Although Red Bull New York did not come away with three points at Nu Stadium, Michael Bradley’s men were determined, persistent and made the defending MLS Cup champions uncomfortable throughout Saturday’s contest.
Here are five key takeaways from the 2-2 draw. Click here for Saturday’s post-match recap.
1. Monster Mentality on Display
The visiting Red Bulls did not shrink when tasked with facing Lionel Messi and a star-studded Inter Miami team in a loud, expectant road building.
There were times when New York came very close to pulling ahead after Adri Mehmeti’s 77th-minute equalizer.
“We came here to push the game and try to play our football and try to in every way be the aggressor,” Bradley said.
Though they did not conjure up a statement victory, it was an undoubtedly impressive point gained. Keep in mind that the Red Bulls are a very young team playing under a first-year head coach with several acquisitions who are just starting to strike up a chemistry and understanding with one another.
After escaping South Beach with a hard-fought draw, this is the kind of result that can turn belief into an unshakable teamwide confidence.
2. Horvath Again Delivers Clutch Goalkeeping Heroics
Ethan Horvath has offered tremendous value between the sticks since arriving on a free transfer from Cardiff City.
The 30-year-old netminder has continued his habit of making key saves under pressure as he did in the English Championship and throughout his 16 appearances for the United States men’s national team.
“Ethan had a really big game,” Bradley said. “We’re really happy with the way that he has played and the way that he has settled into our team.
“For a young team, it’s really important that you have the right goalkeeper. By that, I mean not just the qualities of being able to make saves and being able to keep us in games, but also the presence and the composure. Ethan is a guy who is just steady. He’s never fazed by anything.”
Horvath crucially denied a 94th-minute Messi free kick and several close-range Miami efforts. He was a brick wall when it mattered and a big reason why New York was able to claim a valuable road point.
3. Ruvalcaba Continues Upward Trend
After a somewhat slow start to his Red Bull career, Jorge Ruvalcaba broke through in a big way on Saturday.
The industrious winger slotted home the match’s opening goal, came close to recording a brace and often put Miami on the back foot. Alongside Julian Hall and Cade Cowell, the Red Bulls’ three-man attacking trident asked serious questions of Inter Miami’s back line.
Coach Bradley has been impressed by Ruvalcaba’s game-by-game improvement and expects to lean on him heavily to provide goals, assists and trickery.
“We’re really happy with the progress that George continues to make,” Bradley stated. “Obviously, the goal is excellent. He continues to get better, continues to have a better understanding of how we want to play, of the demands of Major League Soccer.
“For any new player coming to a new club, a new league, trying to quickly adapt, understand the environment, understand the games, he’s a really, really good guy. He’s so into it every day. He’s found a really good way to connect with so many of his teammates, and again, he continues to improve and continues to show his quality. We’re gonna continue to rely on him in a big way.”
4. Donkor’s Midfield Mastery
There were moments when Ronald Donkor bossed the match. He was sublime against the reigning champs.
His ball control was remarkable, he put his stamp all over the match and his energetic legs never stopped churning.
“He has really unique qualities,” Bradley said of Donkor recently. “Obviously, his ability to take balls in tight space and with his skill and with his quickness and with his agility, he’s very press resistant.
“We continue to work with him as he’s carrying balls forward. Which windows does he see? The timing of certain passes, but he’s a great young man. Loves to train every day, loves football, and he’s going to keep getting better and better.”
It was baffling that Donkor wasn’t included in the MLS Matchday 7 Team of the Matchday.
5. Hall Pass
It was another outstanding showing from 18-year-old forward Julian Hall, who has opened the new campaign with seven goal contributions (five goals, two assists) through seven league matches.
The pacey and agile forward caused problems for Miami’s back line with his vertical runs. He supplied the match’s opening goal by losing two of his markers with a swift turn and sliding through a pass that Ruvalcaba buried in the ol’ onion bag.
He again turned Miami defenders inside out in a well-rehearsed free kick routine, combining with captain Emil Forsberg and sliding a pass across the box, which Mehmeti bundled into the net.
New York’s teenage connection struck again. Hall and Mehmeti were each named in the MLS Matchday 7 Team of the Matchday.
The Red Bulls will next face Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday night at Sports Illustrated Stadium before returning to MLS action away to CF Montréal on Saturday.
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