Sunday saw Pablo Moreira and New England Revolution II return to Beirne Stadium as they welcomed reigning MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions Red Bull New York II to Bryant University.
Revolution II had been on an incredible run in the lead-up to Sunday’s contest as the club had gone undefeated in its last six outings with four wins, two draws, and a shootout victory.
Sunday saw Pablo Moreira make three changes from the club’s 1-0 win over FC Cincinnati 2 in their last outing. Max Weinstein made a second consecutive start in goal behind the backline of Jared Smith, Jake Shannon, Gabe Dahlin, and Damario McIntosh. Carlos Zambrano, Javaun Mussenden, and Allan Oyirwoth formed the midfield three behind the attacking trio of Makai Wells, Judah Siqueira, and Myles Morgan.
Head referee Jeremy Scheer went to the pocket early in this one as RBNY II midfielder Sekou Kone received a yellow card in the seventh minute after Kone’s foul from behind on Wells. Tempers flared in the 18th minute as a foul by RBNY II’s Nate Worth on Zambrano led the two to enter a brief shoving match before being quickly broken up. Dahlin nearly capitalized during the ensuing free kick as he got under Zambrano’s ball lobbed forward and attempted to head it goalward, but had his effort stopped by Austin Causey.
Morgan was inches away from putting New England Revolution II on the board in the 27th minute when he got under Zambrano’s corner kick from the left flank and headed the ball toward the left side of the net, which forced a fully-stretched Causey to bat the ball away from danger. After having the earlier attempt denied, Morgan eventually found the breakthrough in the 38th minute when he ran onto a forward pass from McIntosh and rushed toward goal. After flashing the footwork and freezing the defender in front of him, Morgan cut the ball to his left and curled the ball around the outstretched hand of Austin Causey and into the back of the net to notch his team-leading fifth goal of the campaign, and gave Revs II the 1-0 lead.
The first minute of stoppage time saw goalkeeper Austin Causey come way off his line, and it paid dividends for New England. It all started with Zambrano pinging a ball from midfield forward into the path of Morgan. Causey raced off his line while a Red Bull defender simultaneously stepped in to dispossess the ball from Morgan. Thankfully for New England, the ball fell right to an adjacent Javaun Mussenden, who lasered the shot from outside the box and into the net to give Revs II a 2-0 lead just before halftime.
Red Bull II halftime substitute Dennis Nelich found himself inside Jeremy Scheer’s book in the 47th minute after receiving a yellow card following his challenge from behind on McIntosh. Another yellow card came RBNY II’s way in the 55th minute as Aimar Sánchez received a yellow card after shoving an advancing Wells from behind. Morgan became the first Revs II player to enter the book as the goalscorer saw yellow in the 60th minute after colliding with Jason Bori after the Red Bull player sent the ball forward.
Some slight concern arose after, as Jared Smith went down to the pitch with a knock that forced the medical staff to come on and tend to the defender, and Jeremy Scheer sent both sides to the sidelines for a hydration break. Thankfully, after some on-field treatment, Smith was able to walk off to the side and re-enter the match.
But Red Bull II capitalized on the man advantage in the 64th minute as Aimar Sánchez got the ball at midfield and sent it forward to a darting Aimar Modelo. Modelo advanced the ball to the goalline before sending it centrally to Christian Gallagher, who flicked it past Weinstein and in to draw one back for the road side.
The 79th minute marked a special occasion as midfielder Joe Buck entered the match, replacing Zambrano. It marked the Arlington native’s first appearance since October 5, 2025.
Weinstein came up big in the 80th minute as he stretched wide to get his hands to Deven Cadigan's shot from outside the box and pushed it away from danger to maintain Revolution II’s lead,
Red Bull New York II nearly found the equalizer in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Christian Gallagher got on top of a ball sent forward and broke past the Revs II defense. Gallagher attempted to slot the ball home, but Weinstein came up big to execute a kick save to keep New England’s lead intact.
It was another strong outing for New England Revolution II sees the club extend its unbeaten run to seven matches as they walked away with the 2-1 victory. Sunday’s result sees Revolution II tie with Orlando City B for third place in the Eastern Conference with 28 points on a 7-2-4 record with three shootout victories.
The club will look to extend its unbeaten run to eight games next Sunday when they welcome Chicago Fire II to Beirne Stadium at 7:00 PM.
