HARRISON, N.J. – Red Bulls II will open its 2022 USL Championship season against Miami FC at Riccardo Silva Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.
Coverage is available on ESPN+.
New York’s eighth season of play opens with two matches away from MSU Soccer Park. It marks the first time in club history that it will play two-straight road matches to begin a season. The club is 2-2-3 all-time in season openers, with the lone road match being a 3-3 draw against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in 2017.
Forward Jeremy Rafanello leads Red Bulls’ II roster. The Delran, N.J. native led the team in assists and ranked second in goals last year. This team also features several players who will see an expanded role, including defender Curtis Ofori and midfielder Steven Sserwadda.
The 2021 season marked the first year of play between the two sides. Miami won the first-ever meeting, 1-0, on May 14 at MSU Soccer Park, and the two sides played to a 1-1 draw on July 2. Miami won both matches down in South Beach, including the most recent clash on October 24.
Miami, after qualifying for the postseason in 2021, made several key additions in free agency. Two All-League selections, Kyle Murphy and Mark Segbers, made the trip south from Memphis 901 FC. The club also signed former Red Bulls midfielder Florian Valot, who was part of the 2016 Red Bulls II championship-winning team.
The match will also mark the club debuts of each head coach. New York announced the hire of former Seattle Sounders Academy Director Gary Lewis on February 14. Former Saint Louis FC head coach Anthony Pulis was named Miami’s head coach on November 29, 2021.
Following Saturday’s match, Red Bulls II will remain on the road to face Atlanta United 2 on Wednesday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m.
