June 14, 2012
FIRST LOSS
Red Bulls U-23's fall to FC New York 1-0

NEWARK, N.J. – Alexis Garcia snapped a scoreless deadlock with a goal in the early stages of the second half, enabling FC New York to secure a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls Under-23 team in a National Premier Soccer League game on the campus of New Jersey Institute of Technology on Thursday night.

The loss was the first of the season for the Red Bulls after seven consecutive wins. It was the first win for FC New York, which improved to 1-4-2.

Despite the setback, the Red Bulls remain atop the Northeast-Atlantic Division with a three-point lead over the Brooklyn Italians.

FC New York got on the board in the 56th minute, when Semil Turan made a nice crossing pass to Garcia, who booted the ball into the net.

The Red Bulls had the first good scoring chance in the third minute, when Berti Hajdri’s hard shot went just right of the goal.

The visitors had three solid opportunities in the middle of the first half. Tyler Botte’s header attempt sailed over the crossbar in the 16th minute, while Garcia had two shots. Garcia’s first shot went wide left in the 27th minute and his attempt on a free kick in the 34th minute was stopped by goalkeeper Shelson Dorleans.

The Red Bulls had two chances in the closing minutes of the first half, both coming off the feet of Adam Maabdo.

Maabdo had a left-footed shot that was stopped by keeperHector Guerrero in the 36th minute and his right-footed shot went wide right of the net in the 42nd minute.

The Red Bulls had the better of the action in the opening stages of the second half with John Gurel knocking two solid shots on goal and Giorgi Chirgadze getting another shot, but all three were corralled by Guerrero.

After FC New York scored, the Red Bulls tried for the equalizer. Hajdri had the best chance, when he found himself wide open from eight yards, but his attempt skidded wide left of the goal.

Red Bulls’ Widner St. Cyr had a great chance in the 79th minute, but his right-footed blast sailed wide right of the goal.

In added time, the Red Bulls had their best chance when Victor Manoslavas had two shots from point-blank range that Guerrero stopped. Guerrero made seven saves, while Dorleans had three saves in vain for the Red Bulls.

The Red Bulls return to action when they take on the New York Athletic Club on Travers Island at 10 a.m. Saturday.