Jorge Ruvalcaba flashed his potential in Red Bull New York’s impressive 2-0 home victory over defending MLS Cup champions Inter Miami on Saturday.
The 25-year-old winger combined effectively with Cade Cowell and Julian Hall in an attacking trident that put the reigning champions on the back foot and proceeded to poke and prod the visitors like the Devil’s pitchfork.
“I thought Jorge gave us a lot on the night,” Red Bull New York head coach Michael Bradley said during Monday’s press conference. “I thought our front three as a group really, really challenged Miami in terms of their work, their speed, their intensity and that was with the ball and against the ball. So we were really pleased with what Jorge, Cade and Jules were able to give us.”
Throughout his first MLS season, Ruvalcaba has dazzled when he’s at the top of his game with unpredictable bits of skill and match-changing moments. While he has consistently put in a high work rate, there are times when some Red Bull New York supporters have voiced concerns over his form and overall end product.
Bradley: ‘We’ll Continue To Rely on Jorge in Big Moments’
When the Red Bulls acquired Ruvalcaba from Mexican side Pumas UNAM, it was immediately clear that he was a bit of a raw diamond that needed some polish. Perhaps Bradley can eventually unlock the one-time Mexico international’s full capabilities.
Through 30 MLS appearances, the 5-foot-9 forward has contributed eight goals and one assist.
“Obviously, I know that Jorge would have loved to walk away with a goal or two,” Bradley said of Ruvalcaba’s performance on Saturday. “But the most important thing is the work and the effort and the commitment and the intensity and the quality to get into those spots. Any player, every player in the world has nights where it feels like the ball just won’t go in. It’s always better to have a night like that when the team scores two goals and wins. We’ll continue to rely on Jorge in big moments to help us as he did against Miami.”
With Ruvalcaba, Cowell, Harper and Rafael Mosquera among Red Bull New York’s options on the wing, there is a good amount of competition. Occasionally, Hall has slid out wide when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has been summoned from the bench to play in a center-forward role.
“I think for any good team, the part of having real competition in every spot and guys ready to push each other and challenge each other in the right ways, that makes training better [and] that makes our team better,” Bradley explained. “It means that we can make certain decisions on the night based on what we think is the best way to start, but then also have real ways to change the game as it’s in progress.”
Bradley Discusses Squad Rotation Ahead of Final Three Regular-Season Matches
There’s no letup for Red Bull New York. With three final regular-season games spread across 11 days, Bradley will have to find the right balance to keep his squad fresh amid the playoff push.
Successive matches coming against the top two MLS opponents will represent a major test. Next up for the ninth-place Red Bulls is a visit to the second-place New England Revolution on Wednesday followed by a meeting with the recently crowned Supporters’ Shield winners Nashville SC at Geodis Park on Sunday.
“Generally, we’re going to do like we’ve done all year and take it one game at a time,” Bradley said. “There are important games and important points. We feel like we have a group that is pretty fit and can push games and be ready to repeat and go again.
“You get the extra day recovery both before the midweek game and after the midweek game. So there’s no really short turnaround. Like I said, we’ll be ready to look at things one game at a time and put a group on the field that’s ready to go after things.”
Wednesday’s meeting with the Revolution at Gillette Stadium is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time with Apple TV carrying the broadcast.
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