WHIPPANY, NJ – The club’s first team (2-6-5, 11 points) concludes their 2019 USL League Two campaign on Saturday, July 13, as they travel to the Red Bull Training Facility and face the New York Red Bulls U23 squad (4-3-6, 18 points) for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. The match is scheduled to take place in Whippany, New Jersey. The first team came off of their fifth draw of the season on Sunday afternoon against the Evergreen Hammers. The final score was 2-2 from New Utrecht High School. The club also earned their 11th point of the season, which is the most in club history since the inception into the PDL/USL League Two in 2013. The Red Bull U23 squad come into the contest having taken down the first team in seven straight contests, dating back to 2017. The farm team for the MLS side, come into the contest having drawn in their previous five out of six matches. Their previous match showed a 2-2 draw against the Lehigh Valley United on Wednesday.
ALL TIME SERIES:
The first team trails the overall series 0-7-0 against the Red Bulls U23 squad, dating back to the 2017 season. The most recent contest took place on Saturday, June 8, from Poly Prep Country Day School. A 13’ minute shot past Andrew Pereira from Allen Gavillanes opened the scoring for the visiting squad. The second and game-winning goal came from Chinenye Uche in the 76’ minute. Down a pair, the first team narrowed it to one, on a Conor McGlynn goal. The visiting team held down their side of the fort to take home the three-points, and hand FA Euro their second loss of the season, at the time. Looking back to the 2018 pair of matches against the two clubs, a 7-0 loss took place from Aviators Sports and Events Center on June 25, 2018. USL League Two Top 100 Players to Watch selection, Brian Saramago would put home the first two goals of the contest within the first eight minutes of action. Followed by a pair more from Fernandez and Kouma. In the second half of the contest, three more goals were scored by Kouma, Zajec, and Ryan. The seven goals scored were put home within 75 minutes of play. The Red Bulls currently are outscoring the first team 23-3 in the last five meetings dating back to 2017 at Belson Stadium.
SCOUTING THE RED BULLS:
Following a statement season-opening victory against the Evergreen Hammers by a score of 6-0, the New York Red Bulls U23 squad fell back to Earth, and fell in three consecutive contests against the Cedar Stars Rush, Long Island Rough Riders, and Reading United AC. Being led by a group of returning veterans along with a new cast, the Red Bulls are simply a different squad this season. On the list of “USL Top 50 Prospects” include defender Carlo Ritaccio (#3 on list/University of Akron), forward William Herve (#6 on list/University of Maryland), forward Brian Saramago (#19 on list/Loyola Maryland), and the academy’s own midfielder John Tolkin (#47 on list/Red Bulls Academy). Amidst the changes include draftees in the 2019 MLS Superdraft, goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, Janos Loebe and Rashid Nuhu. All of which, have done damage against the first team in their tenures with the U23 academy team. The U23 team has since been eliminated from playoff contention, within the Mid-Atlantic Division.
INJURY UPDATES:
Captain and defender Johan Mauritzson left June 19th contest at Long Island due to a hamstring injury. He does not expect to return this season. Midfielder Thriston Briscoe is still out with an ankle injury that was suffered on May 25 at the aforementioned Reading United AC. Remaining injuries include: forward Valentyn Kharko (undisclosed), Adam Marcu (undisclosed), goalkeepers Juan Pablo Leal (undisclosed), Jason Belfon (lower-body). All remaining players not listed and not in the previous lineup, have been out due to scratches from coaching staff.
LAST TIME OUT:
The home of the practice facility, New Utrecht High School, became the sight for the first team for one final home match during the 2019 USL League Two season. Returning from suspension included forwards Filippo Tamburini and Conor McGlynn. The previous Sunday, the club announced the joint operation academy “FA Euro Bridgeview”. Assistant Director of Bridgeview Soccer Academy, Elshan Gambarov, made his USL League Two debut, at age 46, to close out his illustrious career. Needing a victory or a draw to earn the most points in first team history, forward DeAndre Gordon and his teammates had plans to put the rest of the Mid-Atlantic Division on notice to finish the season strong. Having been eliminated from playoff contention, but remaining in the hunt through more than 10 games this season, the club knew its focus. Early retaliation from midfielder Alan Ponieman earned the former 2000’s player a yellow card, just three minutes into the match. Veteran forward Robi Sillah remainded positive despite being taken out at the conclusion of the first 45’ following five offsides calls from the linesman. A pair of shots from forward Kwadwo Kwashie saw a momentum swing in the first half. The Leesburg, Virginia based club, came into the contest having drawn in their three previous contests consecutively. A pair of shots in the 26’ minute of play, looked to be saved by goalkeeper Babacarr Ceesay. One of the shots that is. The second shot looked to be over the line, but the linesman had a view that showed otherwise. The first team earned a huge break on the scoresheet. Defender Tomasso Davico was injured in the 34’ minute of play, and was replaced by Vincent Balsamo on the pitch. Fast forwarding to the 66’ minute of play, a pass from midfielder Conor McGlynn to forward DeAndre Gordon fooled the defenders of the Hammers, where the striker beat Dane Jacobman on a left wing shot past the diving keeper. A pair of goals from Evergreen followed the icebreaker, just five minutes after the first goal was scored. Midfielder Johnny de Souza Claros put his Hammers within one, before DeJean Charlton scored the second and unanswered goal to put Evergreen ahead in the 87’ minute. The visiting team was looking for their first victory of the 2019 USL League Two campaign, and was three minutes and stoppage time remaining from accomplishing the feat. An Evergreen defender took down midfielder Nermin Buljubasic, and was issued a yellow-card caution in stoppage time. The free-kick was taken by leading goal scorer Conor McGlynn, who netted the tying goal moments before the match concluded. The first team earned their 11th point, and sixth draw of the season. Both totals are the most since the club’s inception into the then-PDL and current USL League Two.
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