u/iced1777

Another shortened version for this one.

The Cade Cowell show continues for the Red Bulls. He may not be the most sophisticated player, but a solid hammer is still a useful tool and the Red Bulls swing it hard and often. This is a look at Cowell's crossing against NYCFC. What stuck out to me wasn't just the quality of Cowell's service, but the service into him as well. Donkor has really stepped up his through balls, and having Che back on the right side helped provide a few more opportunities as well.

Defensively the Red Bulls didn't have much to do in the first half, and while Jones was a handful for them in the second half it didn't make for very exciting video watching the Red Bulls try to chase him down. Horvath though does owe Che and JMR something nice for covering for him on two mistakes that really can't be happening at this level.

Shortened midweek version for this one. Even so, a lot of what made Red Bulls click we've either seen a bunch already (Cowell cross Hall finish...) or made for pretty dull video (defending deep soaking up pressure).

Mehmetti brought a little more fire to this game defensively, pressing and making his presence felt.

Gotta love Horvath for having the confidence to wave off JMR so he could hit this beauty.

We got some Hollywood camera work for this game's "So you tried to dispossess Ronald Donkor?"

Valencia had a roller coaster of a second half and honestly I should have grabbed clips of his defensive effort. Even the penalty I'll give him a pass on. But this right here is terrible technique to win a foul. You simply can't roll that aggressively and expect to win the ref over.

Despite being a high scoring game this felt like a pretty bleh effort by both teams with NY making the better of a few key moments.

The team has started to feel a little less gung-ho about committing numbers forward in every phase of the game, for all 90 minutes, no matter what the score is. With the game still open in the first half, Red Bulls weathered transitions heading back their way better than usual. It's gotta be said that Chicago's lack of intensity and sharpness helped. They were pretty awful across the board.

With the ball I think there's been a similar lack of intensity and sharpness from our midfield lately. This play in the second half was the only time we saw quick movement between the midfield trio, and it lead to one of the best chances of the game.

Dylan's goal line clearance will deservedly go down as a career highlight. But I swear I've never in my life watching this game seen a someone peg another player with a throw-in to earn a corner.

Here is this week's entry in "So you tried to dispossess Ronald Donkor?"

Trying my best to separate the performance from the result, I do think 15 of the 16 Red Bulls who saw the field played pretty well. And at least in terms of their tempo and risk-taking, it was something resembling a sane approach to an away game. Just one of those games where key moments don't go your way.

Credit where credit is due, Cincinnati's #11 was a brick wall against our attack down the right wing to start the game. Hammering away at that side with Cowell and JMR has been the Red Bull's plan A all season, but they couldn't get any momentum going for the entire first half.

The second half set up a bit more favorably for the Red Bulls attack with MDS and Forsberg coming on, Cincy sitting back, and Cowell picking up steam. This lead to a number of chances for Hall that easily could have gone in given his excellent form. Even without the final touch this game, its encouraging to see him look more and more like prime BWP in how he moves off the ball.

Shoutout to Tim Parker for surprising everyone and dropping some dimes behind Cincinnati's defense. However, and in all seriousness, I think my favorite play of his might have been this one. The team has been stubborn to a fault trying to build out of the back this year, and it was a relief to see a vet out there know when its an appropriate time to just blast it as far as you can the other way.

Dylan Nealis also had a stellar game next to Parker with a number of well-timed wins.

I'll keep beating Mosquera's drum this week, who I thought had a nice cameo to end the game. He gives you a little bit of everything you'd expect out of an inverted winger and doesn't look off the pace of MLS.