New York Red Bulls II News Release - www.newyorkredbulls.com

Friday, April 3, 2015

HARRISON, N.J. - The New York Red Bulls II host Toronto FC II in their second USL match this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena. The squad looks to improve upon the point they earned in their opening match—a 0-0 draw last weekend against an experienced USL side in Rochester Rhinos.

Match Information

·         New York Red Bulls II vs. Toronto FC II
·         Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.
·         Saturday, April 4, 2015
·         3:30 p.m. EDT (WATCH: Live Stream available on NewYorkRedBulls.com/Live)
·         #NYvTOR  - Follow on Twitter @NYRBII
·         Tickets

New York Red Bulls II
NYRB II (0-0-1), will look to cool off Toronto FC II, who are coming off their first win of the season last weekend against FC Montreal. With the Red Bulls MLS side on a bye, the USL roster may look different from a week ago, with several more first team players featuring against TFC II.

The first team players will be looking to add some firepower to a team unable to convert in the final third in the season opener. Captain Leo Stolz and fellow first team players Manolo Sanchez and Marius Obekop looked threatening in attack against the Rhinos, while academy player Derrick Etienne came on as a substitute in the 59th minute and provided an immediate spark.

On the other end, goalkeeper Santiago Castano hopes to continue his fine play after making four saves and earning his first clean sheet of the season in the draw. Part of that clean sheet was thanks to a strong defensive effort from defender Colin Heffron, who moved seamlessly from left back to center back after an injury, and earned USL Team of the Week honors.   

Red Bulls Academy product Tyler Adams may make his pro debut this weekend. Adams, who was NYRB II’s inaugural signing days after qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year at the CONCACAF U-17 Championships with the United States, began training with the team last week. Adams has been with the club since joining the Red Bulls Regional Development School at the age of 10, and then progressed through the highly-regarded Red Bulls Academy system.

The Red Bulls also announced midweek that the club came to an agreement with Columbia University for New York Red Bulls II to play home games at the Baker Athletic Complex's Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium on Columbia's campus. The stadium in Manhattan will host its first match on May 17 as NYRB II faces off against Charleston Battery.

Toronto FC II
For Toronto FC II (1-1-0), this will be the third match of the 2015 season. In TFC II’s opening match, USL team of the week honorees Molham Babouli and Jordan Hamilton both scored, but it was not enough as the team fell to Charleston Battery, 3-2. Last weekend, Toronto bounced back from the opening loss to defeat rivals FC Montreal, 2-0.

Midfielder Marcos Nunes provided a 37th-minute goal for TFC II, and the second goal was a late own goal by FC Montreal. TFC II’s Babouli supplied an assist on the 37th-minute goal and was named to the USL Team of the Week for the second consecutive week thanks to his contributions in the victory.

The win was the first professional clean sheet for 2015 MLS SuperDraft first round pick, Alex Bono. Bono was selected by Toronto FC with the sixth overall pick in this year's draft after spending the last three years at Syracuse University, and was subsequently loaned to Toronto FC II.

Toronto currently sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with three points through two matches this season.

Kickoff on Saturday at Red Bull Arena is set for 3:30 p.m., and the game will be streamed live onNewYorkRedBulls.com/live.