IMAGE, MATT KREMKAU FOR EMPIRE OF SOCCER

by DAVE MARTINEZ

In case you may have forgotten, Gonzalo Veron is a Designated Player.

That fact was on full display as the young Argentine playmaker capped off a standout offseason with a hat trick, leading the New York Red Bulls past the Jacksonville Armada 5-1 in the club’s final offseason encounter.

After a vibrant start by the Armada, New York quelled the home attack on the back of goals from Gonzalo Veron and Gideon Baah. Veron added two more in the second to put the match out of reach, with Sean Davis netting the fifth.

Armada striker Matt Fondy managed a pair of dangerous shots on Luis Robles early in the first, but failed to produce a meaningful challenge. The Red Bulls, however, were far more clinical with their opportunities. After a relatively quiet start to the encounter, New York striker Gonzalo Veron opened the scoring in the 25th minute, finishing a great buildup from teammates Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips. Two minutes later, newcomer Gideon Baah rose above his defenders and nodded home a Kljestan corner kick to double the lead.

Like the first half, Fondy started the second with a great chance against Robles but was denied a goal. And like the first half, Jacksonville’s early possession fell to pieces after another two goal outburst from the visitors. Veron muscled his way past four defenders in the 59th minute, walking his way into the box and beating Miguel Gallardo to the far post for his second of the night. Two minutes later, Veron once again connected with Wright-Phillips, taking advantage of a distracted Armada defense to complete his hat trick.

Davis made it 5-0 in the 82nd minute, but Elooundou answered on the other end to make it 5-1.

In other goods news for the Red Bulls, Shaun Wright-Phillips saw meaningful minutes as a late match sub, playing a vital part in Davis’ game-ending goal.

New York now look forward to March 6th and their home opener against Toronto FC.

Scoring Summary

NY – Gonzalo Veron (Bradley Wright-Phillips, Sacha Kljestan) 24′

NY – Gideon Baah (Sacha Kljestan) 28′

NY – Gonzalo Veron (unassisted) 60′

NY – Gonzalo Veron (Bradley Wright-Phillips) 61′

NY – Sean Davis (unassisted) 84′

JAX – Charles Elounduo (unassisted) 86′

Discipline Summary

JAX – Patrick Otte (caution, foul) 40′

JAX – Lucas Scaglia (caution, foul) 86′

Lineups

NY: Luis Robles; Kemar Lawrence (Connor Lade, 76′), Gideon Baah (Zach Carroll, 80′), Ronald Zubar (Karl Ouimette, 70′), Sal Zizzo (Chris Duvall, 77′), Sacha Kljestan (Alex Muyl, 80′), Dax McCarty © (Sean Davis, 72′), Felipe, Lloyd Sam (Shaun Wright-Phillips, 80′), Gonzalo Veron (Mike Grella, 66′), Bradley Wright-Phillips (Anatole Abang, 71′)

JAX: Miguel Gallardo; Tyler Ruthven, Beto Navarro, Mechack Jerome, Bryan Burke, Richie Ryan (Matt Bahner, 56′), Alhassane Keita, Junior Sandoval (Lucas Scaglia, 62′) Patrick Otte, Pascal Millien (Charles Eloundou, 77′), Matt Fondy