Red Bull Report
Super-20’s advance to second semifinal, U16’s battle for third consecutive division title
 Thursday, August 9
Red Bull New York Press Release – redbull.newyork.mlsnet.com
NEW YORK – Red Bull New York’s U20 team was in the midst of a second run at the Super-20 League North American Finals Championship this past weekend. The club advanced to the finals of the tournament in 2006, but lost in the worst way, a 7-6 decision in penalty kicks to Kendall SC. Reloaded, the club returned to New Hampshire poised to take that all important final step.
This season the perennial contenders advanced out of the group stage by going 2-0-1. Their first match came against the Hampton Roads Piranhas on Thursday, August 2. After falling behind 1-0 in the 10th minute, the U20’s settled into their game and tied it up in the 19th minute. Mike Del Pra passed the ball up top to Matt Bouraee, who then played a through ball to Matt Kassel. After making an overlapping run, Kassel was able to play the ball back to Bouraee, who finished from six yards out.
Jon Yazo scored in the 48th minute to give the U20s a 2-1 lead after Jonathan Borrajo played the ball into the box, where Yazo was able to capitalize. Kassel sealed the game in the final minute of the match as he scored on a breakaway after a through ball by Michel Okai.
In their second match of group play against Kalamazoo Kingdom, Kassel sealed the win again. However, he did not have to wait until the last minute of the match to do so. Kassel’s goal came in the seventh minute of the match. Yazo found the back of the net twice, in the 15th and 80th minutes.
The U20’s faced off against Super Nova on Aug. 4, with the right to win the group on the line. Kassel provided another early goal, as his third goal of the tournament came in the 12th minute. Edison Bilbao tallied another score for the U20s as they tied Super Nova 2-2 to finish with seven points and advance from the group stage.
The U20’s faced the Chicago Fire Premier in one semifinal as the Toronto Lynx battled PDA in the other semifinal. Chicago advanced to the final of the tournament over last season’s finalist with a technically sound 1-0 victory. PDA out of Zarephath, New Jersey in turn defeated the Fire Premier to hoist the 2007 Super-20 League trophy.
For their efforts, Steven Amaya and Matt Bouraee were named to the 2007 Super-20 All-League Team. This was Bouraee’s second consecutive nomination to the All-League team. He posted a goal and three assists in four games during the Super-20 Finals.
U16 Update
The New York Red Bulls U16’s remained on top of the Mid-Atlantic Group A with a crucial 1-0 decision over the Long Island Rough Riders. Joey Spivack provided the only goal in the match in the 15th minute off a penalty kick. Spivack was taken down in the box after Giorgi Chigadze freed him with a quick combination pass. Spivack calmly buried the penalty kick, giving the U16’s three points.
With three matches left, the U16’s have a two-point cushion over the Brooklyn Knights. One team from each division will qualify for the Super Y-League North American Finals in Florida.
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