RED BULLS TRAVEL WEST TO BATTLE RSL: Winners of three of their last four matches, the Red Bulls look to continue their winning ways when they travel to Sandy, Utah to take on the defending MLS Cup Champion Real Salt Lake on Saturday night (9:00 PM ET; TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM).
In their last match, the Red Bulls kept their ninth clean sheet of the season in a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes at Red Bull Arena. Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry found the back of the net for the first time in a league match, scoring the second New York goal. Midfielder Dane Richards turned in a Man of the Match performance, tallying the game-winning goal and assisting on Henry’s strike. With the victory, the Red Bulls improved to 11-7-4 and picked up their 37th point. They trail the Columbus Crew by just four points for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Real Salt Lake sits second in the Western Conference on 40 points, posting a record of 11-4-7 thus far. In their last match, RSL tied Toronto FC in a 0-0 draw at BMO Field in Toronto on Saturday. They have proved to be the stingiest defense in Major League Soccer in 2010, tied with the Los Angeles Galaxy in conceding the lowest amount of goals (16 through 22 matches). Conversely, they have also scored the most goals in the league this season, notching 36. The top scorer for RSL is Costa Rican forward Alvaro Saborio, who has registered eight goals in his debut season in MLS. Argentinean playmaker Javier Morales has six goals himself and leads the club with six assists, while goalkeeper Nick Rimando is tied for the league lead in clean sheets, with 10.
The Red Bulls have lost just once to Real Salt Lake in their history, posting a 3-1-6 record all-time since RSL entered MLS in 2005. In Salt Lake, the Red Bulls are 0-1-4 combined at Rio Tinto Stadium and Real’s previous home, Rice-Eccles Stadium. The last match between the clubs took place October 14, 2009, a 2-0 home win for Real Salt Lake. New York memorably defeated Real Salt Lake, 1-0, on Nov. 15, 2008 in the Western Conference Championship to clinch its first-ever berth in the MLS Cup Final. RSL is unbeaten in its last 21 matches at Rio Tinto Stadium and a win or tie would tie the MLS home undefeated streak record set by the Columbus Crew in 2008-09.
LAST WEEK:
Red Bulls 2, San Jose Earthquakes 0 at Red Bull Arena on August 28.
THIS WEEK:
Red Bulls at Real Salt Lake on Saturday, Saturday, September 4 at Rio Tinto Stadium at 9:00 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM)
NEXT WEEK:
Red Bulls vs. Colorado Rapids on Saturday, September 11 at Red Bull Arena at 4:00 PM ET (TV: MSG, Telefutura; Radio: WADO 1280 AM)
2010 MLS STANDINGS - INCLUDES GAMES OF SUNDAY, August 29, 2010
HENRY’S FIRST GOAL GUIDES RED BULLS PAST EARTHQUAKES: Thierry Henry’s first MLS goal helped the Red Bulls to a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday night at Red Bull Arena in front of an announced crowd of 21,859 spectators. Man of the Match Dane Richards added a goal and assisted on Henry’s strike, as the second-place Red Bulls won their third match in four and improved to 37 points off an 11-7-4 record.
The Red Bulls kept possession in the opening moments, but the Earthquakes had a couple of opportunities to open the scoring in the sixth minute. Goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, who earned his eighth shutout Saturday, was up to the task and denied Arturo Alvarez and Chris Wondolowski shots just seconds apart. The Red Bulls responded with a chance of their own six minutes later, but Henry’s chance on target was cleared off the line by Tim Ward.
In the 21st minute, Henry nearly opened his account when he took a pass from Juan Pablo Angel and placed a shot that beat goalkeeper Jon Busch, but slammed off the right upright. San Jose then continued the back and forth play, as Cornell Glen slipped behind the Red Bulls defense, but his shot went begging wide.
The Red Bulls took the lead in first half stoppage time. Richards collected the ball about 25 yards from goal and raced towards the penalty box. On his way, Richards beat two defenders to clear himself through and rounded Busch, before tapping the ball into the vacant net. It was Richards’ first goal of the season.
Henry tallied his first MLS goal in the 62nd minute. Richards played the part of provider this time, as he sent a cross into the box from the right wing, finding Henry near the penalty spot. The Frenchman took a touch before firing a shot underneath Busch to double New York’s advantage.
HENRY NETS FIRST LEAGUE GOAL: Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry scored his first MLS goal last Saturday, providing the second strike for New York in its 2-0 victory over San Jose. The Frenchman scored a goal in his debut for the club in a friendly against England’s Tottenham Hotspur FC in the Barclays New York Challenge on July 22. The former World Cup, European Championship, and UEFA Champions League winner was signed by the club as its second Designated Player on July 14.
RICHARDS OPENS 2010 ACCOUNT: In a Man of the Match performance, Dane Richards scored his first goal of the 2010 season in the Red Bulls’ 2-0 victory over San Jose on Saturday. Richards opened the scoring the first half stoppage time on a brilliant individual effort, and assisted on Henry’s goal in the 63rd minute. Since being drafted by the club 19th overall in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, Richards has appeared in 97 regular season matches for the club, scoring nine goals and adding 17 assists.
FOUR RED BULLS CALLED INTO NATIONAL TEAMS: Red Bulls midfielders Rafa Márquez and Dane Richards, goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, and defender Roy Miller have been called up to their national teams for the next set of FIFA International dates from Sept. 3-7 and will be unavailable for the Red Bulls’ match at Real Salt Lake on Sept. 4.
Márquez was called up for Mexico’s upcoming friendlies on Sept. 4 against Ecuador in Guadalajara, Mexico and on Sept. 7 versus Colombia in Monterrey, Mexico. Márquez has represented Mexico 95 times, and captained the team at the 2002, 2006, and 2010 FIFA World Cups. Márquez signed with the Red Bulls as a Designated Player on Aug. 2, and scored his first goal for the club on Aug. 21 in a 4-1 victory over Toronto FC.
Richards has been called in to the Jamaica National Team for its upcoming friendlies on Sept. 5 against Costa Rica in Kingston, Jamaica and on Sept. 7 versus Peru in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Richards has appeared 17 times for Jamaica, and has scored one goal, which he notched in his last appearance for the “Reggae Boyz” against Trinidad and Tobago on Aug. 11. Richards has appeared in 19 matches this season for the Red Bulls, registering one goal and three assists.
Coundoul, who has three caps for the Senegal National Team, has been called up for Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sept. 5 in Lubumbashi, D.R. He last featured for Senegal in a friendly against Cape Verde Islands on Aug. 11. Coundoul, who leads Major League Soccer in saves this season, was acquired by New York on June 29, 2009.
Miller was called in for Costa Rica’s upcoming friendlies on Sept. 3 at Panama in Panama City, Panama and Sept. 5 at Jamaica in Kingston, Jamaica. Miller has 15 caps for Costa Rica. The defender was signed by the Red Bulls on Jan. 8, and has played in 19 matches this season for New York, registering one assist.
Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere was also called up by the Estonian National Team but declined the invitation.
“I have decided to respectfully decline call-ups by the Estonian National Team for the rest of the year to focus on the remainder of the MLS season,” he said. “I feel that it is important to help the Red Bulls firstly, qualify for the playoffs and secondly, compete for the MLS Cup championship.”
REAM LEADING THE WAY: New York Rookie of the Year candidate Tim Ream leads MLS in minutes played by outfield players, playing all 1980 available minutes of the Red Bulls 22 matches thus far this season.
BOUNA TIME: Red Bulls goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul made two saves in his eighth shutout of the season in the Red Bulls 2-0 defeat of the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday. Coundoul leads MLS in saves, and his eight shutouts are good for third among MLS goalkeepers.
2010 MLS SAVES LEADERS
PLAYER, TEAM, GP, SVS
1. Bouna Coundoul, NY, 21, 78
2. Stefan Frei, TOR, 21, 77
3. William Hesmer, CLB, 22, 63
4. Jimmy Nielsen, KC, 21, 63
5. Nick Rimando, RSL, 21, 62
2010 MLS SHUTOUTS LEADERS
PLAYER, TEAM, GP, SHO
T-1. Donovan Ricketts, LA, 21, 10
T-1. Nick Rimando, RSL, 21, 10
2. William Hesmer, CLB, 22, 9
T-3. Bouna Coundoul, NY, 21, 8
T-3. Kasey Keller, SEA, 22, 8
T-3. Jimmy Nielsen, KC, 21, 8
NYPD CAPTURES SECOND ANNUAL MAYOR’S CUP: The New York Police Department defeated the Fire Department of New York, 3-1, in the second annual Mayor’s Cup at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night following the Red Bulls’ victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. Daniel Brandi, Carlos Villacres, and Justin Bernstein were the goal scorers for the victors. For a full report on the match, visit Red Bulls Reader, the Red Bulls’ official team blog, at www.redbullsreader.com
START TIME FOR OCTOBER 9 MATCH VS REAL SALT LAKE CHANGED: The start time for the Red Bulls’ October 9 match against Real Salt Lake at Red Bull Arena has been changed to 4:00 PM ET. The match will be broadcast on MSG and TeleFutura.
RED BULL ARENA, BIG EAST RELEASE TICKET DETAILS FOR MEN’S BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP: Red Bull Arena and the BIG EAST Conference announced the ticket purchasing information for the 2010 BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Championship, presented by Travelodge, to be held at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. The conference championship will take place Nov. 12 & 14, in which the semifinal and championship games will be held.
The BIG EAST Semifinal games will be played on Friday, Nov. 12 with the Championship game taking place on Sunday, Nov. 14. Fans can purchase two-day pass tickets for as little as $16 apiece while single day tickets start at $10. Groups of 10 or more also qualify for discounted tickets to one or both days. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 1.877.RBSOCCER or log onto www.redbullarena.us.
There are 16 teams in the BIG EAST, which are divided into a Red and Blue division. The top 12 teams will earn a berth into the championship. Championship tournament games will be held on the campus of the higher seeded teams prior to the semifinal and championship game at Red Bull Arena. The tournament champion receives the league’s automatic berth into the 48-team NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship.
The semifinals will start at 5 PM ET and approximately 7:30 PM ET, while the title game is slated for 12:00 PM ET. The final three matches of the championship will be televised live on the CBS College Sports Network (CBS C). The semifinals also will be carried exclusively on CBS C, while the title game will be shown on numerous regional sports networks, including SportsNet NY (SNY). The title game also will be broadcast live nationally on CBS C beginning at Noon, ET.
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:
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 – 4:00 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.
