After conceding last year’s U.S. Open Cup – fielding a weak team and not even deigning to show up for a blowout quarterfinal loss in Chicago – Red Bulls coach Hans Backe vowed this season would be different. He put his lineup where his mouth was, fielding a strong side that rolled to a 3-0 third-round win in Charleston.
“I think we did the job. We played decent. They had a couple of chances; overall it’s not easy to play these teams they came out flying but we controlled it and I’m pleased with the performance,’’ said Backe. “Going down against a team like this will give them life; scoring the first one was key.’’ After losing their only other two Open Cup trips to Charleston, the Red Bulls enjoyed a laugher behind rookie keeper Ryan Meara’s clean sheet and goals by Kenny Cooper, Heath Pearce, and Connor Lade. Considering they were missing Thierry Henry to injury and four other starters to international duty, it was about the best Starting XI they could field, and it showed as they steadily took control.
Cooper got the scoring started in the 14th minute, when he received a pass from midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy, controlled, turned and fired a shot into the bottom right corner of the net. The Battery’s defending was dire on the play, and after the Red Bulls weathered a few early attacks, they controlled play avoided the upsets that befell fellow MLS sides Los Angeles, Columbus, Chicago and New England.
“It’s good to come in and get a win in the (third) round,’’ said Cooper. “It’s always good when you can get off to a good start and get the lead. Fortunately we were able to follow it up with two more and keep a clean sheet, so it was good for us.’’
Four minutes before the break, the Red Bulls doubled their lead. Midfielder Dax McCarty sent in a ball far post that Pearce buried for his first Red Bulls goal.
Pearce started at left back tonight with left-footed Colombian Wilman Conde returning to his spot in central defense; and the back four was airtight. Rookie Connor Lade, who got the start at left wing, hit a curling banana ball in the 70th minute for the final margin.
The Red Bulls will now face comeback kings Harrisburg next Tuesday in the fourth round. After trailing New England 3-0, Harrisburg rallied to pull off an upset in penalties. And unlike last season, Backe is convinced his team can make a run at hoisting the Cup.
“I hope so now. we have 17 players plus the goalies. I don’t know if Thierry can be back for the next one; we’ll have to wait and see. But if we win that one, with the international dates gone, I think we have a chance.’’