Sunday saw Shavar Thomas and his CT United FC side return to action as they traveled to MSU Soccer Park in Montclair, New Jersey, to take on reigning MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions Red Bull New York II. A tough challenge for Thomas and CT, who looked to snap a six-game unbeaten run.
Thomas made two changes from the lineup that suffered a 2-0 loss to Toronto FC II in their last outing on May 16. Gunther Rankenburg got the start in goal behind the backline of Andre Applewhaite, Lukas Kamrath, Jahvar Stephenson, and Rickson van Hees. Red Bull New York II loanee Steven Sserwadda joined Dylan Lacey and Robbie Mora to comprise the midfield three. Fellow Red Bull New York II loanee Ibrahim Kasule joined Cauã Paixão and Barnabás Tanyi as the attacking trio.
Tanyi had a golden chance to get CT on the board in the 12th minute when Sseerwadda found himself with the ball at midfield and proceeded to boot the ball downfield as Tanyi ran onto the loose ball. After evading his defender, Tanyi found himself one-on-one with Aidan Stokes, but the keeper came up with a big save as the defense recovered the ball.
A near chance came Red Bull’s way in the 25th minute as a free kick opportunity led to New York lobbing a ball into the box as Rankenburg came off his line and punched it away. Unfortunately for Rankenburg and CT, the punch landed directly at the feet of Paul Sokoloff, who attempted to cheekily chip the ball goalward, but mishit it.
After a few missed opportunities earlier in the match, Tanyi finally found his breakthrough in the 30th minute when an interception in midfield again led to Sserwadda poking a ball forward into the path of Tanyi. With Stokes encroaching off his line, Tanyi took a touch around the keeper and found a clear path to goal as he lasered a shot into the net to give CT a well-earned 1-0 lead.
Lightning struck twice for Tanyi in the 43rd minute as a chipped ball from Robbie Mora found the advancing Hungarian. After taking a touch over a defender, Tanyi found himself driving up the left flank and turned to take Stokes one-on-one. Tanyi curled a shot around the advancing keeper and tucked it into the right post and in as he found his second goal of the half as CT United took a commanding 2-0 lead over a tough RBNY II side.
After numerous good chances of their own, Red Bull New York found a breakthrough of their own in the 52nd minute as a series of passes led to Dennis Nelich dishing the ball to Dennis Gjengaar on the right side of the box. Gjengaar got on the pass and lasered a shot past Rankernburg and in to cut the deficit in half.
Thomas’ first change of the evening came in the 62nd minute as Daniel D’Ippolito replaced Paixão.
Lacey nearly found the back of the net in the 69th minute after receiving a pass atop the right side of the box and flashing the footwork to curl the ball around his defender as he raced around the other side of the defender to get back onto the ball. Lacey attempted to rocket a shot to the bottom-right corner, but Aidan Stokes got his shin to the ball to execute a kick save.
Red Bull New York II nearly capitalized following Lacey’s attempt as they worked the ball to Sokoloff on the left side. Sokoloff attempted to find the left side of the net, but Rankenburg dove and got his hands to the ball, but couldn’t grasp a hold of it. Sokoloff attempted to get onto his rebounded shot, but Rankenburg quickly reacted and dove onto the loose ball.
The long ball nearly worked for CT United again in the 72nd minute as D’Ippolito received the ball at midfield and sprang it forward into the path of a darting Tanyi. Tanyi drove down the left flank and attempted to send the ball back to D’Ippolito, but Joyeux Bungi stuck out his foot in the nick of time to tap the attempted pass away to end CT’s dangerous chance.
Red Bull New York’s Connor Faello entered the book with a yellow card in the 73rd minute following his foul on Dylan Lacey. Jahvar Stephenson saw his name etched into the book as he received a yellow card in the 78th minute following his foul on Nate Worth.
CT’s final change of the evening came in the 87th minute as Laurie Goddard replaced Tanyi.
Momentum swung further CT’s way in the 89th minute as Aimar Modelo fouled Monis inside the box, which led to Connecticut earning a crucial penalty kick and the chance to ice the game.
Monis stepped to the spot with the chance to net his third goal of the season from the spot, and did so by sending Aidan Stokes the opposite way while rocketing a shot to the upper-right corner to give CT a 3-1 lead on the road.
After going winless in their past six matches, coming out with a performance like this was absolutely needed for CT, who secured a dominant 3-1 victory over the reigning MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions and second-placed Red Bull New York II.
CT will look to keep the momentum rolling when they return to action on May 30, as they travel down to Joe Davis Stadium to take on Huntsville City FC.
