Julian Hall second youngest player to score MLS goal, rallies Red Bulls to 2-2 draw with Montreal

CF Montreal's Fernando Alvarez, left, and New York Red Bulls's Dante Vanzeir (13) challenge for the ball during second half MLS soccer action in Montreal, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Graham Hughes, The Canadian Press)

Sixteen-year-old forward Julian Hall subbed into the match in the 87th minute and scored in the 88th, becoming the second youngest player to score a goal in league history and rallying the New York Red Bulls from a two-goal deficit to a 2-2 draw with CF Montreal on Wednesday night.

At 16 years and 87 days, the homegrown Hall becomes the second youngest goal scorer in MLS history, behind only Freddy Adu. Hall replaced Dylan Nealis before scoring the equalizer. Adu was 14 years, 320 days old when he scored for D.C. United in a 3-2 loss to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in 2004. The MetroStars became the New York Red Bulls in 2006.

Montreal (4-7-7) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute when Sunusi Ibrahim used an assist from Gabriele Corbo to score his team-high sixth goal of the season.

Montreal took a two-goal lead into halftime when Kwadwo Opoku scored in the 40th minute. Opoku, making his second start and fourth appearance of the season, notched his first netter with an assist from Raheem Edwards.

The Red Bulls (8-4-7) pulled within a goal early in the second half when Wiki Carmona found the net for a second time this season, scoring unassisted on a left-footed shot from the center of the box in the 61st minute.

Ryan Meara totaled two saves in his third start of the season for the Red Bulls. Meara has 19 career shutouts, fourth in franchise history.

Jonathan Sirois turned away seven shots in his 49th career start for Montreal. Sirois had five saves in the first half, while Meara saved two shots.

New York leads the all-time series 15-10-2.

The Red Bulls improve to 3-4-4 on the road in their first season with Sandro Schwarz at the helm.

The Red Bulls return home to play Toronto FC on Saturday. Montreal travels to play the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.

This report by The Associated Press was first published on June 20, 2024.