By Ahmad Elhassan

Blasting fireworks, rolling out talented young players and hosting an oddly large Elmo, Red Bull New York seemed poised to make an explosive return to Sports Illustrated Stadium after the MLS World Cup break. But at the sound of the final whistle, fans looked up at a 0-2 score against Charlotte FC asking a single question: “Was the crown too heavy for our Red Bulls?” 

Within twelve minutes of kickoff, Charlotte midfielders Pep Biel and Ashley Westwood spoiled New York’s first home in over two months, silencing fans with what would be the only two goals of the game. At the start of the game, all eyes were on Red Bull New York’s eighteen-year-old phenom striker Julian Hall, but attention was quickly diverted to Charlotte’s mastery of the midfield and rapid counterattacks. Both goals came on the end of low-swung crosses from wingers Liel Adaba and Kerwin Vargas. New York’s midfield was being carved up. 

New York responded in the second half with a poor performance by midfielder Ronald Donkor and missed chances by captain Emil Forsberg. The crowd was in utter shock. Charlotte keeper Kristijan Kahlina made incredible saves, winning him the respect of a hostile crowd, though New York’s 16 attempted shots were more often directed at the crowd than the net. 

A showdown between Red Bull winger Cade Cowell and Charlotte defender Harry Toffolo displayed how challenging yet wholesome a physical battle of speed and precision can be. The two hugged after each slide tackle, quietly acknowledging one another’s skill and sound tactics.

A series of fouls led to a red card for Adri Mehmeti near the end of the game. The seventeen-year-old’s sendoff gave New York a reason to utilize the veterans and experienced transfer players who serve as mentors for their younger teammates.  Fosberg commented on the situation after the game. “Like I said, it’s always easy to blame everybody after you lose,” he said. 

All-Star Hall appeared particularly upset with the lack of pressing by his fellow attackers. His visible pouting captured the sorrow New York felt in the final half of the game, and the frustration that Hall, specifically, may have felt with the tactics of his team. 

As the crowd booed the home team off the pitch, a Charlotte crown loomed over soccer’s biggest untapped market: U.S. fans. The energy in the stadium was high, but not high enough to carry Red Bull New York to a win. Home-field advantage proved less useful to the team than a midfield that could execute. 

But maybe it was just the Jersey summer air.