The Red Bulls' youngest regulars went toe to toe with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami on Saturday night, and New York won 2-0.
Julian Hall (born 2008) led the line, and Adri Mehmeti (born 2009) started in midfield. Both played 85 minutes at Sports Illustrated Stadium. A record crowd of 26,287 was there to see Messi, who started on the bench after flying back from Spain, where he accepted the Princess of Asturias Award for Sport on Friday.
How it happened
New York led in the seventh minute. Mohammed Sofo's through ball sent Cade Cowell down the right, and Cowell's cross deflected in off Casemiro for an own goal.
Hall had two big chances to make it 2-0. He fired Cowell's cut-back just wide early, then headed over from inside the six-yard box in the 18th minute. Messi came on in the 56th minute, but Inter Miami managed only two shots on target all night. Emil Forsberg finished it in stoppage time.
Donkor's record
The assist on Forsberg's goal was Ronald Donkor's 10th of the season. At 21 years and 338 days, he's the youngest player in Red Bulls history with 10 or more assists in a season.
Why it matters
Hall missed two good chances, but he and Mehmeti both started a big game against Messi's team and held their own. Both are already full U.S. internationals, and the Red Bulls built their win around them.
New York are back in action Wednesday at New England (7:30 p.m. ET).
Sources: Red Bulls via OurSports Central, FotMob
