Oklahoma Press Release
Manolo Sanchez scored in the 10th minute as the New York Red Bulls downed OKC Energy FC, 1-0, on Saturday at the IMG Suncoast Pro Classic. With the win, the Red Bulls move atop of the group standings with four points, followed by Energy FC and Toronto with three points each.
Gareth Evans sent a shot high in the seventh minute for Energy FC before the Red Bulls were awarded back-to-back corners in the eighth and ninth minutes. After Sanchez sent a shot wide right and another Red Bulls shot was blocked, Sanchez capitalized on a pass from Bradley Wright-Phillips to give the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead.
Energy had another chance in the 19th minute but Kyle Greig was called offside to negate the opportunity. OKC had several chances late in the half as a free kick from Chuy Sanchez went just high in the 24th minute and Sebastian Dalgaard also sent a shot high in the 35th minute.
Energy’s first corner of the first half was headed out by the Red Bulls defense in the 37th minute and the second corner sailed too long to result in a Red Bulls goal kick.
Energy FC’s best chance of the game came in the 46th minute when Chuy Sanchez’s free kick connected with Evans for a header that had to be saved to keep the Red Bulls’ 1-0 lead. It appeared the Red Bulls had extended the lead to 2-0 in the 47th minute, but the goal was offside.
Energy FC starting goalkeeper Evan Newton made two saves midway through the second half to keep the score close and turned away a Red Bulls corner kick in the 62nd minute and made a spectacular save off a corner kick in the 75th minute.
The Red Bulls threatened again in the 80th minute as another corner kick managed to stay in the box and was eventually cleared by Energy FC. Energy FC had a chance late as Peter Toth’s free kick was too long.
