The kids can play.

With all but two starters sitting out for the Red Bulls’ MLS opener, coach Jesse Marsch flexed his touted depth as teenager Ben Mines’ dream debut capped an early statement win against the Portland Timbers, 4-0, at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night.

Mines notched his first career goal when he connected on Alejandro “Kaku” Romero Gamarra’s goal line cross after a beautiful sequence by the Red Bulls.

Forward Derrick Etienne and Carlos Rivas were the pair who started the sequence when their delicate one-two play freed Kaku on the wing before the goal.

“I didn’t know what to do,” Mines said of the goal. “I was so happy. … I kind of just did my celebration and went on with the game.”

Marsch said he knew Mines was going to make his first start last week. He also predicted that he’d score Saturday night, too.

“[Mines’] is dangerous and he’s clever,” said Marsch, who sat his starters to rest them for Tuesday’s CONCACAF game. “He’s always good around the goal.”

“For him to come in and score on his debut is incredible,” captain Luis Robles said of Mines, who at 17, became the third youngest Red Bulls player to score in club history, behind Eddie Gaven and Jozy Altidore, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Marsch benched all starters but Luis Robles and Sean Davis, who is suspended for the second leg of the team’s CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals match against Club Tijuana on Tuesday night in Harrison.

Robles’ MLS-record streak of 175 consecutive starts was in jeopardy if he missed the opener.

Bradley Wright-Phillips, who came in as a substitute, scored on a header in the 77th minute. Rivas, who also was making his Red Bulls debut, scored the third just three minutes later and added another in extra time.

“There were different names on the back of the jerseys, but that looked like our team,” Marsch said.