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For the first time in the Jesse Marsch era, the Red Bulls have won three straight MLS road games after dispatching Minnesota United in a 3-0 win.
Daniel Royer got his fourth goal in the last three MLS games while Bradley Wright-Phillips scored a goal in his fourth straight road game. Even an embattled Alex Muyl managed to find the back of the net with a late blast of his own.
There was some very questionable officiating with seemingly obvious penalties not called in the Loons favor that could easily have reversed the momentum or even the outcome, but the Red Bulls have had so many bad calls go against them this year that it's hard to feel too sympathetic for the MLS newcomers.
Here are the RBNY player ratings vs Minnesota United:
Luis Robles - 8
Despite the Red Bulls defense's best efforts, they were unable to keep prevent Robles from keeping a clean sheet this week.
Sal Zizzo - 5
A performance like this one serves as a reminder that this team is still much better off with Kemar Lawrence and/or Michael Murillo (and maybe even Hassan Ndam now that he's getting minutes).
Aaron Long - 8
Damien Perrinelle - 5
Four times out of five Perrinelle would have conceded a penalty kick for either one of those uncalled hand-balls. He has conceded more penalty kicks than any player in the league, so it'll be a relief to see Aurelien Collin back whenever he returns.
Felipe - 7
There's a strong argument to be made that he had the best shot on goal for Minnesota with his header in the first half. That aside, he had another solid performance.
Tyler Adams - 7
Alex Muyl - 5
If not for that picture-perfect goal at the 90th minute, Muyl would have received a much lower score. He was a complete non-entity in this game.
Sacha Kljestan - 7
Three assists in his last two games have moved Kljestan ahead of Thierry Henry as the all-time team assists leader and into the top-three in the MLS leaderboard.
Sean Davis - 7
Daniel Royer - 9 (Man of the Match)
Another day, another goal and another assist. He has now contributed five goals in his last three MLS games. If not for a lucky save by Bobby Shuttleworth in the 45th minute, he probably would have had another too.
Bradley Wright-Phillips - 8
He was a menace in the Loons box the entire match and finally found his mark - albeit off a deflection - to secure the victory. It also gave him his 10th goal of the season, making him one of a select few in MLS history to record four straight 10+ goal campaigns.
Subs:
Michael Murillo - 6
Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, and Murillo was definitely the former when the referee decided not to call his hit on Ibarra in the box a penalty. And for the team to score on the ensuing possession? Hopefully he buys a lottery ticket before heading back to Jersey.
Gonzalo Veron - 7
Veron's addition to the field in the final 20+ minutes added a new threat that Minnesota were only barely able to keep from adding to the score.
Hassan Ndam - n/a
The Red Bulls only other teenager on the roster came on for the last minute in relief of Sal Zizzo.
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The Red Bulls are now riding a three-game winning streak in MLS, a four-game winning streak in all competitive road matches, and a five-game winning streak in all competitions. Suffice it to say, the team is on cloud nine from a confidence standpoint, even if the wins came against opponents that are well-below the red line.
Thankfully, the red line doesn't care who you get your points against.