The New York Red Bulls will look to extend their unbeaten start to three games under new manager Sandro Schwarz on Saturday when they host FC Dallas in Harrison, N.J.
The Red Bulls (1-0-1, 4 points) began the season with a scoreless draw at Nashville SC, then came from behind to beat the host Houston Dynamo 2-1 last Saturday.
Veteran midfielder Emil Forsberg and young center back Noah Eile — a pair of Sweden natives — have been standouts as newcomers to the RBNY squad.
But it’s the return of winger Lewis Morgan, who led the Red Bulls with 14 league goals in 2022 but missed most of 2023 with hip issues, that could truly raise the ceiling on Schwarz’s team.
Morgan came on as a first-half injury substitute in Houston and scored the winner.
“It could be the option for the starting lineup. He made the last game very well after the substitution,” Schwarz said of Morgan. “I’m not sure about when he starts on Saturday, that he’s able to play 90 minutes. But you never know.”
Across the pitch, Dallas (1-1-0, 3 points) has absorbed a wave of early injuries and absences while splitting its first two matches at home, earning a 2-1 win over San Jose before falling 2-1 to Montreal last Saturday.
Manager Nico Estevez’s squad was closer to full strength against Montreal, with Petar Musa making his debut and scoring, and Jesus Ferreira, who led the team with 13 goals last season, returning to action as a substitute.
But they couldn’t overcome Josef Martinez’s 60th-minute goal to put Montreal back in front, despite Ferreira’s insertion only moments after.
“I didn’t like all of the game. I’m not happy with what I saw. We did not try what made us successful all of preseason and it hurt us tonight,” Estevez said. “I think we have to be patient but it’s a good punch in the face to wake us up and see that there is a lot of work to do that we already knew.”
–Field Level Media