HARRISON, N.J. — Here are three things we learned from the New York Red Bulls 4-0 win over New York City FC in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Wednesday night at Red Bull Arena.
Dream debuts
Hassan Ndam and Ethan Kutler made their Red Bulls first team debuts against NYCFC as part of a four-man backline and the duo, who were teammates on Red Bulls II in the USL both performed admirably.
Kutler, who was signed from Red Bulls II on May 1, started at right back and played the entire 90 minutes, while Ndam partnered with Aaron Long in central defense. He, too, played the entire 90 minutes and had a critical goal-line clearance in the first half.
“That’s one of the great things about this organization,” goalkeeper Ryan Meara said. “We’ve all played together before, whether it’s Red Bulls II. They’re always up training with us. I’ve played with them a handful of time, even in the last couple of months I’ve played a couple of games with them. We’re all familiar. When we do all come together it doesn’t matter who is on the field, there’s definitely a familiarity there.”
Ndam said he found out he’d get the start at training on Tuesday. He said he was excited, but nervous and leaned on Long for advice.
“He tried to make sure that I was on top of everything and not trying to let [David] Villa get the ball so easily,” Ndam said. “My first thought is trying to play simple and then I was in the game and then I had some bad moments, but at the end of the day I tried to make everything right and I had a clean sheet tonight. I’m very happy today.”
Long was impressed.
“I thought Hassan played very well,” he said. “The team has been wanting him to get him a game and it’s huge that he gets to play against our rival in an Open Cup elimination game and I think he seized the day for sure. He played amazing, he had a goal-line save and he had some great tackles in the second half to really save some goals.”
Captain Davis
Luis Robles was named the Red Bulls captain before the start of the season, but he was left off the 18-man game day roster on Wednesday, while Bradley Wright-Phillips, who has worn the armband in Robles’ absence, remained on the substitute’s bench.
So it was Sean Davis who proudly served as the Red Bulls captain, but it wasn’t his first time with that honor. He said he also wore the armband for Red Bulls II and at Duke University.
“It’s always an honor to have the armband, especially at this club that has done a lot for me,” Davis said. “It is a nice feeling to continue to progress and to get that respect from the staff.”
Flipping the script
When Danny Royer tapped past an onrushing Brad Stuver and inside the far post, he looked up to the sky and pumped his right fist twice before embracing Alex Muyl, who provided the assist.
But on his second goal just two minutes later, a rebound after a Muyl saved shot, Royer went with his classic backflip celebration. It was much to the delight of many of the announced crowd of 9,496 at Red Bull Arena. But Jesse Marsch? Not so much.
“I’ve got some problems now with the head coach,” Royer said with a smile. “But yeah, I dunno. I think I won’t change that.”