RED BULLS U-17S DROP FIRST MATCH

Despite a Dylan Mencia goal, the New York Red Bulls Under-17 squad fell to their Chivas USA counterpart, 2-1, in the team’s first game of Soccer United Marketing’s second-annual U-17 Cup.

Chivas took an early lead minutes after the whistle when a Chivas player knocked in a cross from six yards out. However, the Red Bulls quickly leveled the score. Mencia gathered the ball at the top of the 18-yard-box, beat a defender and fired a low shot into the corner past goalkeeper Luis Godinez.

In the second half, the Red Bulls almost doubled their lead when Mencia played the ball to a wide open John Agudelo, but his first touch outside the penalty box did not enable him to get a shot off in the 50th minute.

Chivas USA took the lead 10 minutes later. Defender Cesar Arenas chipped the ball over the top of the Red Bulls’ defense to an on-rushing Roberto Romo, who beat the offsides trap and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Travis Ives. The Red Bulls had a few chances to equalize with Mencia hitting a shot over the bar six minutes from time, but Chivas was able to hold onto the win.

The Red Bulls’ next match in the round-robin tournament is on Saturday, when they take on the Los Angeles Galaxy Under-17s at 5:30 PM MT.