RED BULLS LOOK TO END 2011 PRESEASON ON HIGH NOTE: The Red Bulls will wrap up the 2011 preseason with two matches this week. On Monday, the Red Bulls take on fellow MLS side FC Dallas at 6:00 PM ET in Casa Grande, AZ. Last season, the Red Bulls went 1-0-1 against the Western Conference Champions. In their first meeting on April 17 at Red Bull Arena, New York battled back from a one-goal deficit to win 2-1 in dramatic fashion. In the return fixture on September 16 at Pizza Hut Park, the Red Bulls came back again, benefiting from an FC Dallas own goal to earn a 2-2 draw. FC Dallas is coming off a 7-0 preseason win over the Arizona Sahuaros last Saturday night. Earlier this preseason, the Hoops captured the Disney Cup, beating in-state rival Houston Dynamo in the final.
On Tuesday night, the Red Bulls take on Mexico’s Club Atlas de Guadalajara at University of Phoenix Stadium at 10:00 PM ET. The match, called “Red Bull Reto Del Sol” or “Challenge of the Sun”, will be televised live, locally on MSG Plus, Nationally by ESPN Deportes. The game will also be available for international audiences on ESPN in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean and online at ESPNPlay.com. It will also be shown tape delayed on ESPN Dos networks.
The match has a special significance for Red Bulls defender Rafa Márquez, who began his illustrious playing career with Atlas as a seventeen year old in 1996. The Red Bulls’ Designated Player appeared in 77 matches for Atlas over three years, scoring six goals. Atlas is led by its captain Gerardo Espinoza, Honduran International Carlo Costly, and former Chicago Fire defender Wilman Conde.
RED BULLS COME FROM BEHIND TWICE TO DRAW WITH SPORTING KANSAS CITY: Despite falling behind twice, the New York Red Bulls fought back through goals from the forward tandem of Thierry Henry and Dane Richards to earn a 2-2 tie against Sporting Kansas City in front of a sellout crowd of 10,087 at Hi Corbett Field last Saturday night. With the draw, the Red Bulls finished 2nd in the Desert Cup on goal differential.
VIDEO: Red Bulls vs. Sporting Kansas City Recap
In a seesaw battle between the two MLS rivals over the 90 minutes, Red Bull Greg Sutton was the first tested goalkeeper in the 13th minute, pushing away a left footed drive by Kansas City midfielder Davy Arnaud. Moments later, Arnaud volleyed a Kei Kamara pass that zipped over the crossbar.
Sporting KC’s persistence would help give it the lead in the 20th minute. Kamara had the ball on the right wing and found Arnaud, who one-timed it with his left foot into the back of the net to open the scoring.
Kansas City’s lead would last less than two minutes, as Henry drew the Red Bulls level. Midfielder Tony Tchani played a long ball over the top to Richards, who ran towards goal and blasted a shot that goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen could only parry away. The rebound fell to Henry, who slid it in from six yards out to tie the match.
New York settled into the game after the goal and just before the break, Medhi Ballouchy’s cross was nearly headed in at the near post by midfielder Joel Lindpere.
The Red Bulls rode their momentum into the second half and three minutes in, a powerful Tchani header off a Rafa Marquez corner kick delivery was palmed away by a diving Nielsen. Then, in the 60th minute, Tchani threaded a well-weighted ball into the path of Richards. With only Nielsen to beat, Richards dragged his attempt wide right.
That missed opportunity would hurt the Red Bulls, as New York defender Tim Ream knocked down forward C.J. Sapong in the penalty box seconds later and the referee blew his whistle for a penalty kick. Kamara stepped up and sent Sutton the wrong way, giving Sporting KC the lead for the second time in the match.
Richards would make up for his previous chance with less than 15 minutes remaining in the encounter. Henry was able to gather the ball at the top of box and held off defender Matt Besler before he passed it to Richards. Richards was able to stay up from the pressure of a Kansas City defender and poked it in under Nielsen.
Richards almost knocked in the game winner three minutes later, outracing his Jamaican National Team teammate Shavar Thomas and rifling an attempt that Nielsen blocked away. In the 86th minute, Henry nearly had his second of the game, nodding a Lindpere cross off target.
RED BULLS EASE PAST FC TUCSON, 3-1: In the first game of their final preseason trip of the season, the New York Red Bulls defeated FC Tucson, 3-1, behind a Corey Hertzog brace and an Austin da Luz second half strike last Friday night at Hi Corbett Field. The match was the first for the Red Bulls in the Desert Cup.
VIDEO: Red Bulls vs. FC Tucson Post Match
The Red Bulls, which fielded a primarily younger, reserve squad, took the lead in the 19th minute. Chris Albright played a ball over the top to an on-rushing da Luz. Da Luz, with a step on his man, found Hertzog, who put it home from eight yards out to give New York an early advantage.
New York dominated the run of play in the opening 45 minutes and Hertzog almost doubled the visitors’ lead eight minutes from the intermission, heading a deflected Carl Robinson delivery over the crossbar. FC Tucson’s best chance came in the last play of the half, as goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer fully extended himself to parry away a Bryan Burke shot on goal.
Hertzog extended New York’s advantage in the 53rd minute, converting a penalty kick after a FC Tucson foul in the box. However, FC Tucson brought its deficit down to one again, as Burke had space on the left wing and cut into the box, before sliding it to Fernando Gauna, who one-timed it inside the left post past Maurer. However, six minutes later, da Luz put his name on the scoresheet, curling a shot into the net from the top of the box.
Due to a late injury to substitute Sacir Hot, Red Bulls Individual Developmental Coach and recently retired New York defender Mike Petke was forced to come on and finished the last 12 minutes of the match.
RED BULLS ADD DAVID LEE AS PERFORMANCE ANALYST: Red Bull New York announced on March 1 that it has hired David Lee in the role of Performance Analyst. In his role, Lee will be in charge of using video analysis to evaluate the Red Bulls and their opponents.
“The organization is excited to add a person of David caliber to our staff,” Red Bulls General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Solér said. “We feel that David’s expertise in scouting and ability to provide performance feedback will greatly benefit the club going forward.”
Lee joins the Red Bulls after working as Head of Performance Analysis for Exeter City Football Club of England’s third division from 2009. Prior to his time at Exeter City, Lee worked as a Performance Analyst at the Hartpury Football Academy from Sept. 2008 until June 2009. He earned a Master’s Degree in Performance Analysis from the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, and also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Technology from Staffordshire University.
NEW YORK PARTS WAYS WITH CONOR CHINN AND IRVING GARCIA: Red Bull New York announced on March 1 that it has waived forward Conor Chinn and midfielder Irving Garcia.
New York selected Chinn with the 34th overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of San Francisco. Chinn featured in five regular season matches with the club during his rookie year, logging 29 minutes. He earned four starts in the U.S. Open Cup, scoring three goals.
Garcia was selected by the Red Bulls with the 50th overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of California-Irvine. Garcia did not appear in any regular season matches in 2010. He made four appearances in the U.S. Open Cup, including two starts.
RED BULLS TO PLAY MONTREAL IMPACT AT SAPUTO STADIUM ON MAY 11: Red Bull New York announced that it will face the Montreal Impact in a friendly on Wednesday, May 11 at 7:30 PM at Saputo Stadium in Montreal.
With Montreal set to join Major League Soccer in 2012, this will provide soccer fans around the province with a great opportunity to get an early taste of MLS action.
Some well-known faces will take part in this match, including a couple of former FC Barcelona members, French forward Thierry Henry and Mexican defender Rafa Marquez, as well as Canadian goalkeeper Greg Sutton, who played for the Impact from 2001 to 2006.
”I am looking forward to come to Montreal later this year with my teammates to play against the Impact,” said Henry. “I know that the fans in Montreal are devoted to their team and are excited to join MLS in 2012. It should be a great atmosphere at Saputo Stadium.”
"We are excited to play Montreal as they build momentum for joining Major League Soccer next year," said Red Bull New York General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler. "Montreal is truly a cosmopolitan city with a great soccer fan base and we are thrilled to help promote the Impact with this match in May."
“We are very excited to welcome the New York Red Bulls and bring an MLS team to Montreal,” declared Impact president Joey Saputo. “We will have the chance to face one of the original members of MLS, a club that has proved over the years to be a top class organization. This match promises to be a great experience for our fans. As we prepare our club for MLS in 2012, we would like to thank the Red Bulls organization for this opportunity.”
