MLS Red Bull New York

Match Preview: Red Bulls and CD Olimpia Clash in CCL

Published on February 20, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Red Bull New York News Release


HARRISON, N.J. - To begin the 2018 season, the New York Red Bulls will play their first competitive match against Club Deportivo Olimpia in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League on Thursday at Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica. Leg One will kick off at 10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally on Univision Deportes alongside Red Bulls Radio in English on TuneIn.

New York Red Bulls Radio goes live at 9 p.m. ET with triHonda Countdown to Kickoff, hosted by Matt Harmon.

New York returns to competitive action after finishing the 2017 season with a 1-0 win over eventual MLS champion Toronto FC in Leg Two of the MLS Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Red Bulls return 17 players including nine starters from last season's team that competed in the 2017 CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals, advanced to the U.S. Open Cup Final and reached the MLS Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Bradley Wright-Phillips and Daniel Royer, New York's top-two offensive weapons from 2017, return to lead the Red Bulls on the attacking end. Wright-Phillips (17) and Royer (12) combined for 29 of New York's 55 total goals in MLS regular-season play. Wright-Phillips not only hit his personal goal of at least 17 goals for the fourth-straight season, but reached the 100-goal plateau across all competitions (86 MLS regular-season, 9 MLS playoff, 4 Open Cup, 1 CCL). The Red Bulls also acquired Alejandro Romero Gamarra from Club Atletico Huracan, Marc Rzatkowski from Red Bull Salzburg and Carlos Rivas from Orlando City SC to bolster the attack.

On the defensive end, New York retained the majority of its starting backline (Aaron Long, Kemar Lawrence, Michael Amir Murillo) that held the opposition to one goal or less 27 times including 14 shutouts across all competitions. Along with the starting back line from 2017, eight-year MLS veteran Aurelien Collin returned to 2018 Red Bulls Preseason camp back to full strength to bolster the backline.

For the sixth-straight year, Luis Robles will open as New York's starting goalkeeper. Robles has been a true mainstay in net for the Red Bulls, compiling 49 shutouts, 509 saves and an 80-51-43 record during MLS regular-season play over 174 consecutive matches.

CD Olimpia has already played 27 competitive matches under their belt with their current roster during their 2017/18 season. Olimpia competed in the Apertura, the opening tournament of the Honduran league that goes from July to December, and finished third overall at 9-5-4 with a semifinal appearance against Motagua. Olimpia held their opponents to 15 goals in 18 matches, which was the best mark during the Apertura. Veteran defender Johnny Palacios is one of Olimpia's top players, tallying 41 international caps with Honduras and is a mainstay for Olimpia's backline.

Following Thursday's match, New York will return to Red Bull Arena to host CD Olimpia in the second leg of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 on Thursday, March 1. Leg Two is set to kick off at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally on Univision Deportes alongside Red Bulls Radio in English and Spanish on TuneIn.

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