The Red Bulls knew this was going to be a difficult game as Orlando City was getting back important pieces to their starting lineup. Nani & Daryl Dike weren’t in the last match at Red Bull Arena, but it didn’t matter, as the visitors from Harrison played a strong match and earned their first win on the road this season as they defeated Orlando City by a final of two goals to one.
The return of Cristian Casserers Jr. was the big highlight in this match as he returned from Copa America duty with Venezuela and scored another golazo to take the early lead in the 6th minute. Fabio brings the ball up along the far side, passed it to Patryk Klimala who found Casserers Jr. on the edge of the Orlando Area. He would make a cut to his left, then smashed the chance with his left foot, as he curls it inside the far post.
The Red Bulls were doing a lot of things right in this opening half. Strong defense, attacking runs, also frustrating the big boys of Orlando City in Mueller, Nani & Dike, but they got a golden opportunity to earn a penalty in the 43rd minute as Tom Edwards was called for a foul, but on replay, the call was very soft as Edwards never, or barely brought his man down. As Mauricio Pererya took the penalty Carlos Coronel guessed correctly and made the save diving to his left.
When the second half started the Red Bulls continued to apply the pressure, and continued to get scoring chances through attacking runs. Even though Chris Mueller scored the equalizer in the 59th minute, the Red Bulls would convert late in the second half to retake and keep the lead for good from one of their strikers.
Fabio converted the match-winner with help from his friends as Dru Yearwood brings the ball up from midfield and wasn’t touched by the Orlando City defenders. He was allowed to get into their area, found Klimala, who made a quick pass to Fabio and smashed it inside the near post for his second of the season.
After the full 90 was ticked off the match clock, the referee blew the final whistle, and magically the Red Bulls finally earned their first win on the road and are currently on a two-game unbeaten streak and earned four points out of a possible nine. This club that had a rough start to the season, is finally getting themselves on track and finding ways to get points on the road for the second consecutive road game.
The Red Bulls are in seventh place and has a home date against the Philadelphia Union who I would believe wants to get some form of revenge after they earned a one-goal loss at Subaru Park at least over a month ago, but for now, a big victory for the Red Bulls in the heart of Downtown Orlando to savior as they are the only club in the Eastern Conference to hand the purple and gold two losses on their record for the 2021 season.