New York Red Bull 4-2 Chelsea: Blues mess with the Red Bulls and get the horns

Date: 23rd July 2015 at 3:53am
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New York Red Bull completed an impressive comeback victory, beating Chelsea 4-2 at the Red Bull Arena in an international friendly. Both teams faced off in the International Champions Cup tournament, being hosted in North America.

Loic Remy opened the scoring for Chelsea, until Franklin Castellanos equalised in the second half. Tyler Adams would then complete the comeback, and Sean Davis extend the Red Bulls’ lead minutes later. But Eden Hazard would respond to bring Chelsea back to within a goal, only for Davis to reinstate the two-goal lead with his second on the night and seal the win.

Both teams kicked off at a frenetic pace, with the Red Bulls giving a good account of themselves and going toe-to-toe with the Premier League champions.

Expectantly however, it was Chelsea who procured themselves the first chance on goal. Victor Moses darted down the left and ran at the heart of the Red Bulls defence, firing low but denied by a smart save from Kyle Reynish.

Although Chelsea were the dominant side, Jose Mourinho’s men struggled in the final third to unlock the Red Bulls defence. With the plan seemingly being long diagonals over the top, the Blues looked blunt in attack as the Red Bulls relished the contest of athleticism.

Chelsea looked most dangerous from set-pieces and through youngster Bertrand Traore though, who often tried his luck from range.

The Blues finally broke the deadlock on 26 minutes. A long ball released Oscar down the right, who found Remy inside the area. The French striker found time to settle himself before firing past the goalkeeper and making it 1-0 for Chelsea.

The Red Bulls struggled down their left. Moses found space down that side minutes after the goal; the Nigerian squared the goalkeeper and chipped past him, only to see his effort repelled by the post. Remy himself failed to double the lead on 41 minutes, somehow failing to turn in a cross barely a yard from goal.

In the end, Chelsea had to settle for the 1-0 half time lead.

The Red Bulls soon made Chelsea pay for their profligacy however. Substitute Cesar Azpilicueta had to intervene to clear a ball off his line. Minutes later, it was Red Bulls substitute Castellanos who got the better of Asmir Begovic on 51 minutes by slotting past him.

Chelsea looked rattled from then on as tackles went flying from both side and the match turned into a real scrap.

The introductions of Diego Costa and Hazard had added the touch of incisiveness Chelsea had lacked in the first half however.

With the game tied at 1-1, Chelsea had asserted their dominance; but Castellanos would once again prove to be their poison, swinging in a cross as for Adams to nod in and give the Red Bulls the 2-1 lead on 69 minutes.

Hazard immediately cut into the Red Bulls’ lead moments later and brought it back to 3-2. Frenzy took the game, as a poor Ramires clearance landed in the path of Davis, who made no mistake in sealing his brace on 77 minutes.

Hazard grew into the game and twice set up Costa and Oscar, only for both to fluff their lines in front of goal.

In the end, the Red Bull hung on to seal an impressive 4-2 comeback victory over Premier League champions Chelsea

 

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