The Red Bulls won on the road for the first time in nearly two years on Saturday, ending a skid of 27 matches as visitors without a win. New York’s 1-0 victory over Seattle pushes it atop the Eastern Conference. Here are our player ratings for the Seattle game on a scale of 1 to 10:
GK Bouna Coundoul: Overall solid by the Senegalese keeper, but he struggled with handling crosses. Since New York concedes the wings and bottles up the middle, teams are forced to cross and center to create scoring opportunities. Coundoul will have to improve in his decisions and ability to handle aerial balls, but his shot blocking was once again the difference. Rating: 6
D Roy Miller: The Costa Rican international moved well into the attack for a second straight game and handled the stiff Seattle threats very well. A very solid performance for the left back, who looks like a real coup for New York. He held possession very well.Rating: 8
D Tim Ream: The rookie showed fantastic positioning on Saturday night and even moved the ball well upfield. Had an occasional passing blunder but his distribution out the back, through two games, is among the best in the league.Rating: 7
D Mike Petke: It was a physical, all-out performance by the veteran center back, who clearly enjoyed getting inside the head of Seattle’s Freddie Ljungberg. His passing was safe and his positioning, as always, was good. No major gaffes.Rating: 6.5
D Jeremy Hall: Given his blunder last June against Seattle, it was nice to see Hall play well as a right back. He moved into the attack frequently and overlapped several times, but New York failed to get him the ball. If they take advantage of him more, the offense can be dynamic with his ability to stretch the field.Rating: 6.5
M Seth Stammler: In his first action of the season, the team’s longest-tenured player showed no signs of rust. Stammler was in the middle of everything defensively and moved forward very well. His holding possession was valuable in the second half.Rating: 7.5
M Dane Richards: It was the right winger’s hard work on the flank that set up the corner kick which led to the game’s only goal. Much of New York’s attack in the first half was down Richards’ flank but he missed an overlapping Hall several times. Should have finished at least one second half chance. Good performance, tracked back well but plenty of room for improvement.Rating: 6
M Sinisa Ubiparipovic: The central midfielder covered a lot of turf on Saturday night, tracking back and getting in the thick of things defensively on the left flank. He moved the ball well but had some suspect passing and his touch let him down more than once.Rating: 6
M Joel Lindpere: The central midfielder proved again to be a difference maker for New Yorker with shrewd distribution and the ability to get the ball wide. Had some poor touches in the first half but had a well-taken corner that assisted on the game’s only goal.Rating: 6.5
F Macoumba Kandji: Very much against the run of play and on hostile turf, Kandji took his best chance very well and made the most of it. Was the most dangerous of the New York attackers but he worked hard defensively to hold a high line of pressure. Also held the ball well, making safe passes to hold the ball in the second half.Rating: 7.5
F Juan Pablo Ángel: It appears the Colombian is still not 100 percent following a preseason injury that shelved him for much of the month of March. His work rate wasn’t there and he never looked likely to score … or even dangerous.Rating: 5
Substitutes
M Danleigh Borman (for Ubiparipovic): One week removed from starting on the left wing against Chicago, Borman proved his worth again with a late-game appearance on the same side. He should have had an assist within moments of entry, but Richards failed to put the cross on frame. His effort and team defense helped preserve the win.Rating: 6
F Connor Chinn: Incomplete.
