Mohammed Sofo scored two and led New York Red Bulls to a 4–1 road win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC to advance to the US Open Cup Round of 16. His performance also made history: he became the first player in club history to have two goals in a game in the tournament since 2018.
Sofo's impressive performance
Sofo netted the first two goals in the first part of the game. The opening goal came in the 16th minute when Alexander Hack sent a long ball over Switchbacks' defense. Sofo timed it just right, dropped it, and struck with his left foot into the bottom corner. That goal came with significance: it was Hack's first career US Open Cup assist as well as his first wearing a Red Bulls uniform.
The second one was at the 44th minute, during the latter part of halftime. Sofo received a pass from Noah Eile, who again showed precision, driving the ball into the lower right corner to widen the lead. Through this pass, Eile recorded his first US Open Cup assist and second of the season.
This match was Sofo's first multi-goal match for Red Bulls in all competitions. It was also the first time since June 6, 2018, a goal had been scored by a Red Bulls player twice in the course of a US Open Cup match. The last was Daniel Royer.
Sofo has been turning in consistent performances in the tournament. In three games in the US Open Cup, he's tallied four goals and an assist. He's scored in three of the four games that he's played from start to finish for the Red Bulls in 2024. He's scored in his last two games.
Coach awards
Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz praised Sofo's improvement and the work that he's put in since preseason.
What we've seen from him is the result of his development earlier this year," he said. "It started in preseason. He's very aggressive and also very strong in duels. He's not the tall and physical one, but he's really, really strong in duels, very aggressive in long runs and also in scoring goals. He's able to finish, to make the final pass.". So everything went very well, and he's proven that in the past weeks too.
Schwarz made Sofo's performance not an exception. The forward has been supplying on the field what he has been training in the background.
The Red Bulls kept the pressure up after halftime. Raheem Edwards in the 65th minute delivered a left-wing cross into the top of the box. Dennis Gjengaar guided it first-time high into the right corner. Gjengaar's first-career US Open Cup strike and second of the season overall in all competitions. Edwards posted his second career Open Cup assist and second of the season.
The fourth and final goal came in the 85th minute. Sean Nealis brought the ball upfield and started the play. He passed it to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who returned it, and Nealis scored in the bottom corner. It was Nealis' first US Open Cup goal and his fifth career for the Red Bulls.
Nealis is now seventh in franchise history for most defender goals, and he is tied with Kemar Lawrence and Connor Lade. The Choupo-Moting assist was his first in the Open Cup and his second of the season overall.