the second half to keep the game at 2-0.
Griffin Dorsey thought he had gotten one back in the 51st minute in his Orlando debut, but he was turned away due to a handball.
The Lions pressed for most of the second half, with five men up high. Martin Ojeda, who had 16 goals and 15 assists for Orlando last season, could not get past Horvath, making his MLS debut after coming over from Cardiff City.
His standout effort came in the 70th minute. After sending away a cross, he seemingly came out of nowhere to turn away a left-footed Dorsey effort.
Crepeau, the Canadian national vying with 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair for the No. 1 at this year’s World Cup, kept the final result within reach thanks to an amazing series of saves in the 85th minute.
He sent away Omar Valencia’s initial left-footed shot from outside the box before handling Forsberg’s followup.
The Lions tallied late on a counterattack in the sixth minute of extra time. Tiago converted off an assist by Zakaria Taifi into the left corner just ahead of the final whistle.
–Field Level Media
