RBNY Defeats ST. Louis City 3-1 in 2nd Preseason Match; Cowell Three First-Half Assists

On Saturday, Jan. 24, Red Bull New York defeated St. Louis City S.C. by a score of 3-1 in their second preseason match ahead of the 2026 Major League Soccer season.

Following New York's discouraging 3-1 loss to USL League One expansion side Sarasota Paradise on Wednesday, Michael Bradley's group bounced back.

The RBNY manager assured Empire Soccer Report during his press conference on Thursday, Jan. 22 that there were "a lot of positives" despite the result.

Seems like New York was able to transfer those positives into their second preseason match against St. Louis, cruising to a 3-0 halftime lead thanks to a trio of assists from newcomer Cade Cowell.

Cowell assisted Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Mohammed Sofo and Emil Forsberg all within a 27-minute span. Preseason matches may not count for anything, but it's worth noting the 22-year-old winger's form, collecting 4 assists in just 90 minutes of action.

Another significant lineup note concerns the position of Dylan Nealis, who most likely played as a center back against Sarasota. The way the lineup looked against St. Louis, it's possible the Long Island native also played as a center back in New York's second preseason match, although it is unclear if Bradley went with Nealis or Justin Che for the central role. 

Both Che and Nealis, while naturally right backs, can and have previously played as center halves at multiple points in their careers. Currently, the only natural center backs contracted to RBNY's first team are Noah Eile, Tim Parker and Robert Voloder

Perhaps starting the much with a near full-strength eleven and getting St. Louis on their opening match of preseason camp made things easier, but any and all confidence at this stage of the season is a bonus.

Former Red Bulls homegrown midfielder Daniel Edelman got the start for St. Louis in an eleven consisting of a mixed bag of MLS regulars and prospects, his first time suiting up in his new colors.

Both sides would make wholesale changes in the second half, with RBNY changing their entire eleven for the second straight preseason match.

New York was awarded a penalty just moments into the second half, but Rafael Mosquera's penalty was denied by 2023 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Roman Bürki.

St. Louis went on to score the lone goal of the second half, a 68th minute breakaway finish by Brazilian winger Célio Pompeu. Despite the blemish, New York held on for the rest of the match for the win. 

The team left IMG Academy after the match, completing the first leg of their preseason camp and got back into the New York area ahead of the impending snow storm.

After multiple substitutes came off the bench for New York, only a handful of players remain of those who haven't gotten any preseason match minutes. 

Roald Mitchell, Aiden Jarvis, Serge Ngoma, Cameron Harper and Marcelo Morales all have yet to play, with Harper recovering from MCL surgery last summer and Morales likely headed back to former club Universidad de Chile on loan.

The Red Bulls will spend the next ten days in New Jersey, facing off at the RBNY training facility in East Hanover against USL Championship side Hartford Athletic on Sunday, Jan. 31. 

Then, they'll head to Texas to finish up their preseason at the Torneo de Tejas for matches against FC Dallas on Saturday, Feb. 7, Atlanta United on Wednesday, Feb. 11 and Houston Dynamo on Saturday, Feb. 14.

The Red Bulls will officially kick of the season on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Inter & Co. Stadium against conference foe Orlando City.