Adri Mehmeti, Cade Cowell and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty provided the goals as the New York Red Bulls throttled Atlanta United 3-0 to wrap up the regular season Saturday in Harrison, N.J.
Both teams had been eliminated from playoff contention in the Eastern Conference before Decision Day, but the Red Bulls (12-16-6, 42 points) ensured a 10th-place finish with the one-sided win. They also remained undefeated at home all-time against Atlanta United (9-19-6, 33 points).
New York goalkeeper Ethan Horvath only needed to make one save for the shutout. Atlanta’s Jayden Hibbert made three saves.
Marshall-Rutty made the highlight reel in the 81st minute with a free-kick golazo from just outside the box. His right-footed rocket sailed from the left elbow into the top right corner of the net, electrifying the home crowd.
Red Bulls defender Tim Parker entered during the 90th minute and concluded his playing career with a win. Parker announced Friday that he was retiring after a 12-year MLS career.
New York’s 18-year-old breakout star Julian Hall finished the season with 13 goals, coming up one shy of breaking the MLS single-season goals record for a teenager. He was tied with Diego Fagundez (2013) and Ricardo Pepi (2021).
In the eighth minute, Atlanta forwards Miguel Almiron and Breel Embolo went on a 2-on-0 breakaway into the danger zone. But rather than passing, Almiron went for the goal himself and kissed the left post.
New York’s Jorge Ruvalcaba had attempts deflected away in the 22nd minute by Paulo Diaz and in the 28th by Hibbert.
Ronald Donkor slipped a pass into the box for Mehmeti, whose initial shot was kick-saved by Hibbert. But Mehmeti beat him to the rebound, made one dribble to get out of the keeper’s path and deposited it into the net in the 31st minute.
Cowell also took advantage of a sprawled goalkeeper to score his goal in the 54th minute. He broke into the box at the perfect time to receive Sekou Kone’s throughball while avoiding an offsides call. Hibbert hit the deck to make a swipe at the ball, but Cowell dribbled around him and his shot glanced off an oncoming Atlanta defender into the net.
–Field Level Media
