Backup goalkeeper Ryan Meara will start for New York Red Bulls in the final of the U.S. Open Cup against Sporting Kansas City, manager Jesse Marsch announced.
“Ryan Meara is going to play in goal, we’re all excited for a big opportunity for him. We know he’ll be ready to go,” said Meara. It was the type of decision I felt like I couldn’t get it wrong because I have two such great goalkeepers but I also felt I couldn’t get it right. I felt like whoever I was telling was going to be very disappointed – it doesn’t feel good,”
Meara has been the regular starter in goal for New York during the Open Cup, over usual league starter Luis Robles, including the penalty kick shootout victory over Philadelphia Union in the Round of 16, and the come-from-behind victory at FC Cincinnati.
Red Bulls looks for its first Open Cup victory in franchise history in its first final since 2003, when the team was known as the MetroStars.