Red Bulls down in Mexico for CCL 2nd Leg

The Red Bulls know that they have a tough task ahead of them, as they are going to play their second leg quarterfinal match in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League against Santos Laguna, at the Estadio Corona.

As we remember a week ago the Red Bulls actually played very well, with plenty of chances to at least convert once and crack the aggregate score, but sadly they were thwarted by Santos Laguna’s goalkeeper in Jonathan Orzoco.

While Santos Laguna had a combination of playing in a tight window with a league match, long travel to New York City, and the cold weather, they were able to take their chances and convert late in the first half, as well as the first few minutes that began the second half.

But while the aggregate and the away goals are currently against them, the Red Bulls have felt that they can get a result down in Mexico, just like they did in the last edition when they traveled to Tijuana to face the Xolos at the Estadio Caliente.

In that match up the Red Bulls took a commanding two goal lead as Bradley Wright-Phillips converted twice, and was able to take the victory in the second leg at Red Bull Arena for a three goals to one win, with a five goals to one aggregate victory.

But to be fair, Santos Laguna has a better team that Club Tijuana as they along with Monterrey and Tigres are a few of the toughest club sides in Liga MX. While I do believe the Red Bulls will be ready to go and battle against Santos Laguna, they must survive the opening fifteen minutes if they are to find a way to climb back into this tie.

Last week we saw the impossible happen with Manchester United being down two goals to nil on aggregate and both goals conceded was from their opponents in Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League.

While the Red Bulls didn’t lose any players to injury, yellow card accumulation, or a straight red card, they know what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer side did when they went to Paris and scored two away goals by Romelu Lukaku and with help from the VAR, a handball in the PSG area gave Marcus Rashford the chance to win that tie on away goals as the aggregate was level at three a piece.

The New York Red Bulls have that same chance against a Santos Laguna side, who we all know, will not take the boys in red lightly. The difference in that matchup with PSG & Man United was that the Capital City club of France thought the lineup was fragile with so many changes due to injury and Paul Pogba’s suspension.

This Red Bulls side will have their full compliment of players in the starting eleven with one man coming back from his one match suspension on yellow card accumulation in Panamanian right fullback Michael Murillo, who must be itching to get back out on the pitch after getting involved in the season opener at the Columbus Crew.

But now it’s time for the Red Bulls to walk out on the pitch at the Estadio Corona, and make their attempts to pull a Man United themselves, but they must keep their cool, and their composure to try and fight back on aggregate as well as winning this tie on away goals.