RICHMOND, Va. – A first-half goal by Brandon Allen was the difference as the New York Red Bulls II earned a 1-0 victory against the Richmond Kickers on Saturday night in front of 6,267 fans at City Stadium. The Kickers (2-6-4, 10pts) opened the game well, and Alhaji Kamara almost gave the side the lead with a close-range header that went high off a cross by Alex Lee in the 22nd minute. Yudai Imura then hit the crossbar with a free kick 10 minutes before halftime for the Kickers, but as he half went on the Red Bulls II (5-5-2, 17pts) came into the game more. A great move down the left set up the opening goal for the visitors as Derrick Etienne Jr. found Vincent Bezecourt on an overlap down the flank, and the French midfielder’s near-post cross was put home by Allen. The Kickers tried to hit back eight minutes into the second half as Fred Owusu Sekyere was denied by Red Bulls II goalkeeper Rafael Diaz, and Diaz came up again big to deny Imura as the Kickers’ midfielder curled a shot on goal from 20 yards moments later. New York’s Junior Flemmings almost doubled the lead with 11 minutes to go, caroming a header off the crossbar off Etienne’s cross, but despite a late flurry of pressure from the Kickers it proved academic as Allen’s goal stood as the winner.

Scoring: 
38’ – NY – Brandon Allen (Vincent Bezecourt)

• #RICvNY: Full Match and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Having gone through some struggles in the past month, the Red Bulls II looked closer to the side that earned the USL Cup last season over the past two games, but they needed a big performance by Rafael Diaz to make their second consecutive victory hold up. The former PDL standout has been a regular backup for the side, and was only making his second start of the season, but showed excellent quality against a Kickers side that looked regularly dangerous. A five-save shutout, of which the majority came in the second half, made the difference in New York’s second consecutive win.

• 2. The Kickers had their best attacking output of the season a week ago, and again looked regularly dangerous against the Red Bulls II on Saturday, but couldn’t quite find the run they needed as the side’s winless streak reached seven games. Richmond outshot the Red Bulls II 13-7 for the game, and shaded possession on the night, but once again was unable to find what it needed to get all three points in front of another great crowd at City Stadium.

• 3. It was a good night for the Red Bulls II’s Derrick Etienne Jr., who was handed the captain’s armband as his side faced his father’s former club. The Haitian international continued to build his form as he played a role in an impressive move that provided New York the goal that decided the game, with a great overlapping run by Vincent Bezecourt being found by Etienne and delivered by Bezecourt for a close-range finish by Brandon Allen. After playing a key role for the Red Bulls II last season, Etienne has seen his first MLS action this year, but with regular playing time still essential to his growth, the 20-year-old’s quality is starting to shine again.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Rafael Diaz, New York Red Bulls II – Diaz’s five-save shutout proved crucial in the Red Bulls II’s victory as the side continued its recent improvement in form.

Upcoming Games:
Richmond Kickers at Charleston Battery – June 10, 7 p.m. ET, MUSC Health Stadium
New York Red Bulls II vs. Louisville City FC – June 11, 4 p.m. ET, MSU Soccer Park