New York Red Bulls Win Big on Pride Night; VAR Gives Kaka Red (Highlights)
HARRISON, NJ - AUGUST 12: Cyle Larin #9 of Orlando City SC and Alex Muyl #19 of New York Red Bulls fall down trying to get control of the ball during the MLS match between New York Red Bulls and Orlando City SC at the Red Bull Arena on August 12, 2017 in Harrison, NJ. The New York Red Bulls won the match with a score of 3 to 1. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)

Saturday, the New York Red Bulls defeated Orlando City in a stunning 3-1 comeback win.

It was a packed house at Red Bull Arena for Pride Night against Orlando City. A reported 25,219 people witnessed an eventful game won by RBNY 3-1. Dom Dwyer was missing from the Orlando line up due to a recovering nose operation. Lone Orlando goal was scored by Carlos Rivas and RBNY goals were scored by Bradley Wright-Phillips, Sean Davis, and an own goal by Carlos Rivas.

RBNY saw themselves down early when Carlos Rivas blasted a shot from inside the 18-yard box passed Luis Robles. Redemption from an earlier one-on-one miss, Rivas made sure he did not miss twice. The assist was awarded to Kaka.

As RBNY struggle to shoot on target, Leo Pereira, in the 30th-minute, aided the New York side. Tyler Adams played a convincing cross ball from the right side near the goal-line. Both RBNY attackers and Orlando defensemen rushed toward Bendik’s goal. Luckily for RBNY, Orlando City’s Leo Pereira failed to stop the cross and instead directed the ball into the back of his own team’s net. This made the game 1-1.

After halftime, RBNY turned up the shooting and scoring opportunities. BWP scored his 14th goal of the season. He is now third in the league in goals scored this season.

In the 60th minute, BWP rushed the Orlando goal and found a ground-cross from Alex Muyl. He simply slid and slipped the ball into the back of the net for his 83rd career goal with RBNY.

Sean Davis sealed the three points for RBNY late in the 80th minute, scoring from outside the 18. In the rush of play, he traveled inward from the left-hand corner of the 18, turned the defender and blasted a curl-ball around Orlando’s Bendik. This goal was assisted by Kemar Lawrence.

At the end of the game, a scuffle broke out that resulted in Kaka getting a Red Card. The newly returning Aurelien Collin received what seemed to be a friendly hand to the face gesture by Kaka. Former teammates Kaka and Collin appealed to the referee. It was ultimately ruled that the hands to the face action, regardless of intention, warranted a red card.

A slow start against a desperate opponent turned into a big win for RBNY.

Final Stats

Score: RBNY 3 – Orlando 1
Shots: RBNY 11 – Orlando 7
Shots on Goal: RBNY 4 – Orlando 3
Possession: RBNY 55.2% – Orlando 44.8%

Chris Sudol is a former college soccer player who now avidly supports the New York Red Bulls, Arsenal, and Barcelona, among many other soccer teams.