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The New York Red Bulls picked up a historic Champions League win on Tuesday night, winning 2-0 away to Tijuana to become the first MLS club to win a CONCACAF knockout-stage match in Mexico. A brace from Bradley Wright-Phillips and an impressive clean sheet from goalkeeper Luis Robles allowed the Red Bulls to take control of the quarterfinal clash ahead of the second leg in Harrison, New Jersey, next Tuesday. MLS teams had previously lost 25 of the 30 knockout-stage games in the region's top regional competitions. Overall, it was only the third-ever win for an MLS club in any competitive fixture in Mexico -- and first since August 2011 -- after eight draws and 38 defeats. For the Red Bulls, it was their first win in Mexico in eight games. Wright-Phillips had the visiting side in front before the 10-minute mark, smashing a shot into the roof of the net after a poor clearance of a Daniel Royer cross fell to him right in front of the goal. Robles made a string of huge saves throughout the rest of the first half, including two on 25 minutes by punching a thunderous Damian Perez shot away from his goal before tipping a flicked on Ignacio Rivero header over the bar. Tijuana had a chance to get back in the game when Ignacio Rivero put the ball in the net, but it was ruled offside in what replays showed to be an incorrect decision. The Red Bulls extended the lead with a huge second away goal against the Liga MX side when Wright-Phillips worked his way through traffic in the Tijuana penalty area before netting his second of the evening. "It took a little bit of luck, but in the end it's a wonderful result for us, but it's only halftime," Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch said. "This is far from over and we know that going back to Red Bull Arena we are going to have a very tough match again."
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