Adams' Last Red Bulls Goal

On This Day in 2018, the Midfielder's Equalizer Was His Last in a Red Bull Shirt

Before making his name in Europe, Tyler Adams turned heads in the New York Red Bulls youth system. The midfielder's journey from academy prospect to first-team star represented everything the club's vaunted development pathway promised, progressing from the Regional Development School through Red Bulls II to the senior team—the first player to do so.

Even at age 11, Adams' reputation preceded him. Red Bulls II coach John Wolyniec, then on the academy staff, would watch him train "three, four, five nights a week," noting the youngster's raw potential. That dedication paid off when Wolyniec made Adams Red Bulls II's first-ever signing, and he made his professional debut in 2015 at 16 years old. What set Adams apart wasn't just his technical ability but his remarkable maturity.

By 2017, Adams had established himself as a regular starter, displaying the fearless energy and tactical intelligence that would become his trademark. That season, he scored his first MLS goal—actually a brace—against D.C. United while helping lead one of the league's youngest squads.

But it was on March 13, 2018, at Red Bull Arena that Adams would deliver perhaps his most memorable moment in a Red Bulls shirt. In the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal against Club Tijuana, with the aggregate score delicately poised, Adams rose to the occasion. After falling behind early, it was the then 19-year-old who leveled the match in the 28th minute, helping propel the Red Bulls to a historic 3-1 victory (5-1 on aggregate).

"We knew we weren't going to come out there and play scared," Adams said after the match. "Obviously [everyone] knows our philosophy. Tijuana knew what they were going to get today, and that’s exactly what we gave them. I think for us personally, moving on and being the first MLS team to advance – beating a Mexican team – feels pretty special."

The goal and victory marked a watershed moment—it was the first time the Red Bulls had reached the CCL semifinals and only the third time an MLS club had eliminated a Mexican team in the tournament's knockout stages. Even Tijuana's manager, Diego Cocca, acknowledged the young American's impact, praising the team's organization and counter-attacking prowess.

By this time, Adams was one of the new faces of the US Men's National Team, earning his first cap at the end of 2017 and a second during the January camp. Adams continued representing the US during its friendly-heavy schedule in 2018, playing in eight matches that year. The highlight was scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory over Mexico in September.

Adams' 2018 campaign would be his farewell season with the Red Bulls. Following the departure of veterans Sacha Kljestan and Felipe in preseason trades, Adams embraced an even more significant role in midfield alongside Sean Davis. True to his character, Adams remained focused on the task at hand. He started 26 of 27 matches, tallied a career-best seven assists, and helped drive one of the Red Bulls' best-ever seasons before his eventual transfer to RB Leipzig in January 2019, where he reunited with former manager Jesse Marsch.