Red Bulls start fast, blank Atlanta
Despite soggy conditions, the Red Bulls didn't suffer from the same sluggish start as other teams throughout the MLS is Back tournament.
The team dashed out to a 1-0 win over Atlanta United, notching an invigorating win against a heated rival to open the tournament.
A pre-game deluge forced a 45-minute delay for the kickoff. This stripped both teams of typical pregame rituals, as players changed out of the training tops on the pitch and lined up without a typical trip to the locker room.
That delay didn't keep the Red Bulls from rumbling out to an energetic start. Florian Valot slipped a ball past Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan in the fourth minute, notching the first goal scored in the first half of any MLS is Back match so far.
Atlanta and the Red Bulls don't like one another. The history between the two teams is marked with shoving matches, refused handshakes and Kemar Lawrence's famous “rock the baby” taunt. But this meeting between the two teams remained relatively tame without the typical crowd egging on either side.
The Red Bulls didn't hold onto the ball long, possessing for barely 30 percent of the game. Each time they recovered the ball, their focus immediately shifted to goal. This cracked open the scoring in the opening minutes, and allowed them to take three more dangerous shots that Guzan barely fended off.
Despite Atlanta's amount of time on the ball, the Red Bulls effectively disrupted their opponent through the midfield and in the defensive third where it mattered the most.Now, the Red Bulls will turn their attention to the Columbus Crew on Thursday at 10:30 p.m.
THOMAS LEADS AT MUIRFIELD
DUBLIN, Ohio — Justin Thomas kept another clean card at Muirfield Village and had a 6-under 66 to turn a three-shot deficit into a twoshot lead Saturday in the Workday Charity Open.
Thomas first had to run off a string of birdies to stay within range of Collin Morikawa. And when Morikawa began to fade with three bogeys in a four-hole stretch around the turn, Thomas converted on the par 5s and played wisely on the short par-4 14th for another birdie to hold off Viktor Hovland.
The final group is a glimpse of golf's next generation.
Thomas is the proven star, already a major champion and former world No. 1 at age 27 as he goes after his third victory this season and the 13th victory of his career.
Hovland and Morikawa had just left college at this time last year.
Hovland, the former U.S. Amateur champion from Norway, had eight birdies in his round of 66 and was two shots behind. Morikawa had to birdie the 18th for a 72.
Houston general manager James Click said they decided to cancel Saturday's workout as a precaution.