The New York Red Bulls have addressed their need for left back depth, and worked a deal with a rival to do so.

Atlanta United announced the permanent signing of Gutman via transfer from the Scottish Premiership side on Tuesday. In addition, the Five Stripes have loaned Gutman to the Red Bulls for the 2021 MLS season.

The Five Stripes received a 2024 third-round draft pick from the Red Bulls in exchange for Gutman’s services on loan, and could also receive up to $50,000 in 2022 General Allocation Money.

Gutman, 24, signed with Celtic in January 2019, but was eventually loaned out to FC Cincinnati for the 2020 MLS season. He appeared in 29 combined appearances for Cincinnati during that time before returning to Celtic.

A former MAC Hermann Trophy winner, Gutman starred at the University of Indiana, leading the Hoosiers to consecutive College Cup appearances. He will now prepare to fight for minutes in Harrison, New Jersey this season.

Whitecaps acquire veteran defender Gaspar

The Vancouver Whitecaps added experience to its backline ahead of the start of 2021 preseason camp with the loan acquisition of Bruno Gaspar.

Gaspar joins on loan from Sporting Lisbon for the upcoming season and will occupy an international roster spot. The Whitecaps will also have the option to acquire Gaspar permanently at the end of his loan.

The 27-year-old can play as a right or left back, but has mainly played on the right side of the backline. Gaspar recently helped Olympiacos win the 2019-20 Super League and Greek Football Cup competitions while on loan from Sporting Lisbon.

In total, Gaspar has played in over 200 matches for club and country, featuring four times for Angola, his father’s home country. He will look to jump right into Marc Dos Santos’ starting lineup this April.

LAFC add CAL Jennings in trade

LAFC’s offensive attack continued to grow on Tuesday with Bob Bradley’s side signing forward Cal Jennings.

The Western Conference club added Jennings’ College Protected List rights in a trade with FC Dallas, in exchange for a natural third-round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. Jennings also signed with LAFC from USL club Indy Eleven after the trade was completed.

Jennings, who had recently signed a contract with Indy Eleven, spent the 2020 campaign with Memphis 901 FC. The 23-year-old appeared in 14 of the team’s 15 games in Group G, and finished first on the team with nine goals, on 17 shots on goal.

The 5-foot-11 forward was originally selected in the first round (17th overall) of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas following a standout collegiate career at the University of Central Florida. In four years at UCF, Jennings scored 46 goals in 64 games, including 18 goals as a senior in 2019.

He now joins an LAFC attack which features Carlos Vela, Brian Rodriguez, and others.

D.C. United secures venezuelan forward on loan

The transfer saga involving Alejandro ‘Kaku’ Romero Gamarra just moved one step closer to a resolution, and it did so in favor of both the New York Red Bulls and Major League Soccer.

The Red Bulls announced on Saturday afternoon that an arbitrator has ruled that Kaku still has an existing contract with MLS, though the team did not specify which arbitrator made that determination. The development means the attacking midfielder may have to return to the league or that Saudi Arabian club Al-Taawoun has to pay a transfer fee to keep him on its books. He can also try and appeal the decision.

Kaku left the Red Bulls to join Al-Taawoun this past winter under messy circumstances, citing that he was a free agent since he was not given proper notification of the Red Bulls picking up his player option for 2021. The MLS side argued that it had, something that the recent ruling has backed.

“We are pleased with the arbitrator’s finding that MLS’s unilateral option was effectively exercised by New York Red Bulls Sporting Director, Denis Hamlett, and that a valid contract exists between Kaku and Major League Soccer through December 31, 2021,” said the Red Bulls in a written statement. “With this decision, we now look forward to seeking further resolution, and will provide updates when appropriate during that process.”

The 26-year-old Kaku has been a lineup regular since joining Al-Taawoun in February. He has made six starts in as many appearances, scoring three goals. Kaku also delivered an assist in his debut.

The Paraguayan international signed with the Red Bulls in 2018, but his three-year stay with the team has been a bit tumultuous. He and his agent publicly tried to force a move to Liga MX outfit Club America in 2019 and later that year he was suspended by MLS for a few games after kicking a ball into the stands and hitting a fan in the face.

In MLS, Kaku has made 63 league starts in 72 appearances. He has scored 13 times in those matches while dishing out 17 assists. He finished the 2020 campaign with two goals and three assists in 16 games played.

It may have had to wait until Decision Day but the New York Red Bulls kept its postseason streak alive for yet another year.

The Red Bulls capped off a tenacious final third of the MLS regular season with a 1-1 draw with Nashville SC on Sunday, earning the team a playoff berth for the 12th consecutive year.

A goal courtesy of Fabio less than a minute into the game helped the visitor’s chance of earning the result they needed before Hany Mukhtar heightened tensions with a free-kick equalizer just prior to halftime. Nashville’s numerous chances late in the second half and DC United’s win in Toronto threatened New York’s postseason hopes, but Gerhard Struber’s side held on to clinch the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference.

“I think we just invested everything we possibly had into this final stretch,” Red Bulls captain Sean Davis said postgame. “We took all the lessons that we had from half, two-thirds of the season and we just went for it, and we got result after result. We did not look back, we reset every time and you know, credit to the staff for their belief for staying on top of us, for creating the necessary dialogue for us to understand what we needed to do, what we were good at, our strengths and weaknesses and then instilling that belief into the rest of the group.”

The Red Bulls were 11th in the Eastern Conference in mid-September before starting a 12-game run and contributing to the crowded race in the middle of the table. Head Coach Gerhard Struber identified the team’s 4-0 win over Inter Miami as a much-needed turning point after winning just twice in the three-month summer stretch prior.

This was an ugly learning curve for New York but Struber says this time helped his team work on synchronized pressing and connecting a heavily rotated roster.

“You have some hits in the heads, especially in the summertime,” Struber said. “After that, I think we are more stable, we realize more of what’s going on deep in our identity. I think you can make a call in two o’clock in the morning and every single player understands what we want.”

Though they continued to score at a similar rate, the Red Bulls began earning results as they improved defensively. Conceding just five goals in 12 games helped the Red Bulls climb the Eastern Conference with wins over the likes of New York City FC, CF Montreal, and Columbus Crew.

“I think the bad times were very helpful for our deep process,” the 44 year-old said. “This was not an explosion, the team didn’t go in different directions. In our situation teams stay together very close in difficult times. I think this makes the team spirit, that togetherness extremely close and I think X factor in our team is on a very high level.”

With a playoff spot secured, the game-by-game, result-driven mentality that got the Red Bulls out of a midseason rut could prove beneficial in its upcoming push for MLS Cup.

New York Red Bulls right back Kyle Duncan has been on the radar of several European clubs throughout the year and is now reportedly set to make his move official.

Belgian Pro League side Oostende is “on track” to make Duncan its first official acquisition later this year, Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad reported on Tuesday. Oostende has a three-year contract waiting for Duncan to sign at the conclusion of the current MLS campaign, according to the report.

The 24-year-old’s contract with the Red Bulls will expire at the end of the year, meaning he can sign anywhere he wants on a free transfer in January. French Ligue 1 sides Metz and Montpellier have previously shown interest in the young defender, but Oostende looks to have won the race for his services.

The New York native originally came through the Red Bulls academy, but instead signed a deal with French club Valenciennes in 2015. Duncan only made three appearances for the club’s second team, but never debuted for the first team in Ligue 2.

Duncan rejoined the Red Bulls in 2018, where he has remained since, totaling 76 appearances, scoring five goals, and registering eight assists. He also debuted for the U.S. men’s national team in December of 2020.

Oostende sits in 12th place in the Pro League through 14 matches played, seven points clear of the relegation zone. Should Duncan make his move permanent this winter, he would join Mark McKenzie, Sam Vines, Chris Durkin, and Owen Otasowie among the American players to move to Belgium in recent years.

Having stagnated in the last two seasons, the New York Red Bulls are heading into 2021 with a new head coach, several fresh faces, and a realistic set of expectations.

Gerhard Struber, 44, took charge ahead of the team’s 3-2 loss to eventual MLS Cup Champions Columbus Crew in last year’s MLS Cup Playoffs. Though the Austrian hasn’t been stateside for very long, he has made some steps in applying his philosophy to the club.

“I’ve been with a certain staff for pretty much my entire career here so to have Gerhard’s perspective is great for me and great for my development.” captain and midfielder Sean Davis told SBI. “We’ve been exposed to new ideas, different perspectives on how to play the game with the ball, against the ball, and so I think that it’s been a challenge that the guys have been embracing”

Although the Red Bulls held onto veteran players like Davis, Aaron Long, and Ryan Meara, the offseason was largely a rotating door. From losing Kaku against their will to sending Tim Parker to the Houston Dynamo, several starting spots are now up for grabs.

Carlos Coronel, who joined on loan from RB Salzburg in February, is set to challenge for the number one spot in goal. The Brazilian’s arrival adds a third quality option between the sticks, likely reducing time for David Jensen and Ryan Meara, who shared the role last year.

Fullbacks Tom Edwards and Andrew Gutman also joined the team on one-season loan deals. Edwards, a right-sided defender, has played with Stoke City in both the Premier League and the EFL Championship while Gutman joins following a two-year loan stint with FC Cincinnati.

In what will assumably be a diamond-shaped midfield, 17 year-old Caden Clark will be leading the way in his first full season in Major League Soccer. Options behind Clark in a more central role include Sean Davis, Cristian Cásseres Jr, Dru Yearwood as well as offseason loan addition Youba Diarra.

One potential late arrival is Frankie Amaya, who is reportedly being traded to the Red Bulls for allocation money. Amaya’s arrival would certainly have an impact on the central midfield, and give Struber more options.

Averaging their lowest goals per game since 2009, the Red Bulls needed outside help to get things going offensively. At 6’4″, Brazilian forward Fábio gives the team a unique option up top while U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team winger Cameron Harper will begin getting regular minutes at the professional level after his move from Celtic.

Here is a closer look at the 2021 New York Red Bulls:

2021 New York Red Bulls Season Preview

2020 Finish: 6th in Eastern Conference (9-9-5, 32 points, lost in Eastern Conference first round.)

Key Additions: Fábio, Cameron Harper, Andrés Reyes, Youba Diarra, Andrew Gutman

Key Losses: Kaku, Tim Parker, Marc Rzatkowski, Jared Stroud

Newcomer to Watch: Andres Reyes

After a season with Inter Miami where he often showed signs of his considerable promise, the Colombian centerback has made his stateside move permanent. Now in New York, Reyes will likely jump straight into a starting role, attempting to fill the shoes of the departed Tim Parker.

“He has the ability now and when we grow him he is absolutely a player for us, our philosophy and for our identity,” Struber said of the 21 year-old. “He’s exactly that player, what I want in this position.”

Pressure is On: Aaron Long

Entering his sixth season as a Red Bull, Aaron Long has his work cut out for him in 2021. With the possibility of three new teammates around him, the USMNT defender will be the leading voice in a youthful backline.

Outlook

With so many unknowns surrounding this New York Red Bulls squad, it’s hard to expect success right out of the gate.

“It’s very important that we have a long-term goal and this is clear that with our standards, we will play about trophies in the next time,” Head Coach  Struber said. “But I think first of all it’s very important that we bring my game, my idea in the team.”

Struber’s start to life in New York continues to be been stunted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Positive cases in other teams have canceled three scheduled preseason friendlies, leaving the Austrian little opportunity to see his side tested outside of intra-squad matches.

The pandemic also changed how Head of Sport Kevin Thelwell approached transfer activity this winter.

“Getting to know them a little bit better, especially at a time where we can’t go out and meet them directly and we can’t scout them directly have enough flexibility that allows us to almost, try before you buy,” Thelwell said of his five loan signings. “We are of course, very confident that these players are going to be capable of doing exactly what we want them to do. But of course, sometimes they don’t get quite settled and it doesn’t quite work out.”

Out of the many moves the Red Bulls made this offseason, none grabbed more attention than the departure of Kaku. The 26 year-old midfielder joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Taawoun in February despite having his 2021 option exercised by the club. Though there hasn’t been a resolution for the issue yet, an arbitrator determined earlier this month that Kaku still holds an existing MLS contract, likely forcing a transfer fee the Red Bulls way.

Despite a rocky start to 2020, the Red Bulls qualified for the playoffs for the 11th consecutive year. Though the task will be more difficult than years past, postseason soccer has become a staple for fans and should continue to be a target with Struber in charge.

“Every year you have to give absolutely everything to put yourself in a position to win,” Davis said. “That starts with taking it a game at a time but eventually with the right habits, the right mentality, you can do something special in this league.”

“I came into the league in 2015 and we won Supporter’s Shield right away,” Davis added. “Fortunately we were able to win it again but you know you slowly learn that that’s not the norm.”

With a fourth shield unlikely in the immediate future, the Red Bulls will take this year as a chance to begin their return to the top.

“Of course we want the season to be as strong as it possibly can be and we want to be successful,” Thelwell said. “But having said that, we’re right at the very start of that journey.”

New York Red Bulls Roster

Goalkeepers: Carlos Coronel, David Jensen, Luca Lewis, Ryan Meara

Defenders: Kyle Duncan, Tom Edwards, Mandela Egbo, Andrew Gutman, Aaron Long, Sean Nealis, Jason Pendant, Andrés Reyes, Amro Tarek, John Tolkin

Midfielders: Wikelman Carmona, Cristian Cásseres Jr., Caden Clark, Sean Davis, Youba Diarra, Bento Estrela, Omir Fernandez, Cameron Harper, Daniel Royer, Florian Valot, Dru Yearwood

Forwards: Tom Barlow, Fábio, Brian White

Andres Reyes drew interest from a European club this offseason, and he makes no secret about his desire to try and make the move across the pond in the relatively near future.

He knows that to maximize his chances of doing that he must improve and impress with his new team — one that may just be a perfect fit for his blossoming skill set.

Reyes has returned to MLS for a second season, but has changed teams since last playing in 2020. The promising young centerback is no longer a loaned player at Inter Miami, and is instead one of the New York Red Bulls’ key offseason signings. He joined the Red Bulls on a full transfer from Atletico Nacional back in January, ending a stretch of uncertainty regarding his future.

“There was a moment where I did not know what was happening,” Reyes told SBI in Spanish. “I did not know whether I would continue in MLS or find an opportunity elsewhere. I was spoken to about that chance abroad and I thought it was going to happen. My agent told me about it, but in the end he told me about coming to the Red Bulls and I opted more for that so here I am.”

The chance abroad that Reyes is referring to is one from an unknown club in Belgium. Sources tell SBI that Inter Miami wanted to bring Reyes back, but the looming European interest led Atletico Nacional to make a return difficult. Following the 2020 MLS season, with Inter Miami not having completed a transfer for Reyes, the door was left open for other MLS teams to make a move for him and the Red Bulls took advantage, completing a transfer for the young Colombian.

The 21-year-old defender steps into a Red Bulls defense in place of Tim Parker, who was traded to the Houston Dynamo. Reyes boasts the type of size at 6-foot-1 that can help combat the bigger forwards in the league, the strength to hold them off, and the speed that should be effective in closing down spaces while playing in the Red Bulls’ high defensive line.

He also has solid technical skills and a notable range of passing, attributes that might not be as important on a team like Red Bulls but that are certainly a plus nonetheless.

“He has got all of the weapons to be able to fit into what (head coach Gehrard Struber) and the team want to do,” said Red Bulls head of sport Kevin Thelwell recently. “He is obviously very capable of that. We had very, very good reports on him, not only in terms of his attitude and his mentality around games but also in terms of training.”

“He is a player with very high potential,” added Thelwell. “Everybody can see that. He is a very talented young player.”

"My teammates' welcoming has been great, and when it comes to the work with the team, I’ve settled little by little."

➤ Andrés Reyes#RBNY pic.twitter.com/fZibQUdNdD

— Boo York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) March 23, 2021

Therein lies one of the chief issues with Reyes, though. For as much potential as he has, he is still cutting his teeth as a professional. He has only 35 first-team appearances across all competitions in his career, and as such has shown a propensity for tuning off or making costly mistakes.

Inter Miami witnessed that first hand last year, but it still did not stop the South Florida side from initially saying publicly that it wanted to bring Reyes back in 2021. The arrival of new coach Phil Neville in the winter changed that since he wanted more experience in the defense, but the Red Bulls are known for their work with youngsters and developing them into solid pros.

“I think Andres is a player that has the ability now and when we grow him then he absolutely is a player for us, for our philosophy, and for our identity,” said Struber. “I think that is the most important thing, that when we buy a player then we have the feeling and the fantasy that the player can play in our identity and also the player has the right hunger for the next step in his career.

“I think with Andres we have exactly that player that I want in this position. I think we can make with him a very, very good development in the next time.”

Reyes is admittedly still transitioning to a different style of life in the New York area, along with learning a new way of playing. Both are challenging, one because of the cold and the other because of the physical demands.

Still, adapting to everything now may prove easier to do than in a 2020 campaign that was more challenging than Reyes could have ever envisioned.

“Last year was extremely difficult, especially for me,” said Reyes. “Being alone in Miami during those first few months hit me hard, especially with having to be locked inside during the quarantine. I had the virus, had injuries, but that is part of the past.

“This year I come in with a different mentality, and am looking to work, move ahead, and achieve the principal objective of the team, which is to win the league. That is what I am hoping will happen for me this year.”

Of course, to achieve that he will first need to forge a partnership with fellow centerback Aaron Long. As of a week ago, they had not trained together yet due in part to Reyes’ late arrival to preseason because of visa issues, and Long’s ensuing call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team.

If they can form a strong tandem and help the revamped Red Bulls raise their level considerably in 2021 then Reyes could see his stock soar given his age and skill set. He has desired a move to Europe for as long as he can remember, and with all the young talent on the Red Bulls roster, the European scouts are sure to be watching, which will give Reyes the opportunity to impress and potentially earn his long-awaited move across the Atlantic.

“With this league and the growth it has had, I think I can achieve that,” Reyes told SBI. “I think it is one of the leagues that is most followed in terms of scouting, and I expect with the progress and performance I show this year that I can make the move if a good offer comes.

“If not, I will continue to work until the opportunity comes to go to Europe and I have to maintain my level because not everyone goes there and stays there.”

Caden Clark is continuing to become a regular threat for the New York Red Bulls in front of goal and the young midfielder added to his strong start in MLS with his latest finish in Saturday’s 2-0 win against the Chicago Fire.

Clark scored his second goal of the 2021 season, helping the Red Bulls hand head coach Gerhard Struber his first MLS coaching victory. The energetic midfielder continued to start in an attacking role in the Red Bulls 4-2-3-1 formation and delivered another highlight-reel goal.

“I was on the tip of the diamond and I think it’s just my job to get into the box and be an option,” Clark said post match. “I am fortunate enough that the play eventually fell to me again and was happy to get the first win. I think we deserved one in our opening two matches and everyone is happy to build off of this into next week.”

The Red Bulls held a lot of the possession in the opening half on the left side of the field, trying to break down the Fire’s backline and take advantage before the halftime whistle. Although the Red Bulls were outshot 3-to-1 in shots on goal, new signing Fabio rattled the post and gave the Fire a warning shot for what was to come.

Cristian Casseres broke the deadlock one minute into the second half before Clark added the insurance tally in the 64th minute. The 17-year-old raced into the penalty area and volleyed home a loose ball for his second goal of the 2021 season, and fourth goal in his 10th career MLS appearance.

THE KID IS GOOD! @iamcadenclark puts away his second of the season! #RBNYvCHI pic.twitter.com/AygM5K6F1N

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 1, 2021

“We hit the post in the opening half and I thought we were playing very nice,” Clark said. “We just made the most of our chances and it showed in the win.”

“Us as players we have to realize where the open spaces are at, where we can get crosses into the box, and make opportunities. First half we did more on the left side of the field and after halftime we had more of the ball on the right side. Coach Struber told us at halftime that the weak side chances would open up and eventually they did.”

Clark showed off his all-around game on Saturday, registering three tackles while also connecting with fellow youngsters Fabio and Frankie Amaya in attack.

Now with three points on the board for the first time in 2021, Clark and his Red Bulls teammates will prepare for two more tough home matches coming up in the next two weeks. First, former head coach Chris Armas leads Toronto FC to Red Bull Arena on Saturday before rivals Philadelphia Union visits on May 15.

After suffering losses in his first three matches, Gerhard Struber earned his first victory as head coach of the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

The New York Red Bulls earned a much needed win on Saturday afternoon, topping the Chicago Fire on the back of goals from Cristian Cásseres Jr and Caden Clark. Struber, 47, sees the result as a commencement to the process he’s building with his team.

“The first win gives everyone a very big belief in our way, and especially the performance shows one more time that we are on the right way,” Struber said postgame. “I can see today in our principles; against the ball we make a big step today, our counter-pressing was amazing. Such a brilliant attitude and quick, immediate actions.”

“This is the first step, not more, it’s only three points and we have many to-dos.”

Sticking to the Diamond

Struber learned his lesson from the second week loss to the LA Galaxy, dropping the 3-5-2 formation for the familiar 4-2-2-2 setup. His side looked much more comfortable across the field.

Neither Aaron Long or Sean Nealis were caught out of possession, the latter being active along the left side to clean up when Andrew Gutman found himself up the field. Nealis was quick to react to Chicago’s counterattacks and helped keep Robert Berić off the scoresheet.

Frankie Amaya’s full debut at the No. 10 went well but ended after 55 minutes. Caden Clark moved up the field to that position and scored when Amaya was replaced, giving Struber options at the tip of the diamond when  both are fully fit.

Sean Davis, who looks to be enjoying his role under Struber, was at the bottom of the midfield diamond, making four tackles in a busy 90 minutes.

Though the team was successful on Saturday afternoon, Struber hasn’t ruled out trying new shapes in the future.

“It’s important that we have a good flexibility and variability in our systems,” Struber said. “It’s also a bigger learning curve in the end for boys to play in more shapes that we are uncalculated for the opponents  in every single game.”

Big strikers put to use

With no production from his strikers in the opening three games, Struber opted to replace Brian White with Tom Barlow in the starting lineup. This gave fullbacks a tall target paired alongside the powerful Fábio.

Barlow was a favored option of left back Andrew Gutman, who wasn’t shy to send in a long ball. The 25 year-old forward didn’t always handle the ball cleanly but he set up a clear chance in the first half for Fábio, who saw the opportunity for his first MLS goal rattle off the post.

.@Casseres23 with the opening goal & @NewYorkRedBulls lead! #RBNYvCHI pic.twitter.com/u2W5sLWzOZ

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 1, 2021

Though the Brazilian struggled to find the back of the net himself, he began to show his ability in the second half. Fábio challenged and eventually gained possession off a poor touch but had more work to do to get rid of Johan Kappelhof.

After a first touch that sent him wide, a quick turn gave Fábio an advantage on the defender. The eventual cutback was just as effective, buying the forward time to pick out Cristian Cásseres Jr with a perfectly weighted pass.

THE KID IS GOOD! @iamcadenclark puts away his second of the season! #RBNYvCHI pic.twitter.com/AygM5K6F1N

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 1, 2021

The 23 year-old forward became a more frequent aerial option as Kyle Duncan and the right side of the field got engaged in the second half. Fábio found space and used his head to grab his second assist, laying off a ball for Clark to volley home.

Red Bulls Player Ratings

Carlos Coronel (6.5) – Wasn’t tested much but made four relatively routine saves.

Kyle Duncan (7) – Was like a new player after looking just a step behind in the first 45. Was aggressive and started completing his crosses as the game went on.

Sean Nealis (6.5) – Had shaky moments when on the ball but was there when called upon to keep the clean sheet.

Aaron Long (7) – Was a lot more comfortable in a four-man backline and did a great job covering behind Gutman

Andrew Gutman (7) – Very active along the left side, was at times the most offensive-minded player in the first half.

Sean Davis (7) – Held the middle of the park down with several good tackles, was full of energy through the entire 90 minutes.

Cristian Cásseres Jr (7) – Scored with a great run and even better finish. Struggled when asked to work alone on the right wing and making forward passes.

Caden Clark (7) – Found his stride when he moved to the No. 10 position in the second half. Scored by being smart in the penalty area and connecting yet again with a volley.

Frankie Amaya (6.5) – Was clear that he fits in this Red Bulls team but will take time to fully connect with his new teammates on the field.

Fábio (8) – After struggling with his finishing touch, Fábio developed a presence in the second half by picking up a pair of assists.

Tom Barlow (5.5) – Should have scored with a clear-cut chance in the first half, was replaced shortly into the second half by Royer.

Daniel Royer (5.5) – Brought an energy to the team after subbing on but was mostly ineffective with possession.

Dru Yearwood (6) – Was full of energy in his first appearance of the season. Had great ideas for passes in mind but saw some of his attempts fall short short of their target.

Brian White (5.5) – Had an unexciting 22 minutes off the bench.

Omir Fernandez (N/A) – Got a decent shot off from outside the penalty area but saw just ten minutes in his substitute appearance.

Gerhard Struber (8) – Earned a much needed three points with what seems to be his preferred eleven. His team looked more under control and comfortable after a lackluster first half.

HARRISON, New Jersey — Frankie Amaya hasn’t needed much time to get acclimated to his new surroundings with the New York Red Bulls and the young midfielder showed on Saturday why the Red Bulls made the blockbuster trade to add him to their already-impressive collection of young talent.

Amaya’s first-half goal proved to be the winning margin in the Red Bulls 2-0 win over Toronto FC on Saturday. It was a confident finish from Amaya, who was able to celebrate his first goal for his new club since arriving in a trade with FC Cincinnati.

Not only did Amaya play the hero in front of the Red Bulls faithful, he showed another positive glimpse of why the club brought him to New Jersey.

“Frankie is very important for the whole team,” Struber said post match. “He has different skills to others. He is good in the No. 10 and No. 8. He is very good in tight spaces.”

“Opponents will find it hard playing against him. He makes us better in the final third,” Struber said. “You saw that today. Physically he did well too and now its about getting him up to playing 90 minutes every week. We will need him.”

Amaya continued to partner with Caden Clark, Cristian Casseres, and Sean Davis in the Red Bulls midfield, forming a new partnership among Struber’s squad. After being put on the back foot by Toronto in the opening 25+ minutes, Amaya was able to get free to score his second-career MLS goal.

Caden Clark won possession on the left wing before passing to striker Fabio at the top of TFC’s box. A layoff to Amaya was the best option, allowing the onrushing midfielder to hit a low, powerful drive into the bottom-left corner. It was Amaya’s only shot on goal, but the third-year player made it count when the Red Bulls needed it.

WE ARE BULLS #RBNY pic.twitter.com/4njnbFcnBV

— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) May 8, 2021

“Caden won the ball and dribbled up field,” Amaya said. “It was my time to get upfield and Fabio laid it off to me after I called for it. I just aimed for the corner and thankfully it went in.”

“I’m really glad we got him here in New York because he is a good player,” Clark said of Amaya. “We’re trying to make the team better and I think he is an easy player to connect with. We’re working hard and I think our connection will only get better with time.”

Amaya only played 65 minutes for the Red Bulls, but was able to watch from the sidelines as Clark scored his third goal of the season to ice the Red Bulls victory. After coming from a struggling FC Cincinnati side, Amaya has made a smooth transition into the style of play that Struber wants from his players.

The 20-year-old drew three fouls, completed one tackle, and one dribble to go along with goal, showing the versatility that made him the No. 1 selection in the 2019 MLS Draft. Amaya has jumped right into the starting lineup with the Red Bulls and is excited to continue gelling with his teammates, who have picked up back-to-back clean sheet victories in the process.

“I think I have the ability to switch my speed especially when pressing,” Amaya said about his playing style. “I think it works well because everyone is on the same page. I think we have a good group of guys that work hard. Its only our second game together but we’ve been making a good bond so far. I think there will be more to come.”

“I fit Gerhard’s system very well and I think everyone is working well together so far. It’s very good that we are getting wins and progressing forward. Aaron Long is very good and very experienced, a lot of the young guys have helped me too.”

After suffering back-to-back defeats to start the season, things are looking up for the Red Bulls who now have six points out of a possible 12. Amaya and Clark have formed a growing partnership in midfield while defensively the team is working hard to keep opponents at bay.

Up next for the Red Bulls is a home showdown with rivals Philadelphia Union on May 15th, the latest opportunity for Amaya to continue working towards his new goals with the club.

“We have one goal as a team and it’s making it very easy to play with a team like that, who wants to work hard and fight for the goal at hand,” Amaya said. “I am very happy to be a Red Bull and am excited to keep working forward.”

Aaron Long jumped in the air in the final seconds of the New York Red Bulls 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union on what looked like a harmless challenge, but his reaction after he landed and attempted to plant his right foot bore all the signs of a serious injury.

The U.S. Men’s National Team centerback immediately went down immediately and grabbed for his right leg in the 94th minute of Saturday’s match, eventually needing his teammates to carry him off the field. Long’s reaction and inability to put any weight on his right leg suggests he could have suffered an Achilles injury.

Here is a look at the play Aaron Long was injured on. The way he reacted when he tried to push off his right foot, and the aftermath, has the tell-tale signs of an Achilles injury. Really hoping it’s not. pic.twitter.com/J5iNw5CKDb

— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) May 16, 2021

There has been no official word from the Red Bulls on the extent of Long’s injury, but he was carried to the locker room by a trainer and teammate, unable to put any weight on his right leg.

A serious Achilles injury would be a devastating blow for the 28-year-old defender, who was slated to be a starter for the USMNT in the upcoming Concacaf Nations League. If Long is seriously injured, then Gregg Berhalter will have to consider options ranging from Matt Miazga to Chris Richards and Miles Robinson for the right centerback spot next to John Brooks.

Long had enjoyed a strong start to the 2021 season, serving as a key veteran presence on a young Red Bulls side. If 2018 MLS Defender of the Year is forced to miss an extended period of time it will be a brutal blow for a Red Bulls side that will struggle to replace his quality in central defense.