Preview: Bethlehem Steel FC vs New York Red Bull II

Match: Bethlehem Steel FC vs New York Red Bull II

Date: September 4th

Time: 3:00pm EST

Venue: Goodman Stadium

Referees: REF: Henrik Karlsson AR1: Mark Treilman AR2: Patrick Casey 4TH: Kevin Lock

Stream:

All time record: 0-2-0

After a 2-2 draw against a Star Wars clad Harrisburg side, Steel FC return home to face a rampant Red Bulls side. The playoffs are more of a concept than a reality at this point for Steel FC but regardless, a win would do a lot more to help than a loss this weekend.

What Red Bull II will look like:
Dangerous. This is a young club, with a different approach to the “2” teams than we’ve seen all year in Philly/Lehigh Valley. The Baby Bulls’ oldest player is Ryan Meara, who, while being a veteran of MLS is only 25. Truth be told I’m actually a fan admirer from a strictly soccer standpoint of some of the young RBII forwards. Brandon Allen is a guy who’s already proven himself at the MLS level, and Junior Flemmings is someone I would take on my North American Soccer Team (patent pending) in a heartbeat. Red Bull can pretty much wrap up the Eastern Conference with a win here, but it they aren’t careful, the counter attack they like to play might never come to fruition.

What Steel FC will look like:
Here’s what I know: Taylor Washington, Eric Ayuk, Anderson, Cole Missimo and Derrick Jones are all joining Bethlehem from the Union. Maurice Edu will be joining the Steel to get in some live action before heading back to the Philadelphia Union, and it will be interesting to see how much rust has accumulated over the past year. Anderson will get eviscerated if the Red Bull attack executes their game plan tomorrow. Honestly, Steel FC should go with an offside trap and try to lure the speedsters Derrick Etienne and Junior Flemmings into not even being able to get on goal. I think Anderson does actually have some decent spatial awareness, and he’ll have to back me up on that on Sunday afternoon. Offensively, without Cory Burke and Seku Conneh, we might have a problem. Look for Eric Ayuk and Cole Missimo to carry a good bit of the weight with Amoy Brown being the target man for outlet passes and the bevy of crosses Steel FC like to play.

Also: Austin Fido did a pretty good job covering the Baby Bulls’ perspective of the match for Once a Metro.

Predictions are dumb and I’ve never been right once this year. Steel FC are firmly backed up against a wall however, so I think they catch the calves sleeping and win by a final of 3-2.