The New York Red Bulls once again came away with just one point in their match against Atlanta United. The club found themselves in another come-from-behind situation late in the match but were able to equalize and get the draw.
This was New York’s seventh tie in their last 10 league matches and the club hasn’t won since late July with their last three-point match being against FC Cincinnati. The Red Bulls opened up the scoring in the 31st minute when defender John Tolking sent a corner kick into the box where he found Dante Vanzeir for an easy flick past goalkeeper Brad Guzan. This was Vanzeir’s third goal of the season and first since May ending his long-lasting drought. Atlanta was given an opportunity to equalize right before the half after Felipe Carballo committed a penalty inside the box, awarding Atlanta a penalty kick. United’s Alexey Miranchuk capitalized on New York’s error and made it a 1-1 game going into halftime.
The second half started a little bit slower with both sides trying to maintain possession and not creating many chances. New York didn’t pick up speed until around the 70th minute when they brought in substitutes, Julian Hall, Elias Manoel, and Ronald Donkor. Manoel was able to draw a foul inside Atlanta’s box in the 87th minute which was then VAR checked to award a penalty kick. Manoel aimed for the bottom left but was read by Guzan who made the save, keeping it a level game.
When the 90th minute struck, the official decided on nine minutes of added time before the final whistle. Atlanta substituted onto the field striker Edwin Mosquera who instantly made an impact, curling the ball into the top right corner from outside the 18, making it 2-1. But the Red Bulls’ mentality was to not give up and they kept to it. Following Atlanta’s goal, New York did everything to create chances and keep possession to salvage a point. In the 90+7th minute, Hall found Manoel at the top of the box who then buried it in the back of the net. At just 16 years old, Hall’s assist made him the youngest player in Red Bulls’ history to record an assist and third youngest in MLS history.
“I always try to come in and make an impact,” Hall said. “It’s my number one goal to just try and help the team. Just try and get a victory or the last goal that we need to keep pushing and just trying to make an impact every time I step on.”
With the draw, New York remains in fourth in the Eastern Conference and is a win away, with some help, from clinching their 15th straight playoff appearance. Head coach Sandro Schwarz spoke on the match.
“When I analyze the whole performance, which was, for me, very well,” Head Coach Sandro Schwarz said. “To see the mentality that, at the end, we could also score the third goal for three points. … I’m proud of this mentality, of this behavior, from the whole team today.”
With just four matches left in the regular season, New York is still fighting for a playoff spot while preparing for the postseason simultaneously. It should help that Emil Forsberg is returning to the squad after being out since June with a foot injury.
“I believe in this team, and we’ve got four games left, and playoffs are right on the horizon, and we just need to dig deep,” Daniel Edelman said. “Some teams and players would collapse in these moments, but we’re still fighting, and we’re not giving up.”
The Red Bulls now prepare for the New York Derby next week when New York City FC travels to Red Bull Arena for the biggest rivalry match of the season. The match will be on Saturday, September 28 at 7:30 pm.
