Jesse Marsch confirms Ryan Meara will start all remaining U.S. Open Cup games

Ahead of the New York Red Bulls’ match against the Philadelphia Union in the Fifth Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, head coach Jesse Marsch put to an end to one potential controversy that briefly plagued the team last season by announcing his starting goalkeeper for the rest of the competition.

Following the Red Bulls’ Wednesday night win over the Seattle Sounders, Marsch announced that backup GK Ryan Meara would start in goal against Philadelphia, as well as all remaining games the team might play in the tournament.

“Ryan (Meara) is in for the Open Cup,” Marsch said. “He’s in for the whole tournament.”

Meara has started every Open Cup game for the Red Bulls since 2016, and will become the team’s all-time leader in competition minutes played if he finishes Saturday’s game, passing Mike Petke and Steve Jolley in the process.

In 2017, he started all Open Cup games, allowing just 3 goals in the first four rounds while posting two shutouts.

Last year, prior to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final against Sporting Kansas City, Marsch kept quiet as to whether Meara would start over Luis Robles in the game. He ultimately gave Meara the nod in the 2-1 loss, but not before creating a mini-controversy.