New York Red Bulls vs. Chelsea: Score, Grades and Reaction from 2015 ICC

Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls defeated defending Premier League champions Chelsea 4-2 in the International Champions Cup from Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, Wednesday night. 

Chalk it up to the complacency of playing a weaker side or it being their first preseason game against a team that is in midseason form, but Chelsea were stunned by a dominant second-half display from the Red Bulls.

Chelsea selected a strong starting 11 with stars like Oscar, Cesc Fabregas and keeper Thibaut Courtois. They also started a back four that could very well start some regular-season fixtures when the Premier League campaign kicks off.

Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill were flanked by Cesar Azpilicueta and Kurt Zouma. Of course, captain John Terry will have plenty to say about that, as Zouma would most likely be the odd man out and Ivanovic moved to the right-back position.

It all seemed to be going to plan to start.

Sure, the Red Bulls were putting some stress on that back line in the first 10 minutes, forcing Ivanovic and Cahill into last-ditch challenges to save Courtois from jumping into action, but nothing worried the keeper.

Victor Moses had Chelsea's first chance, in the fifth minute. With a marauding run down the left side, the 24-year-old worked his way into the box, but his low shot was turned away by Kyle Reynish. 

New York showed plenty of resolve early on, not backing down from Chelsea's advances despite keeping Reynish on his toes all half. The Red Bulls keeper saw 21 shots on the night, including 12 in the first half.

Red Bulls' Sean Davis provided one of the few chances for the host side in the first 45 minutes, playing a neat one-two with Leo Stolz before sending a shot just inches wide in the 10th minute.

Under intense pressure, New York's defense was bending, but not breaking, stymieing the Chelsea attack while frustrating the likes of Oscar in the first 15 minutes. Chelsea are a side that have a tendency to score early, taking the air out of their opponents within the first quarter of an hour.

The more time a side can hold Chelsea in the early proceedings of the match, the better chance they have of nabbing a shocker. 

Chelsea's opportunities kept coming via the set piece. In the 21st minute, Fabregas sent a short free-kick toward Ivanovic, who sent a spinning cross to the middle of the box. Zouma was able to make solid contact with his head, but he sent his chance just wide. 

It seemed everyone but Loic Remy was getting in on the action for Chelsea—that is, until the 26th minute when the Red Bulls defense finally broke. Moses sent Oscar down the right with numbers, and he sent a cross to an open Remy. His first touch sent the ball behind him, but he was able to set himself and fire his shot past Reynish to give Chelsea the lead. 

Football Zone had a look at the Frenchman's goal:

"

Loic Remy 1-0 Chelsea. https://t.co/HRnexa6Xon

— TweetChelseaFC (@TweetChelseaFC) July 23, 2015"

Chelsea could have had two more before the end of the first half. Moses almost doubled the lead, chipping Reynish as he came out of position to the right of goal, but his shot hit a post and cleared from danger.

In the 41st minute, Remy missed a sitter after Moses' cross offered him an open goal. But somehow, from a few feet away, Remy sent his volley over. 

They would come to rue those missed opportunities.

Usually when teams go to their bench for mass substitutions in offseason tournaments, there is some kind of dip in skill. Not so much for Chelsea. 

The second half brought the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, two of the best players in the Premier League, off the bench.

However, goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who was making his Chelsea debut by replacing Courtois, did not have a good start with his new team to say the least. Just minutes after he failed to punch away a cross that was saved off the line by Terry, Begovic was burned in the 51st minute when he could not clear a back pass from Terry as Franklin Castellanos turned in a well-deserved equalizer for New York, per SoccerHub365:

"

Franklin Castellanos Equalizer New York Red Bulls Vs Chelsea Football Club http://t.co/6qc4Ltv5qp

— SoccerHub365 (@SoccerHub365) July 23, 2015"

Chelsea were set for a quick response, winning a free-kick via the counter-attack, from which Diego Costa headed onto the bar.

New York kept pushing with great ferocity as the wheels fell off of Chelsea's proverbial bus.

In the 70th minute, Castellanos played provider, sending in a cross that found the head of 16-year-old Tyler Adams, who steered his effort past Begovic, who didn't have a chance, per SoccerHub365:

"

Tyler Adams 1:2 (HD) Chelsea v. New York Red Bulls - International Champions Cup @soccerhub365 - http://t.co/Uwzp1jYBzl via @dailymotionind

— SoccerHub365 (@SoccerHub365) July 23, 2015"

Not even the most gifted young players in the world have many chances playing against a top-flight club like Chelsea. To score against one of the best teams in Europe while showing composure well beyond his years is quite the accomplishment in such a blooming career. 

Three minutes later, Davis put New York two up after a scramble at the top of the box fell to his feet, sending a strike toward the left post, beating Begovic. 

New York's domination must have woken Chelsea up, as they replied with a quick goal themselves through Hazard in the 75th minute.

However, Davis scored his second goal of the match in the 77th minute, taking advantage of a failed clearance from Ramires, as Chelsea's defense all but disappeared.

Chelsea continued to create a bevy of chances, but they somehow squandered all of their efforts in surprising fashion. Costa missed a breakaway opportunity; Oscar sent a tap-in wide.

It doesn't get much easier for Chelsea, as they play French champions Paris Saint-Germain July 25, while the Red Bulls take on Portuguese side Benfica the following day.

An embarrassing loss won't sit well with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, as he is the kind of coach who will not tolerate such displays, even if it is in an offseason tournament. While he searches for the right combinations for his squad for the upcoming season, expect Mourinho to get the most of his players in a much better result against PSG. 

Grades

Sean Davis- A

Davis is my man of the match after his two-goal performance Wednesday night. Playing a full 90 minutes, he was New York's biggest spark. The most consistent player of the evening, Davis was dynamic enough to provide some chances for the Red Bulls even when there were spells that Chelsea dominated. 

Frank Castellanos- A-

Castellanos got New York off the mark with an equalizing goal that burned Chelsea for their lackadaisical play at the back. It was his goal that shifted the momentum and allowed New York settle in and play their game against a Chelsea side that looked lost for much of the second half. 

Victor Moses- B+

It was one of Chelsea's less prolific players who was at his best Wednesday night. Moses, who spent last season on loan at Stoke City, delivered speed and aggression coming down the wing as great support for Remy up front in the first half. If he played the full 90 minutes, it could have been a very different result for Chelsea. 

Reaction

Not playing on Wednesday, New York Red Bulls veteran Dax McCarty had a message for New York Red Bulls fans:

The losing manager, Mourinho, remained defiant in his classic way after his side's defeat.

"You're talking to the manager of the top team in Premier League. I'm not worried," he said, per Upper 90 Studios. 

He went on to add, according to Glenn Crooks of WFAN, "They gave us a good match, maybe better then they should—if we play 10 times, we win nine."