Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz wouldn’t call Julian Hall the hero in their come-from-behind 2-2 draw with Montreal, but it would be hard to argue the 16-year-old didn’t accomplish what he set out to do when he stepped onto the pitch in the 87th minute.
And that was to make an impact — which ended up being historic.
Hall scored his first career MLS goal a minute later, becoming the second youngest player in league history ever to record a goal and the youngest player in the franchise’s history to score, helping the Red Bulls secure a point in the standings on the road in Montreal on Wednesday night.
American soccer star Freddy Adu is still the youngest player ever to score in a Major League Soccer match at 14.
“It’s a surreal feeling getting a goal and a moment like that. I’m just really proud,” Hall said afterward.
Schwarz subbed in the forward with the Red Bulls trailing by one, and moments later, the club found itself with a corner kick opportunity.
Defender John Tolkin sent the corner into the penalty area, and two Red Bulls players touched the ball before Hall finished the sequence by heading it past Montreal keeper Jonathan Sirois for the equalizing goal.
“Just make an impact. Just put a good performance out there for the team and work as hard as I can,” explained Hall about what was going through his mind when he subbed into the game.
“Luckily I got a goal that game,” he added.
The Red Bulls had trailed Montreal 2-0 up until midfielder Wiki Carmona found the back of the net in the 61st minute.
New York has picked up points in four of its past five games with a big matchup with Toronto FC on the docket on Saturday.
Hall was featured by The Post earlier this year, discussing the odyssey he faced to get on the pitch in a match prior to him turning 16.
He was restricted by New Jersey child labor laws that prevented 14- and 15-year-olds from working before 7 a.m. and past 7:30 p.m.
Hall was signed by the Red Bulls last season at 15 years, 167 days old and has been part of the Red Bulls Academy since 2020.
Schwarz praised the development he’s seen out of the teen this season since getting the time with the MLS club.
“If you see the individual development of Julian Hall — he’s 16 years old — it’s unbelievable,” Schwarz said Wednesday night. “He’s a great person, he’s a great guy and he’s always listening, what we want to improve with him. What is very good in his skills and it’s good and he has today an important goal. A good feeling for [him] and that he is also the feeling that he’s a very important player for us.
“Not only an Academy player who makes a little bit of the next step and plays some minutes. No, he’s in our roster every weekend and now it’s good to make a big step now with this goal and I’m very happy for him.”
