Red Bull New York forward Julian Hall has continually been one of Major League Soccer’s brightest shining players of the young season, and teammate Jorge Ruvalcaba joined him to provide fireworks in a thrilling 4-4 draw against D.C. United on Wednesday night.
The Red Bulls should have seen out a victory at home at Sports Illustrated Stadium, but collapsed defensively in the 111th edition of the Atlantic Cup.
Julian Hall Continues Electric Start to 2026 Season
Hall got the Red Bulls out in front 1-0 in the 15th minute by finishing off a pass that was slid through into the box by midfielder Ronald Donkor.
It was Hall’s sixth goal against MLS foes and his eighth in all competitions this season.
The 18-year-old sensation has already recorded an incredible eight goal contributions (six goals, two assists) through his first nine games played of the 2026 MLS season.
Donkor would grab his first goal of the season after a ball swung in by Matthew Dos Santos took a fortuitous deflection. The Ghanaian coolly slotted the ball in the bottom left corner past D.C. United goalkeeper Sean Johnson, doubling the Red Bulls’ advantage to 2-0.
Red Bull Back Line Exposed Again
There was a push back from D.C. United as halftime neared. Tai Baribo finished off a long sprint from Jackson Hopkins with a sliding finish to cut New York’s lead in half.
The sides went into halftime with Red Bull New York holding a 2-1 lead.
Although Ruvalcaba scored an incredible solo effort to increase New York’s advantage to 3-1 in the 52nd minute, the Red Bulls’ defense would continue to be porous in the second half.
Hopkins would find the net two minutes after Ruvalcaba to bring D.C. United within a goal, and Baribo would tally his second goal of the contest in the 59th minute to bring the match even at 3-3.
Defensive Problems Continue Without Justin Che
It cannot be clearer how much the Red Bulls miss Justin Che, who has resumed training and is pushing closer to a return to match action, but hasn’t been given the green light as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Ruvalcaba again provided an absolutely fantastic solo effort by breaking down the wing and regaining New York’s lead in the 71st minute. Though he put the Red Bulls ahead 4-3, D.C. United again found holes in New York’s defense as Baribo completed his hat trick in the 80th minute.
With the match knotted at 4-4 and with 10 minutes of regulation to play plus six minutes of added time, the sides felt like two heavyweight sluggers who traded blows for 12 rounds.
The Red Bulls will visit FC Cincinnati on Saturday night. Cincinnati are coming off an equally wild 4-4 draw against NYCFC.
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