After losing their opening game on Mother’s Day Sunday against the Ocean City Nor’Easters, the FA Euro PDL first team traveled over the George Washington Bridge to Whippany, New Jersey to take on the New York Red Bulls U23 team. After torrential rain soaked the Red Bulls training facility, the PDL first team struggled to gain any momentum and fell to New York Red Bulls 3-1.
It didn’t take long for the Red Bulls to pick up where they left off last season, netting their first goal of the game in the 14’ minute. With consistent pressure on FA Euro’s Keeper Oliver Hansen, John Murphy buried their first goal after his shot deflected off of FA Euro defender Momodou Sawaneh.
The PDL first team had a few chances to score themselves, but give and go opportunities between Nico Anderson and Alexis Santa never resulted in a goal. In the 34’ minute, Red Bulls had an opportunity to add to their lead when Murphy got past defender Sawaneh and had the ball alone inside the box. FA Euro’s Hansen came out of the net and rushed the shot which ricocheted of an FA Euro defender and out of play.
With only one minute remaining in the first half, a handball by FA Euro defender Domonique Marvens inside the box resulted in a penalty awarded to Red Bulls. The shot by Brian Saramago went just past the outstretched arms of Hansen and into the back of the net.
The Red Bulls were able to take control of the momentum early in the second half and it paid off. In the 58’ minute, a questionable call by the official led to corner kick which resulted in the third goal for Red Bull.
FA Euro finally broke through in the 66’ minute with a goal of their own when Forward Robi Sillah sent the ball soaring into the upper corner of the goal. At a critical moment in the game, frustrations mounted for FA Euro as Sillah was shown a red card in the 83’ minute for an alleged incident with one of the Red Bulls players.
After the game, Midfielder Conor McGlynn told I95 Sports Network, “I think that it’s a new team with new players and it will take time to get used to each other. I understand that things aren’t going our way but the last thing that we should do is put our heads down. We have to come together, stay positive and get ready for our next game against Rough Riders.”
During Tuesday’s loss, FA Euro Midfielder Nico Anderson left the game with an ankle injury in the closing minutes of the first half and didn’t return. The injury bug has hit the PDL first team again this season with multiple key players already going down with injuries.
FA Euro looks to come away their first win of the 2018 season next Tuesday when they welcome the Long Island Rough Riders to Aviator Sports Complex at 8:00 PM.
The game can be seen on the I-95 Sports Network and Facebook LIVE. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for non-stop updates on everything FA Euro.