After shaking off an ankle injury, Cade Cowell is hitting his stride. The tricky winger is elevating his individual performances while becoming a catalyst in Red Bull New York’s resurgent attack.
“Cade is improving in big ways, so we’re really pleased with the direction that he’s going,” Red Bull New York head coach Michael Bradley stated after Saturday’s 3-2 home victory over Orlando City SC.
Though Mijahir Jiménez was named player of the match after scoring two goals in his first career MLS start, Cowell’s defense-stretching pace and unpredictability caused all kinds of problems for Orlando.
Cowell threaded a pinpoint pass to assist captain Emil Forsberg’s 43rd-minute goal. He would later outmuscle Orlando defender Bernardo Rhein near the end line and supply Jiménez’s second goal of the night in the 60th minute.
Bradley on Cowell: ‘He Is Finding Really Good Ways To Use His Qualities’
“We’re really, really pleased with Cade’s understanding of some of the details that we think are really important to not only make him better, but to make our football better,” Bradley explained.
“So I think he is finding really good ways to use his qualities and his profile as a player to be dangerous, to be effective. But he has also been really open to trying to work on some of the little things that we think can help take him to the next level.”
Cowell suffered a sprained ankle in New York’s 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on May 23. He admitted that the injury affected him longer than he had expected.
With Ankle Injury Behind Him, Cowell Is Ready To Continue Producing His Best
“I sprained my ankle in that game,” Cowell said on Saturday. “So it was pretty unfortunate. It took longer than what I thought it would do. But that break was much needed. I’m happy to get back and, you know, help the team as much as I can.”
“Cade ended up missing a big part of the summer preseason,” Bradley added. “It’s only in the last few weeks that now we’ve got him back on the training field every day and really going again.”
When MLS returned from the World Cup break, Cowell scored in New York’s 3-1 road defeat to the Philadelphia Union on July 22.
In his three matches after MLS resumed, Cowell has scored one goal and provided two assists.
Cowell Urges Red Bulls To ‘Keep This Flame Lit’
Cowell and Jiménez were each named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Match 19.
“Hopefully, I can keep this rhythm going, and it helps the team,” he said. “Hopefully, as a group, we keep this flame lit.
“When we play together, obviously, that helps all of us attackers. Getting the ball from Ronnie [Donkor] and Gustav [Berggren], they do such a good job and put so much work in. So when they do all those little things, it frees up a lot of space for me behind. So there’s a lot of things that go into it. Individually, I’m happy with myself that I can help the team that way in the final third. It’s a group effort.”
The 22-year-old winger has scored two goals and notched seven assists through 16 MLS appearances in his first season with the Red Bulls.
His seven assists are tied for the seventh-most in MLS. Red Bull New York currently sits in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings, having collected 25 points through 18 matches played.
Cowell and the Red Bulls will next face Atlanta United on August 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
More Red Bull New York Coverage
Enjoyed this story? Follow us for the latest updates! | Bluesky | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Leave a Reply