CHARLESTON, SC (October 21, 2017) – New York Red Bulls II began their title defense with a resounding 4-0 playoff road victory over the No. 2 seed Charleston Battery at MUSC Health Stadium Saturday night.
With the win, NYRB II snapped a 14-game Charleston undefeated streak at MUSC Health Stadium.
Stefano Bonomo opened the scoring just before the half in the 39th minute, scoring his 11th goal in just 14 appearances. The goal came via a Junior Flemmings cross which found Stefano for a diving header past Charleston goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper.
In the 51st minute, Ethan Kutler, a converted college striker now playing left back, scored his first professional goal off an Arun Basuljevic corner kick that was dummied by the captain, Dan Metzger and rifled home to double NYRB II’s lead.
Charleston striker Romario Williams had their best opportunity of the match in the 69th minute, missing an open net that caught both Hassan Ndam and Jordan Scarlett off guard.
Two minutes later, NYRB II added another, this time with Florian Valot following up on a Bonomo strike that fell to his feet, who then easily slotted it home. The goal was his eighth goal in his past nine games played.
Red Bulls Academy product Ben Mines, who came on for Basuljevic, produced a goal of his own in the 84th minute scoring on his first touch to put the game to bed. It was also his second goal of the season.
New York Red Bulls II moves on to the USL Eastern Conference Semifinals set to take place at Al Lang Stadium Saturday in St. Petersburg, Florida against league-newcomers Tampa Bay Rowdies. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and can be seen live on newyorkredbulls.com/2/live
New York: Louro, Kutler, Ndam, Scarlett, Najem, Basuljevic (Ben Mines, 83rd minute), Metzger, Tinari, Flemmings (Zeiko Lewis, 88th minute, Valot, Bonomo (Tim Schmoll, 90th minute)
Charleston: Cooper, Griffith, Mueller, Lasso, Woodbine (Nicholas Rittmeyer, 74th minute), Higashi (Ricky Garbanzo, 83rd minute), Portillo, Anunga (Heviel Cordoves, 58th minute), van Schaik, Guerra, Williams
Scoring:
New York: 39’ – NY – Stefano Bonomo (Junior Flemmings), 51’ – NY – Ethan Kutler (Arun Basuljevic), 71' - NY - Florian Valot, 84' - NY - Ben Mines (Andrew Tinari)
Charleston:
Discipline:
New York: Junior Flemmings 82’ caution
Charleston: Tah Anunga 57’ caution, Quinton Griffith 85’ caution
