The New York Red Bulls kicked off the 2026 Major League Soccer season in style on Saturday night, defeating Orlando City SC 2-1 behind a breakout performance from teenage forward Julian Hall and a steady showing in goal from Ethan Horvath.
Making his debut as head coach, Michael Bradley saw his Red Bulls side deliver an energetic first-half performance that ultimately proved decisive.
The night belonged to Hall, who continues to emerge as one of the league’s brightest young talents. The 17-year-old wasted no time making an impact, opening the scoring in the eighth minute. Cade Cowell initiated the play before finding Emil Forsberg, who skillfully navigated through traffic and slipped a pass to Hall for a simple tap-in.
Hall struck again in the 40th minute, this time finishing a setup from 16-year-old rookie Adri Mehmeti. The second goal gave New York a commanding 2-0 lead heading into halftime and marked the fifth goal of Hall’s young career. Despite limited opportunities in previous seasons, the teenager appears poised for a breakout campaign.
While Hall provided the offense, Horvath delivered when it mattered most between the posts. The 30-year-old rookie goalkeeper—an experienced member of the U.S. men’s national team—recorded six saves in his Red Bulls debut.
Horvath, who steps in following the departure of longtime starter Carlos Coronel, kept Orlando at bay for nearly the entire match. His clean sheet bid was spoiled deep into second-half stoppage time when Tiago Souza scored in his MLS debut after coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute.
Orlando City found itself chasing the match after a difficult first half but showed resilience late. Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau was a standout despite the loss, finishing with 11 saves in his club debut after arriving from the Portland Timbers. The milestone appearance marked his 200th career start.
Crépeau replaces veteran Pedro Gallese, who departed in the offseason, and his performance kept Orlando within striking distance throughout the match.
The Lions were also forced into an early adjustment when midfielder Wilder Cartagena exited in the 14th minute due to injury. Nineteen-year-old Colin Guske stepped in, continuing the club’s trend of relying on young talent.
The Red Bulls will look to build on their strong start when they host the New England Revolution next weekend. Orlando City, meanwhile, faces a high-profile test as they prepare to host Inter Miami CF on March 1.
For New York, the opener offered a glimpse of a promising future—one led by emerging stars like Hall and guided by a new voice on the sidelines.
