While it’s not a league game, the Red Bulls will have an opportunity to win their first at home across all competitions when they host Charlotte FC in the Cup.
Both teams are coming off impressive wins in the tournament, the country’s oldest soccer competition.
The Red Bulls bested Hartford Athletic 2-1 in the Third Round before a 3-0 win at D.C. United in the Round of 32. Charlotte FC, an MLS expansion team, defeated the Greenville Triumph 2-1 in the Third Round and the Richmond Kickers in the Round of 32 (5-1).
Open Cup Target
Sean has his sights set on winning the Open Cup. The Red Bulls have never taken a victory lap with the old trophy, losing in the 2003 and 2017 Finals to the Chicago Fire and Sporting Kansas City respectively.
"That's pivotal for us," Sean said about his ambitions. "We want to win badly."
If the Red Bulls can lift the Cup, it would be “a big milestone for the fans, for everybody here – employees, players and coaches,” Sean added. “It also puts us in the [Concacaf] Champions League…We have a chance to make history."
Both Red Bulls captain Aaron Long and goalkeeper Ryan Meara, who know what it’s like to come up just shy of hoisting the Cup, have talked to their teammates about the 2017 Final.
"Those two guys are just stressing the importance of how fun this could be if we do go all the way," Dylan said. "It's our first home game in the Open Cup and maybe the ticket to jump-starting our home form. You can tell from the lineups we've put out we're taking this tournament completely seriously.
“It's a trophy to chase,” concluded Dylan, forged, like all the Nealis boys, in the fire of family competition and solidarity. “We're not backing down from lifting a trophy."
Michael Lewis can be reached at socwriter@aol.com and @Soccerwriter on Twitter. His book (ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers) is available for purchase.
