So much for this being an international friendly.
What was supposed to be a spirited exhibition between the New York Red Bulls and Mexican soccer powerhouse Club America turned into an international incident Saturday night, complete with flying fists, vicious kicks, five red cards and fans launching projectiles onto the field.
The Red Bulls walked away with a 1-0 victory at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey, but nobody was talking about the final score after an ugly brawl erupted in the 85th minute.
The trouble started following a foul near the end line, where a confrontation between opposing players quickly escalated into a free-for-all.
Within seconds, players from both clubs were throwing punches, kicking and wrestling as officials scrambled to separate the combatants.
Red Bulls midfielder Andy Rojas was captured on video appearing to punch Club America’s Dagoberto Espinoza in the back of the head, one of the more disturbing moments of the melee.
New York’s Ronald Donkor and Nehuen Benedetti were sent off, along with Club America’s Emilio Lara, Ramón Juarez and Espinoza. It was unclear whether Rojas received additional punishment.
Fans made matters worse by throwing objects onto the pitch, adding another dangerous element to an already volatile situation.
After the game, Red Bulls coach Michael Bradley wasn’t particularly alarmed by the fireworks.
“You hear people say that there are no real friendlies,” Bradley said afterward, explaining that players still want to compete and win regardless of the occasion. “It’s part of it on certain nights.”
Well, that’s one way to describe it.
Either way, a tuneup during the international window turned what should have been an ordinary soccer match into an all-out street fight.
The Red Bulls, who missed the MLS playoffs after finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference, at least ended their season with a victory. Club America, meanwhile, must regroup before its Liga MX Apertura finale against Tigres on Nov. 25.
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