💪87′-90+2′: A fan invades the pitch in stoppage time and the game is ended soon after. A dominant outing for Barca and a solid win to end the USA pre-season tour.
🤩87′: GOALLLL!! 2-0! MEMPHIS SCORES! Pjanic makes a great lobbed pass to the NY Red Bulls box and a mix-up between a defender and the goalkeeper allows Memphis to score into an open net. 2-0!
Hakeem_CE via Reddit: “Imo Memphis has proven he deserves playing time. I think Fati, Auba and Ferran are at the end of the bench right now. Based off of Preseason so far.”
GaviFPS via Reddit: “Pjanic actually been pretty decent, but so was he last year in pre-season so. hmm.”
⏰72′-80′: Balde has been a firecracker on the left in the second half and makes a brilliant run to set up a chance for Ansu, who just shoots wide. Barca also almost get another thanks to a near own-goal that is denied by a great save by the NY Red Bulls keeper. Mewanhile, Inaki Pena replaces Ter Stegen and Pablo Torre comes on for Pedri.
New_Business_973: “I really hope Balde gets his minutes during league play. The kid looks promising.”
😐70′-72′: Lewandowski is taken off after failing to score despite a lot of trying. Memphis Depay replaces him.
PhlyingBiskit: via Reddit: “RL will score when he’s RL9… currently he’s RL12 so that makes sense!”
⏰62′-70′: Ansu Fati has looked really promising since coming on and comes close to scoring twice in a space of five minutes, but his attempt is just thwarted away.
EvandroRoncisvalle via Reddit: “Ansu may not be flashy, but he’s tremendously technically gifted.”
⏰55′-62′: Barca makes some more substitutions. Balde, Aubameyang, Nico and Pjanic all come on. Nico will operate as a center-back!
Virtualclix @ Reddit: “Pjanic will show them football.”
⏰48′-55′: Lewandowski again comes close to scoring, but his deflected shot is just saved by the goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Pique is getting booed by the fans every time he touches the ball.
A_Chicken_Dino via Reddit: “I know comparisons will be made but idc. Nunez and Haaland may have some goals already but thats their only contributions so far. Basically their only touches even. Just pouching. Lewa has been adding so much to our offense.”
✍️46′-48′: Barca have made a few substitutions as Roberto, Pique, Kessie, Pedri and Ansu Fati have all come on in the second half for Araujo, Christensen, De Jong, Gavi and Dembele.
Donniexc: “ansu, pedri, lewy, LETS GO.”
BarcaUniversal @Twitter: “Barça’s four captains are all on the pitch.”
💥46: ‘The second half resumes. New York Red Bulls will be attacking from the left to right side this time.
FIRST-HALF PLAYER RATINGS:
Impressive: Dembele – 9.0, Raphinha – 8.0, Gavi – 7.5, De Jong – 7.5.
Average: Christensen – 7.0, Garcia – 6.0, Ter Stegen – 6.0, Busquets – 6.0, Alba – 6.0
Poor: Araujo – 4.5 Lewandowski – 4.0,
😍HALF-TIME SUMMARY: It’s been a really entertaining half, with Barcelona all over New York Red Bulls so far. Lewandowski got a number of chances to score but just couldn’t get his first goal for the club. Dembele was unplayable and capped off a great half with a well-taken goal after some impressive link-up play with Raphinha. There should be plenty of changes after the break as Xavi should look to give the players on the bench some much-needed game-time.
😱45′-45+2′: Barca actually almost do get a goal in added time. A cross from the right wing strikes the post and falls to Araujo yards away from goal, but he is unable to divert it into the back of the net. Half-Time!
Kingchar_006 via Reddit: “Very entertaining first half!!”
⏰40′-45′: Barca have been totally dominant in the half and two minutes of added time is announced. Can they get another one before the break?
Vvsin via Reddit: “Dembele’s new nickname should be ‘el capitano’. Like President Pique.”
🤩40′: GOOOOALLLL! DEMBELE! Barca take the lead after a swift move that started from Ousmane Dembele on the left. He passes the ball to Raphinha outside the box and runs into the area, with the Brazilian playing a cheeky cut-back to him and allowing the Frenchman to blast one home. 1-0!