Red Bull New York II stormed past Huntsville City FC on a relentlessly rainy evening to book their place in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs Conference Quarterfinals.
After Zidane Yáñez scored the match’s opening goal to put Huntsville ahead in the sixth minute, Red Bull New York II responded with three unanswered goals to earn a 3-1 victory at MSU Soccer Park.
Mijahir Jiménez evened the match with a precise finish in the 43rd minute after combining on a give-and-go with Connor Faello.
Moments before halftime, Pedro Castro struck a sensational free kick to give the Baby Bulls a 2-1 lead. Tanner Rosborough would seal the victory with an 89th-minute goal.
“We spoke a lot about our togetherness on the field, about the extra step for your teammate,” Red Bull New York II head coach Dominik Wohlert said following the match. “I think that’s exactly what the guys have shown today. The effort was fantastic, the togetherness, the atmosphere, the way we played, I was really, really happy with that.”
Since His Arrival, Castro Has Shown a Flair for the Spectacular
Castro had previously scored in his MLS debut against Huntsville on Decision Day. The 19-year-old has made a habit of scoring impressive free kicks in training.
“It’s impressive,” Wohlert said. “We have seen this goal already a bunch of times actually in training — so even better to see it in a real matchday situation. Just shows his quality. He has something special when he’s staying committed and he’s staying grounded and focused.
“We tried still to create an environment where he can take the next level in his development. I think everyone in the club is seeing his potential. Everyone is trying to support and help him to become the player he could be. So big credit to him.”
Fellow Brazilian Kevin Wender made his MLS NEXT Pro debut and recorded his first career assist.
Nate Worth: ‘We Stuck to Our Roots’
Red Bull New York II captain Nate Worth credited his teammates for executing their brand of football under the playoff spotlight.
“I think today, we stuck to our roots,” Worth said. “We stuck to the game plan and what we knew would work. We saw the positives come out.”
Red Bull New York II will next face the top-seeded Crown Legacy FC in the Conference Quarterfinals on October 18.
“When we bring everything together, I think we can be a handful for every opponent here in this league,” Wohlert explained. “So let’s keep believing that it’s possible and we will be definitely ready.”
The quarterfinal match will be held at Sportsplex at Matthews. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
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