Loudoun United get first win of season over Red Bulls II 2-1

The parallels between Loudoun United’s 2019 and 2020 seasons are kind of eerie; both teams started on prolonged away streaks, and Loudoun was 0-2-2 in 2019 before going to New Jersey and beating the New York Red Bulls II 3-1. They were 0-2-1 tonight, before defeating the Red Bulls in New Jersey Wednesday night by a 2-1 margin.

Coach Ryan Martin made four changes from the team that last played in Hartford, with Nelson Martinez making his 2020 debut and Timmy Mehl making his first start. Alexxon Saravia filled in for Peabo Doue while the attacking core remained Michael Gamble, Ted Ku-DiPietro and Kairou Amoustapha, with Alioune Ndour at forward. Ndour threatened early in the game, and moments after being by himself on a ball from Amoustapha and shooting the ball over goal, he was alone on the break he tried to get the ball around the Red Bull II keeper Wallis Lapsley, but the ball hit his hand out of the area and earned him a red card 15 minutes into the game.

Loudoun would try to apply pressure but remained largely unsuccessful, until a first-half stoppage effort from Ku-DiPietro (receiving the ball from Amoustapha) found him put a right footed shot past Alex Bobocea on the right side for a 1-0 lead going into halftime. Amoustapha would return for Loudoun’s second in the second half, as a cross into the box went off the Red Bulls’ John Tolkin, and referee Jeremy Scheer ruled a penalty. Elvis Amoh put his shot past Bobocea on the right for his third in as many games for a 2-0 lead, which Loudoun would hold until late in the game, when center back Preston Kilwien would find some space in the box and fire a shot to Colin Miller’s left, beating him for a 2-1 scoreline that Loudoun would retain, en route to their first win of 2020 and extend their undefeated streak over the Red Bulls to 3.

Loudoun (1-2-1) move to 4th in the five team Group F, with their next game at Louisville City FC Saturday at 8pm.

USL Championship Group F - Game 4
Red Bulls II 1 (Kilwien 79)
Loudoun United FC 2 (Ku-DiPietro 45+4, Amoh (PK) 65)

Lineups:
Red Bulls II (4231): Wallis Lapsley; Edgardo Rito, Joseph Fala (Boima Cummins 73), Preston Kilwien, John Tolkin (Samad Bounthong 74); Daniel Edelman, Chris Lema; Dantouma Toure, Caden Clark (Barry Sharifi 59), Cherif Dieye (Alex Bobocea 17), Sebastian Elney (C) (Jake LaCava 60)

Loudoun (4231): Colin Miller; Jacob Greene, Shane Wiedt, Timmy Mehl, Alexxon Saravia; Nelson Martinez, Elvis Amoh (Jeremy Garay 66); Kairou Amoustapha (Peabo Doue 83), Ted Ku-DiPietro (Brandon Williamson 56), Michael Gamble (C) (Massimo Ferrin 55); Alioune Ndour (Joshua Fawole 56)

Bookings:
Red Bulls II - Lapsley (red) 15, Rito 90+1, Kilwien 90+5
Loudoun - Amoh 60, Mehl 80, Doue 85