HARRISON, N.J. — Dante Vanzeir broke through for the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night, the pricey transfer scoring the game-winner and providing an important glimpse of his finishing potential.
Second-half substitute Vanzeir’s first MLS goal came in the 86th minute, making the difference in a 2-1 win for the Red Bulls over the Columbus Crew.
Not only did it give the Red Bulls their first win of the season, but it showed the value of Vanzeir in the final third. The sample size is admittedly small — Vanzeir has just 54 minutes of MLS play across three appearances — but his movement off the ball and timely, well-taken goal is certainly something that the Red Bulls haven’t experienced much during Gerhard Struber’s time as head coach.
Calling Vanzeir “football smart,” Struber feels he might finally have a striker capable of big plays in important moments.
“We can see that his mechanisms, he directs some players in different directions and their good moves, he has good mobility and, in the end, he knows in which position he can come and score,” Struber said.
“Of course, there were good moments in training and also we know a little bit more from him right now (about) where is exactly his strength. This is not so much from my side. I know him exactly but this is more that the team comes in touch with him and realizes more and more in which direction he wants the ball, in which direction he can help the group.”
The Red Bulls, built not upon star power but rather the premise of team effort and work rate, brought in the highly touted Vanzeir this offseason to be a difference-maker. Once capped by Belgium, the 24-year old striker was purchased from Union SG for $5 million, the second-highest transfer in club history.
While the Red Bulls have had some talented teams over the past few years, they’ve universally lacked the kind of elite player who can score in key moments, something that their playoff failures of recent years emphatically underscores. Vanzeir’s pedigree certainly points to being a different kind of player.
On the goal, Vanzeir showed exactly what the Red Bulls were missing the past two seasons under Struber: a forward who not only finds good positions but can finish them off.
Cristian Cásseres Jr. played in John Tolkin, the Red Bulls left back, down the flank. With one touch, Tolkin took the bouncing ball and looped it to the back post.
Struber called Tolkin’s play “very sexy,” adding “this makes [Vanzeir’s] job much easier to score.”
With Tom Barlow making an intelligent run to the near post, Vanzeir went wide where he was unmarked at the back post. With his first touch, Vanzeir went near post and beat Eloy Room.
The game-winner from @dantevanzeir! @Audi | #RBNY pic.twitter.com/nh36t5orjR
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) March 19, 2023
“It was a difficult angle and I think to put that ball at the second post most of the time (that) needs a little curve and I was next to the post,” Vanzeir said after the match.
“I think first post for a goalkeeper is sometimes difficult to react to and also unexpected.”
That Vanzeir tallied so early in his MLS career should provide an exhale for the team and the player.
“I think every goal you make kind of gets you a good feeling. There’s not a lot of pressure on me, I’m still new to the league, new to the country,” Vanzeir said.
“But it’s a great start and it’s also good for the team. Three points, our first victory. Many more to come hopefully.”
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