MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The New York Red Bulls II closed out their home regular-season slate with a 2-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday afternoon at MSU Soccer Park to move back into the playoff positions in the USL Eastern Conference. New York took the early initiative, and Pittsburgh goalkeeper Matt Perrella made a big stop to deny Stefano Bonomo from giving the hosts the lead in the seventh minute. The Red Bulls II’s pressure continued, and finally told in the 25th minute as a corner from the right was headed into his own net by the Riverhounds’ Abuchi Obinwa as he challenged Junior Flemmings at the near post. Flemmings went found the outside side netting from a tight angle on the left two minutes before the break, while David Najem had a curling effort headed away for a corner moments later, but the Red Bulls II held their one-goal lead going to the halftime break. Pittsburgh’s Kenroy Howell had a shot blocked in the penalty area for the Riverhounds’ only good look in the first half, and Corey Hertzog also had a shot charged down from 25 yards in the 59th minute, but the Red Bulls II continued to carry most of the play in the second half. Flemmings was denied with a good low save by Perrella on the hour-mark, while Florian Valot curled a free kick over the crossbar in the 72nd minute. Pittsburgh’s Romeo Parkes had a chance for the Riverhounds in the 76th minute, but sent his shot off target from the top of the penalty area, while Dan Metzger forced a great tipped save from Perrella two minutes later as the Red Bulls II looked to add an insurance goal. The Riverhounds went even closer to an equalizer with five minutes to go, but Hertzog hit the crossbar from inside the six-yard area on a redirection from Chevaughn Walsh’s header before Walsh sent the rebound wide. Valot then put the game away in stoppage time for the Red Bulls II, however, as he tucked home Dilly Duka’s low cross into an empty net to seal a fifth consecutive victory at MSU Soccer Park in the club’s home finale.

Scoring:
25’ – NY – Abuchi Obinwa (own goal)
90+’ – NY – Florian Valot (Dilly Duka)

• #NYvPGH: Full Match and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. With a fifth consecutive home victory the defending USL Cup champion New York Red Bulls II once again put itself into position to reach the postseason for a third consecutive season as it used a dominant first half to overcome the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. New York’s resurgence since the start of August, which has seen the side notch a 5-1-2 record, has seen the side play with the type of attacking verve that marked its run to the championship in 2016, with the chemistry between the attacking group in both making chances and pressing to win possession and stifle opponents as good as it has been all season.

• 2. One of the only disappointments of last season for the Red Bulls II was the late-season injury to Junior Flemmings that ruled him out of the team’s postseason run. This year, the Jamaican is back and looking close to his best form again as New York’s bid for the postseason heats up. Flemmings didn’t find the net on Saturday, although he was the player challenging at the near post for Vincent Bezecourt’s corner kick from the right that ended up being the game-winning goal, but his movement and touches in the final third could have seen the Red Bulls II add to their lead in both halves before he was substituted with 13 minutes to go.

• 3. The Riverhounds’ bid for the playoffs likely came to an end on Saturday, with the side now needing to win both of its remaining games and get a lot of help from elsewhere to finish in the top eight. After a first half where the side was run off the park by the Red Bulls II, the second half saw the side find better footing, but it was unable to find the timely breakthrough it needed to make victory a possibility. A late chance off the crossbar by leading scorer Corey Hertzog might be the final memory of this season for Riverhounds fans, where the side was in the running most of the way, but unable to get the timely finish that would turn a loss into a draw, and a draw into a win.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Florian Valot, New York Red Bulls II – Valot was rewarded for another good display by his late goal, as he and fellow French midfielder Vincent Bezecourt again ran the show in midfield for the side as it took victory.

Upcoming Games:
New York Red Bulls II at Tampa Bay Rowdies – October 4, 7:30 p.m. ET, Al Lang Stadium
Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Rochester Rhinos – October 7, 7 p.m. ET, Highmark Stadium