New York Red Bulls’ Not-So-Cruel Summer

By Sylvana Budesheim // @WhiteZinWench

May 25th: 0-2 win

It’s Memorial Day weekend! The unofficial start of summer. And there is so much soccer to be had in the coming weeks. While I’m waiting for the match to start, I wanted to take some time to reflect on RBNY-adjacent information.

I sit around trying to smile: Legendary striker Bradley Wright-Phillips has been out for most of the season so far with a groin injury. I had that problem once, and while I most likely wasn’t anywhere near as athletic at the time as BWP is now, I can tell you it’s a tricky thing. You think you’re okay, so you try to get back to normal and you end up back where you started. So, while I can’t say with any certainty that this is what’s keeping him out of the gameday rosters, it would be totally understandable.

And the team is still afloat despite his absence:

Leaving me here on my own: Six players have been called to international duty: Aaron Long & Kyle Duncan*, USA; Kemar Lawrence, Jamaica; Alejandro Romero Gamarra, Paraguay; Derrick Etienne, Jr., Haiti; and Michael Amir Murillo, Panama. That’s… a lot of RBNY defenders. Tim Parker, Amro Tarek, Sean Nealis, and Connor Lade will have to stay healthy and focused. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Alex Muyl return to the back line as necessary.

*Duncan could be held back by the team, but I don’t think that will happen.

The city is crowded: Now on to the match… I’m not alone in saying that I am very happy to see Cincinnati in MLS. The stadium was hopping, and so was the ball. Seriously– control was very difficult with the artificial surface. But it looked like a good time in the crowd. The Orange and Blue was prominent and the fans were plenty loud.

You found yourself: And it’s a good thing something was entertaining in the stadium, because the on-field action was mostly a huge yawn. For over seventy minutes, RBNY were unable to even get a shot on target. It took some clever substitutions from Chris Armas to turn things around. Alejandro “Kakú” Romero Gamarra scored in the 78th, and Brian White assisted Omir Fernandez to a goal in the 91st. All three of those players came off the bench. I mean… that’s just amazing. It’s like they pulled the win out of…. ahem– thin air.

It’s too hot to handle: Nineteen goals on the season; fifteen different goalscorers. The Red Bulls leapfrogged into third place in the Eastern Conference. It wasn’t long ago they were languishing in the basement. Like, I think it was last week. MLS is a fickle mistress, and we’re just along for the ride. Let’s hope the Red Bulls can keep this from being a cruel summer.

P.S. Let’s enjoy some ’80s-tastic tunes, shall we?

Featured image:  @BillTNJ

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