skip navigation

Road to the USL Cup Final – Meara the Man of the Hour

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/22/16, 9:51AM EDT

Share

Red Bulls II captain came up big to send New York past Louisville in a shootout

Ahead of the 2016 USL Cup Final, Presented by Nike, we’re taking a look at the road of the two finalists to their first visit to the championship game. Tune in this Sunday on ESPNU, the WatchESPN app, or SiriusXM FC 85 as the New York Red Bulls II host the Swope Park Rangers at 8 p.m. ET.

New York Red Bulls II vs. Louisville City FC
October 16, 2016 – Red Bull Arena

A week earlier, the New York Red Bulls II’s shooters had come to the fore as the side took victory against the Rochester Rhinos in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In the Eastern Conference Final of the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs, however, it was goalkeeper Ryan Meara’s turn to take center stage.

Meara’s saves to open and close the penalty shootout against Louisville City FC moved the Red Bulls II one win away from becoming only the third side to earn both the USL Regular Season Championship, and the USL Cup, as the hosts prevailed after a nail-biting contest between the top two teams in the conference.

It was the visitors that held the upper hand in the early going, though, as Louisville pressed strongly and took a deserved lead in the 11th minute. A chipped free kick into the penalty area by Aodhan Quinn was deftly flicked into the back of the net by rookie defender Paco Craig to give City the early lead.

Louisville continued to have the better of the game throughout the first half, but was unable to add to its lead before the break. That would end up being costly, as the Red Bulls II emerged with renewed vigor to start the second half, and began to press for an equalizer. Louisville was dealt a blow when goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh was forced from the game with an injury, but replacement Tim Dobrowlski was solid in his stead, finishing the game with three saves.

There was little Dowbrowlski could do about the Red Bulls II’s equalizer with 16 minutes to go, as New York’s French connection came through once again. A free kick by Vincent Bezecourt found the run of Florian Valot, and his header was well beyond the reach of Louisville’s goalkeeper to make it 1-1.

Clear chances were few and far between in the half-our of overtime, as Meara finished with only two saves in 120 minutes of action as the game went to a shootout. As Louisville took first, Meara came up with his biggest stop of the night to deny Cameron Lancaster with a diving save to his right.

The Red Bulls II’s shooters, on the other hand, remained impeccable. Four players stepped up, and four converted to give New York a 4-3 edge going to the fifth and final round. When Meara again went to his right, and turned Ben Newnam’s shot onto the crossbar, the hosts had held firm, and the celebration kicked off for a second consecutive weekend in the South Ward.

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos