Sal Zizzo (right) scored the Red Bulls’ first goal in their victory. ( Mark Konezny/USA Today Sports)
TUCSON, Ariz. – The Red Bulls recorded a 3-1 preseason win over FC Tucson in a scrimmage Saturday night.
Sal Zizzo, Gonzalo Veron and Brandon Allen tallied for the Red Bulls, who face Hudson River Derby River rival New York City FC in their first match of the Desert Diamond Cup Wednesday.
“FC Tucson gave us a really good match,” Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch said. “They fought hard, they kept it clean, they scored a good goal. It was exactly what we needed to get some guys minutes and to have a good little test. Overall, I thought it was a successful night in many ways.”
It was the first game action for veterans Luis Robles, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kljestan, who rejoined the team this week. Wright-Phillips played 65 minutes, while Kljestan and Robles completed the full 90.
Zizzo opened the scoring late in the opening half, driving a Kljestan corner kick through traffic and inside the far left post.
Veron doubled the lead by making the most of a one-on-one chance in the second half. Veron ran onto a leading pass, wrong-footed a defender and fired a shot that deflected off of a defender and in.
Allen replaced Wright-Phillips in the 65th minute and scored about 10 minutes later. He made a run to the back post and tapped in a feed from Derrick Etienne. Etienne replaced Veron at the 75th minute.
