RED BULLS TRAVEL TO TEXAS TO TAKE ON DYNAMO: The New York Red Bulls continue their three-match MLS road trip when they travel to Houston to take on the Dynamo at Robertson Stadium on Saturday night at 8:30 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM).
The Red Bulls enter the match after going 1-1-0 in last week’s Barclays New York Challenge at Red Bull Arena against a pair of Premier League sides. After dropping a 2-1 decision to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night, the Red Bulls responded with a 2-1 victory of their own over Manchester City on Sunday. Thierry Henry debuted for the club Thursday against Tottenham, and made an instant impact by scoring his first goal in a New York shirt, playing 45 minutes. Henry also played 45 minutes in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City, as the Red Bulls won on goals by Macoumba Kandji and Dane Richards. In their last league match, the Red Bulls were defeated by the first place Columbus Crew, 2-0, at Crew Stadium on July 17.
The Dynamo has not picked up all three points in a league match since May 22 when they defeated D.C. United. Since then, the club has gone 0-4-3, with one of the losses coming at the hands of New York. On June 2, Juan Pablo Angel’s dramatic 93rd minute free kick goal stole all three points for the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. Houston has picked up positive results in other competitions during the stretch, going 2-0-1 in the SuperLiga, with wins over Mexican clubs Puebla and Pachuca. Houston is led by Brad Davis, whose three goals and six assists leads the club. Tied with Davis for the team lead in goals is Brian Ching, who has scored three times in his Dynamo career against New York.
All-time, the Red Bulls are 3-2-4 against the Dynamo, and have posted a 0-2-2 record at Robertson Stadium in the regular season.
ANGEL TO PLAY VS. MAN U IN ALL-STAR GAME: New York Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel was added by MLS All-Star coach Bruce Arena to the 23-man MLS All-Star Team that will face legendary English side, Manchester United, on Wednesday, July 28 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas at 8:30 PM ET (TV: ESPN2, TeleFutura). It is the third career All-Star selection for Angel, who is second in MLS in goals scored this season with nine.
“It is an absolute honor to play in this year’s All-Star Game,” Angel said. “I want to thank Bruce for selecting me for this year’s match and I hope to help represent Major League Soccer well. Manchester United is one of the world’s premium clubs and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to play them.”
Now in his fourth season as a Red Bull, Angel has developed into one of the league’s most prolific strikers, tallying 54 goals in 88 regular season games over his MLS career. The Colombian Designated Player, who also played in the 2007 and 2008 All-Star Games against Celtic FC and West Ham United, respectively, and was the game’s Most Valuable Player after scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Celtic, is New York’s all-time leading goal scorer.
In 2010, Angel has steadily moved up the league charts in goals scored. After his two-goal performance against the Kansas City Wizards on June 26 in a 3-0 Red Bulls win, Angel won the MLS Player of the Week for the fourth time in his career. The 2007 MLS Most Valuable Player runner-up has also tallied one assist and has not missed a game this season, starting in all of New York’s 15 matches.
LAST WEEK: Red Bulls 1, Tottenham Hotspur (England) 2 at Red Bull Arena on July 22 (Barlcays New York Challenge).
Red Bulls 2, Manchester City (England) 1 at Red Bull Arena on July 25 (Barlcays New York Challenge).
THIS WEEK: Red Bulls at Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium on July 31 at 8:30 PM (TV: MSG; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM.
NEXT WEEK: Red Bulls at Chicago Fire on Sunday, August 8 at 9:00 PM ET (TV: ESPN2; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM)
2010 MLS STANDINGS
INCLUDES GAMES OF SUNDAY, July 25, 2010
RED BULLS OUTDUEL MANCHESTER CITY, 2-1 IN BARCLAYS NEW YORK CHALLENGE: Man of the Match Dane Richards scored the game-winning goal in the 70th minute, as the New York Red Bulls wrapped up the Barclays New York Challenge with a 2-1 win over English Premiership side, Manchester City, in front of 23,228 at Red Bull Arena. New York forward Macoumba Kandji also found the back of the net for the hosts, who finished 1-1-0 in the tournament after falling to Tottenham Hotspur, 2-1, on Thursday night.
Manchester City had the first legitimate chance of the game in the fourth minute, as Jo sneaked behind the Red Bulls defense alone on goal. However, New York goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul was quick off his line and knocked the forward’s shot away.
That missed opportunity cost the Citizens three minutes later, when New York took the lead. Richards had possession by the right touchline and skipped past City defender Wayne Bridge before finding Kandji, who beat his defender and slid it in from close range.
New York Designated Player Thierry Henry tried to get his name on the scoring sheet in the 20th minute, getting free on the left hand side of the penalty box and slipping an attempt past the right post. Six minutes later, Manchester City forward Emmanuel Adebayor played a nifty give-and-go and forced Coundoul to make a sprawling save. Henry himself was put into the 18-yard box off a Tony Tchani pass, but a full speed Joe Hart was able to deflect the ball out of danger.
Jo tied the game up for Manchester City in the 55th minute. Substitute Greg Cunningham found Jo in the box and the forward lined one past Coundoul.
The hosts regained the lead in 70th minute. Kandji cut into the penalty box and passed it back to Richards, who took a touch and smashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net. The Red Bulls tried to extend their advantage five minutes later, as Conor Chinn forced substitute goalkeeper Stuart Taylor to make a full extension stop.
Manchester City almost equalized with seven minutes left to play when Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely couldn’t get his attempt from inside the six yard box on target.
HENRY SCORES IN RED BULLS DEBUT BUT NEW YORK FALLS TO TOTTENHAM 2-1: The New York Red Bulls were defeated by English Premiership side, Tottenham Hotspur FC, 2-1, in front of 20,312 spectators Thursday night at Red Bull Arena in the first Barclays New York Challenge match. New Red Bull Designated Player Thierry Henry made his debut for the club, and recorded his first goal in a New York uniform to open the scoring, but Tottenham struck twice in the second half to earn the victory.
Tottenham looked to take the lead in the game’s opening minute, but midfielder Tom Huddlestone’s shot was deflected on its way toward goal and gobbled up by goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul. The Red Bulls responded with a chance of their own when Dane Richards sent a cross into the box for Seth Stammler, but his header from 10 yards was wide. Stammler later had an opportunity to score an open net and could not connect on the pass.
Henry, who started and played the entire first half, nearly scored seven minutes in when he was played in, but his shot at close range from 10 yards out was stopped by Carlo Cudicini.
However, Henry ended up recording his first goal in a Red Bulls uniform in the 25th minute. Midfielder Joel Lindpere expertly beat a Tottenham defender in the left side of the penalty area and sent the ball across the face of goal, where a sliding Henry was able to guide the ball to the far side netting. Henry, a World Cup, UEFA Champions League and European Championship winner, signed with the Red Bulls on July 14.
Tottenham had its best scoring opportunity in the first half in the 29th minute. Gareth Bale sent an accurate cross from the left side of midfield into the middle of the box and found the head of Robbie Keane. Keane’s header looked destined for goal, but Coundoul made a diving effort to keep the ball out, and Tim Ream cleared the ball from danger.
Goalkeeper Greg Sutton was one of the Red Bulls' three halftime substitutions, and the Canadian was forced into early action. Spurs fullback Alan Hutton sent a high, looping cross that Niko Krancjar hit on the full volley, but Sutton made a diving stop to push the ball past the post for a corner.
Tottenham leveled the match in the 62nd minute off a corner kick. Sutton tried to catch the corner at the top of the box but it went off his fingertips and over his head towards the far post, where Keane was there to volley it in. The visitors then took the lead 10 minutes later on a miscue from the New York defense. Substitute defender Jeremy Hall tried to head the ball back to Sutton, but Bale intercepted the pass and knocked the ball underneath the keeper to put Spurs up.
New York had multiple opportunities to tie the match about 10 minutes from full time. Cudicini denied Conor Chinn’s close range effort in the 78th minute, and a minute later, Richards’ attempt from the top of the box just missed the top corner. Off a corner kick in the 80th minute, Mike Petke rose and headed the ball over Cudicini, but off the crossbar.
TOTTENHAM AND SPORTING DRAW 2-2 AT RED BULL ARENA: Sporting Clube de Portgual and Tottenham Hotspur FC battled to a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon at Red Bull Arena in the first game of a doubleheader on the final day of the Barclays New York Challenge. Jonathan Obika scored the equalizer in the 70th minute of the back and forth affair. Robbie Keane opened the scoring before goals from Matias and Jaime Valdes temporarily gave Sporting the lead.
DJALO LEADS SPORTING OVER CITY AT RED BULL ARENA: Two goals from Yannick Djalo lifted Sporting Clube de Portugal over Manchester City FC last Friday night in the second match of the Barclays New York Challenge. Djalo’s two first half strikes were enough for the Portuguese club, who held on to win the match 2-0.
SPORTING TAKES CHALLENGE: Sporting Cube de Portugal won the Barclays New York Challenge with a 2-0 victory over Manchester City and a 2-2 draw to Tottenham. Sporting finished first based on the World Series of Football’s unique scoring system, netting 8 points, and defeating Tottenham on a tiebreaker as they conceded only two goals. Tottenham forward and Ireland international Robbie Keane was named the tournament’s best player.
REAM LEADING THE WAY: New York rookie defender Tim Ream is the only field player on the team to log all 1440 available minutes in 2010. Goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul has also played every minute thus far.
MATCH TICKETS FOR SECOND HALF ON SALE: Match tickets for the second half of the Red Bulls’ season are on sale now. Fans can purchase Groups, Family Packs and individual match tickets for all Red Bulls’ matches in August and beyond by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or by CLICKING HERE. The full schedule of matches that are on sale is as follows:
Wednesday, August 11: Red Bulls vs. Toronto FC - 7:30 PM
Saturday, August 14: Red Bulls vs. Los Angeles Galaxy – 6:00 PM
Saturday, August 28: Red Bulls vs. San Jose Earthquakes – 7:30 PM
Saturday, September 11: Red Bulls vs. Colorado Rapids – 4:00 PM
Saturday, October 2: Red Bulls vs. Kansas City Wizards – 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 9: Red Bulls vs. Real Salt Lake – 4:30 PM
Thursday, October 21: Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution – 7:30 PM.
SOLO FUTBOL AIRS SUNDAY: Red Bulls WADO 1280 AM and 92.7 FM announcers Ernesto Motta and Robert Sierra host their weekly call-in radio show, Solo Futbol, on Sunday night from 8-11 PM on WADO 1280 AM. Motta, Sierra and their panel of experts and guests analyze the Beautiful Game and the New York Red Bulls.
