The games in 100 words (or less): Aside from the opening 10 minutes, New York Red Bulls dominated up and down the field, peppering Joe Bednik and easing to a 2-0 win on the road. Connor Lade became the unlikeliest of scorers, and Felipe finished it off smoothly with a free-kick. Once they took the lead, the visitors defended well under pressure. RBNY moved into third in the East with the win, ending a skid, their first win in nearly a month.
Three moments that mattered
32′ – What…just…happened? A lofted ball across the box came to Mike Grella, who ripped a first-time volley. The ball slammed into a diving Seb Hines, and the referee pointed to the spot for a handball. Hines’ went full-stretch into the block, and it appeared the ball hit his outstretched arms. However, after conferring with the assistants, the referee changed his decision, giving a corner kick and leaving New York players and coaches flabbergasted. It appears the officials decided the ball came off Hines’ face instead of his arms, something which replays confirmed.
37′ – Five minutes after the controversy, the Red Bulls took their lead with authority. A Red Bulls corner popped out to the top of the box, and Connor Lade charged it down overtop the sliding challenge of Cristian Higuita, ripping the ball into the upper corner for a 1-0 lead and Lade’s first MLS goal.
59′ – RBNY put the game away with a beautiful set-piece. Brek Shea brought down Felipe right outside the box, and set the visitors up. With Felipe behind the free-kick and Dax McCarty standing in front to shield it, the former curled it through the wall and into the back of the net.
75′ – The visitors needed one big save from Luis Robles to seal the victory. Cyle Larin came off the bench with Orlando City down two, and he almost brought the home side back in it. With a perfect feed from Kevin Molino, Larin was free, but he took a bit too long to pull the trigger, and Robles closed him down enough to save the eventual shot.
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Man of the match: Felipe Martins
Goalscorers: Connor Lade (37′), Felipe (59′)
