Fidel Escobar had an impressive debut for the Red Bulls. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)
PORTLAND, Ore — Three players made their Red Bulls debut in the 2-0 loss to the Portland Timbers Friday night.
They were defender Fidel Escobar and midfielders Dilly Duka and Vincent Bezecourt.
Head coach Jesse Marsch liked what he saw at Providence Park.
Escobar, a 22-year-old defender from Panama, was signed during the summer transfer window.
“Escobar really grew into the game,” Marsch said. “He was dominant, he was dominant in the back. He took care of 1v1 situations with [Jeremy] Ebobisse and with [Darren] Mattocks and he was dominant.”
Perhaps no one appreciated Escobar more than goalkeeper Luis Robles. He said the Panamanian was “excellent, excellent.”
“Since he’s been here it’s only been a brief time, but we see so much potential and his ceiling is very high,” he added. “For a guy that has to learn a new system, come to a new environment he’s done a great job. That’s why when we put him on the lineup sheet today, it was absolute belief that he was going to be good and everyone was able to see the kind of things we’ve been able to see in training today. He was confident, he was good on the ball, he won his headers. He’s only going to get better, which is exciting for this organization.”
Duka, a Major League Soccer veteran, made his first start with team after signing last week.
“I thought was quite good,” Marsch said. “He understood what we are trying to do, he understood our tactics. Found the game in a lot of ways.”
Bezecourt made his league debut after playing the last 1 1/2 seasons with Red Bulls II. Escobar was signed during the summer transfer window.
“He’s got a lot of good qualities, thought he worked hard, thought he fit in the midfield really well,” Marsch said. “He put some attacking plays together.”
