RED BULLS HOST CREW AT RED BULL ARENA SATURDAY: Coming off their third consecutive tie, the Red Bulls host Eastern Conference rival the Columbus Crew on Saturday night at Red Bull Arena (7:30 PM ET; TV: MSG; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM) as part of a two-game homestand.
New York is coming off a 1-1 draw last Saturday with expansion side Vancouver Whitecaps FC. For the third consecutive game, the Red Bulls came from behind to earn a draw. Vancouver’s Eric Hassli opened the scoring with a 24th minute penalty kick, but Luke Rodgers’ goal 10 minutes later evened the match for good. The goal was Rodgers’ fifth of the season, which is tied for the third most in Major League Soccer this season. The game also marked the MLS debuts of two Red Bulls players, second year midfielder Austin da Luz and Red Bulls Academy graduate Matt Kassel. The draw improved the Red Bulls to 18 points on a record of 4-2-6, which is good for second in the Eastern Conference. New York is just two points behind the East-leading Philadelphia Union.
Columbus is coming off a scintillating 3-3 draw with Chivas USA last Saturday at Crew Stadium. The Crew came back on three separate occasions in the match, getting the final equalizer from Emmanuel Ekpo in the 64th minute. Forward Andres Mendoza provided the other two Crew tallies. Columbus, who is coached by former Crew player Robert Warzycha, currently sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 3-3-5, 14 points.
The Red Bulls will be without six players due to international duty. Defenders Tim Ream (United States) and Rafa Marquez (Mexico), midfielders Dane Richards (Jamaica) and Dwayne De Rosario (Canada) and forward Juan Agudelo (United States) have all joined their respective national teams for participation in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul was called up by the Senegal National Team for a June 4 match against Cameroon, and will be unavailable for selection on Saturday as well.
The all-time matchup between the two charter MLS franchises dates back to 1996 and has seen the teams square off 51 times in the regular season. All-time, the Red Bulls are 22-23-6 in those matches against Columbus. The teams also faced off in the 2008 MLS Cup Final, which the Crew took 3-1. This will be the second meeting between the clubs this season. Back on March 26, New York and Columbus played to a 0-0 draw at Crew Stadium with the Red Bulls missing five players due to international duty.
GRASSROOT SOCCER CHARITY PARTNER FOR CREW GAME:
The New York Red Bulls home game against the Columbus Crew on June 4th will showcase Grassroot Soccer as a charity partner at the game. Game attendees will encouraged to donate to Grassroot Soccer through a raffle, and Grassroot Soccer CoFounder Ethan Zohn and the Grassroot Soccer Board of Directors will match the game day donations 100 to 1 for up to $1 million with a Red Bulls win or 10 to 1 for up to $100,000 with a Red Bulls loss.
LAST WEEK:
Red Bulls 1, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 at Empire Field on Saturday, May 28.
THIS WEEK:
Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, June 4 at 7:30 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM).
NEXT WEEK:
Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution at Red Bull Arena on Friday, June 10 at 8:30 PM ET (TV: Fox Soccer Channel; Radio: WADO 1280 AM).
RODGERS’ STRIKE HELPS RED BULLS TIE VANCOUVER, 1-1:
Luke Rodgers’ fifth goal of the season helped the New York Red Bulls earn a 1-1 tie against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Empire Field Saturday afternoon in front of 21,000 spectators. It was the Red Bulls’ third match in eight days, as they moved to 18 points off a 4-2-6 record with the draw.
Early on, the hosts looked to pressure New York early, as Shea Salinas got by his defender and passed the ball to Eric Hassli, who could not put his attempt on target from the back post in the second minute. Four minutes later, the Red Bulls caught Vancouver on the counterattack. Dwayne De Rosario sprung Rodgers on the right wing and the forward held off his defender before striking his shot wide. Soon after, Rodgers found Jan Gunnar Solli at the top of the penalty box and the Norwegian ripped an attempt over the crossbar.
Whitecaps FC took the lead in the 24th minute. Camilo played a give-and-go with Davide Chiumiento on the left wing and the forward was free in the box before being tackled by New York’s Carlos Mendes. Referee Mark Geiger pointed to the penalty spot and Hassli converted, tucking his shot just out of the reach of goalkeeper Greg Sutton.
The Red Bulls responded 10 minutes after Vancouver’s opener with a score of their own. Roy Miller struck a cross-field ball to Solli on the right side. Solli gathered possession and found a streaking Rodgers, who volleyed it into the back of the net.
Both sides were hoping to gain an advantage after the break and Sutton’s efforts kept the score tied as he kicked away an on-target attempt from Hassli in the 59th minute. Moments later, Miller was inches from giving the visitors the lead, whizzing a shot just by the right post. With 10 minutes to play, Red Bulls substitute Matt Kassel, making his MLS debut, almost found twine with a 22 yard volley that was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Jay Nolly. De Rosario nearly stole the points late, curling a free kick and missing the goalframe.
The Red Bulls were missing forward Thierry Henry (right knee swelling) due to injury while defender Rafa Marquez (Mexico) and midfielder Dane Richards (Jamaica) were away on international duty, preparing for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup with their respective national teams. New York midfielder Austin da Luz came into the game in the 70th minute, earning his first-career MLS appearance.
WATCH:
Red Bulls 1, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 – Full Match Highlights
KASSEL, DA LUZ MAKE MLS DEBUTS:
The Red Bulls’ 1-1 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday marked the MLS debuts of two Red Bulls players. Red Bulls Academy product Matt Kassel was subbed on in the 70th minute, marking his team debut. Kassel became the second Red Bulls Academy player to ever play in an MLS match, following in the footsteps of Juan Agudelo. Also making his MLS debut was second-year midfielder Austin da Luz. The former Wake Forest University standout was drafted by New York in the first round, 14th overall, in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.
HENRY, RODGERS GUNNING FOR GOLDEN BOOT:
The Red Bulls’ forward tandem of Thierry Henry and Luke Rodgers is tied for the most goals scored by two teammates this season in Major League Soccer. Between them, Henry and Rodgers have scored 11 goals, which is tied with the amount of goals from Los Angeles Galaxy teammates Landon Donovan and Chad Barrett. Henry’s six goals ranks second in MLS, while Rodgers’ five is good for third-best.
2011 MLS GOALS LEADERS
Player (Team), Goals
1. Landon Donovan (LA), 8
T-2. Thierry Henry (NY), 6
T-2. Chris Wondolowski (SJ), 6
T-2. Charlie Davies (DC), 6
T-3. Luke Rodgers (NY), 5
T-3. Maicon Santos (TOR), 5
WATCH:
Luke Rodgers' Equalizer vs. Whitecaps
SOLLI ADDS ANOTHER HELPER:
Red Bulls defender Jan Gunnar Solli added his team-leading fourth assist of the season, setting up Luke Rodgers’ 34th minute equalizer on Saturday at Vancouver. Solli’s four assists ranks fourth in Major League Soccer this season. Solli, who the Red Bulls signed on Jan. 24, has played every minute of the Red Bulls’ 12 matches this season. Also assisting on Rodgers’ goal was Roy Miller, earning his second of the season.
RICHARDS’ DYNAMIC STRIKE FASTEST IN CLUB HISTORY:
Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards wasted no time in finding the back of the net for New York, one-timing a Luke Rodgers feed from 25-yards-out into the back of the net just 39 seconds into a 2-2 tie against Houston on May 21. Richards’ goal was the fastest in club history, breaking the previous record held by midfielder Dave van den Bergh:
FASTEST GOAL IN CLUB HISTORY
Player Date/Opponent/Result Seconds into Match
1. Dane Richards 5-21-2011/at HOU/2-2 Tie 39
2. Dave van den Bergh 4-5-2008/vs. CLB/2-0 Win 46
3. Jozy Altidore 5-24-2007/vs. CHI/3-0 Win 56
BACKE RECORD STILL INTACT:
Under Hans Backe, the Red Bulls have yet to lose a game in which they scored the first goal. The Red Bulls left it late against the Dynamo on May 21, but by earning their 2-2 tie at Houston, they kept Backe’s 22-game unbeaten streak intact. In 2010 and 2011 combined, New York has posted a record of 18-0-4 in games where they opened the scoring.
TICKETS FOR SECOND HALF OF RED BULLS SEASON ON SALE:
individual game tickets to the final portion of the New York Red Bulls’ 2011 MLS regular season at Red Bull Arena will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, June 1 at 10:00 AM.
These home games will mark the return of the Red Bulls to Harrison after the team’s historic participation in the prestigious Emirates Cup tournament in London at the end of July. Some of the action includes exciting matchups such as the Los Angeles Galaxy, CONCACAF Champions League Finalists Real Salt Lake and Eastern Conference foes Philadelphia Union.
The matches that will go on sale are:
Date, Opponent, Time
Saturday, Aug. 13, Chicago Fire, 7:30 PM
Sunday, Aug. 28, Los Angeles Galaxy, 7:00 PM
Saturday, Sep. 10, Vancouver Whitecaps, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Sep. 21, Real Salt Lake, 8:00 PM
Saturday, Sep. 24, Portland Timbers, 7:30 PM
Thursday, Oct. 20, Philadelphia Union, 8:00 PM
Each game also gives the Red Bulls and their fans an opportunity to give back to the community. Examples of the home game community activation are the Red Bulls 9/11 Tribute Night on Saturday, September 10 when they host the Vancouver Whitecaps, and Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Thursday, October 20th when the team hosts the Philadelphia Union. For a full list of charitable opportunities at every Red Bulls home match, visit //www.newyorkredbulls.com/charitable-schedule.
Tickets can be purchased by logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com or by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER.
FIVE RED BULLS CALLED TO NATIONAL TEAMS FOR 2011 CONCACAF GOLD CUP:
Defenders Rafa Marquez (Mexico) and Tim Ream (United States), midfielders Dane Richards (Jamaica) and Dwayne De Rosario (Canada) and forward Juan Agudelo (United States) have been called up to their respective national teams for 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup matches taking place throughout the month of June. As a result, all five players will miss select Red Bulls matches depending on how each of their respective national teams perform in the tournament that runs from June 5-25 (full match schedule below).
Marquez will be looking to add to his 101 international caps he has registered for Mexico. He picked up his 100th and 101st international caps in March 2011 when Mexico beat Paraguay in Oakland, CA on March 26 and tied Venezuela in San Diego, CA on March 29. Marquez is just the eighth Mexican to earn 100 caps for the National Team. The former FC Barcelona and AS Monaco star and National Team captain joined the Red Bulls on Aug. 2, 2010 as a Designated Player and featured in 10 matches for New York last season, scoring one goal and one assist. Marquez has appeared in nine matches for the Red Bulls in 2011. Mexico is in Group A in the Gold Cup and will face El Salvador (June 5 in Arlington, TX), Cub (June 9 in Charlotte, NC) and Costa Rica (June 12 in Chicago, IL).
MLS Rookie of the Year finalist and 2010 Red Bulls Defender of the Year Ream was called to the U.S. side after appearing for the senior team in their March 29 1-0 loss against Paraguay at LP Field in Nashville, TN. After a stellar rookie season, the Saint Louis University product, who played in every minute of every one of New York’s 30 regular season matches, has three caps for the senior team, making starts against South Africa and Chile and Paraguay. Ream started 11 games for the Red Bulls this season.
Agudelo will also join the U.S. squad for the Gold Cup. The 18-year-old appeared for the senior team in their March 26 game against Argentina and March 29 game against Paraguay. Agudelo came on as a halftime substitute in the U.S.’s 1-1 tie against Argentina and scored the lone U.S. goal in the 59th minute, his second goal for the senior team. Agudelo, who has been capped four times, started and played the full 90 minutes in the team’s loss against Paraguay. The Red Bulls Academy product earned his first two caps for the senior team this past offseason. Against South Africa on Nov. 17, 2010 in a 1-0 win, Agudelo scored the game-winning goal for the U.S. in the 85th minute in his debut and became the youngest American player to score a goal for the senior national team at 17-years old. This season, Agudelo has appeared in 11 games, registering two goals for the Red Bulls. The United States is in Group C and takes on Canada (June 7, Detroit, MI), Panama (June 11, Tampa, FL) and Guadaloupe (June 14, Kansas City, KS).
Richards joins the Jamaican National Team for the Gold Cup today after appearing in both of the team’s friendlies in March 2011. Richards, who has 28 caps for Jamaica, started and played 59 minutes in the team’s March 25 loss to Venezuela. In the team’s March 29 win against El Salvador, Richards started and scored two goals in the first half before being taken out in the game’s 81st minute. Richards also led Jamaica to the 2010 Digicel Caribbean Cub championship, winning a share of the Golden Boot with three goals. This season for the Red Bulls, the former Clemson University standout has two goals and two assists in nine appearances. Richards and Jamaica are in Group B and face Grenada (June 6, Carson, CA), Guatemala (June 10, Miami, FL), and Honduras on June 13 at Red Bull Arena.
De Rosario will be looking to build on his 55 international caps when he joins the Canadian National Team. After making his senior team debut in 1998 at the age of 20, De Rosario was part of the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup winning side and has participated in four Gold Cups and three World Cup qualifying campaigns. De Rosario won the male Canadian Player of the Year award three consecutive times (2005-2007) and has registered 15 goals for Canada. The Red Bulls acquired De Rosario on April 1, 2011 via a trade with Toronto FC in exchange for midfielder Tony Tchani, midfielder/defender Danleigh Borman and their natural first round 2012 MLS SuperDraft selection. De Rosario has appeared in 10 games for the Red Bulls since coming over in the trade, picking up two assists and a goal. Canada, in Group C, faces the United States (June 7, Detroit, MI), Guadeloupe (June 11, Tampa, FL) and Panama (June 14, Kansas City, KS).
ALL-STAR TICKETS GO ON GENERAL PUBLIC SALE THURSDAY:
After several presale opportunities for Red Bulls Full Season Members, Partial Plan Holders and Red Bulls Basic Members, the remaining individual seats for the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at Red Bull Arena will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, June 2 at 2:00 PM ET.
Tickets can only be purchased online by going to www.newyorkredbulls.com/tickets/allstarinfo. The match will take place on Wednesday, July 27 at 8:30 PM ET.
Ticket prices for the MLS summer extravaganza range from $90 to $400, however some price categories have already sold out. English Premier League Champions Manchester United returns as MLS’ All-Star opponent for the second year in a row. Manchester United is coming off a season which saw them capture the 2011 English Premier League title and reach the final of the UEFA Champions League. They are led by manager Sir Alex Ferguson and boast some of the world’s top players, including strikers Wayne Rooney and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, and defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
COUNDOUL CALLED UP BY SENEGAL:
New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul has been called up to the Senegal National Team for its 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier against Cameroon on June 4 in Yaounde, Cameroon. As a result, he will be unavailable for selection this Saturday, as the Red Bulls host Columbus Crew on the same date.
Coundoul will be hoping to make his sixth appearance for his national side, which vaulted 11 places into 40th on FIFA’s international rankings this month. He was last called into the squad during the Red Bulls’ preseason, playing in one match. This season in MLS, Coundoul has started the majority of the Red Bulls’ games, manning the net in seven starts in which he has posted a team-leading three shutouts while allowing just six goals. The team has gone 3-2-2 with him between the posts.
Senegal beat Cameroon, ranked just nine places lower, by a 1-0 score line in Dakar in their last qualifying match, leaving Coundoul’s side with a table-topping nine points. Coundoul received his first call-up with Senegal in 2007 and his first cap against Mali in a 3-2 victory. His international highlight so far has been starting his side’s final African Nations Cup match against South Africa, which ended in a draw.
ALBRIGHT UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL HERNIA SURGERY:
Red Bull New York announced on May 24 that defender Chris Albright underwent successful bilateral hernia surgery. The procedure was be performed by Dr. William Hutchinson at Surgery Center of the Pacific in Santa Monica, CA. Expected recovery time is six to eight weeks from the time of surgery.
Albright has not appeared in a MLS match this season. Last season, the 2010 MLS Comeback Player of the Year started in 18 games, recording two assists in his first campaign with New York. The three-time MLS Cup winner was acquired on Jan. 14, 2010 from the New England Revolution in exchange for a second round (31st overall) pick and third round (48th overall pick) in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.
RED BULLS AND KIA MOTORS INK PARTNERSHIP:
Red Bull New York and Kia Motors America, Inc. (KMA) announced a partnership that will make the automaker the “Official Partner of the New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Arena”.
“Kia Motors has been expanding its sports marketing partnerships around the world to raise awareness and consideration for the Kia brand, and we are excited to partner with the New York Red Bulls and expand our presence with the game of soccer,” said Michael Tocci, director, Eastern Region, KMA. “Kia has partnerships with FIFA and CONMEBOL’s Copa America, and the Red Bulls and Red Bull Arena are the perfect partners for us to continue the growth of our brand by leveraging the most popular sport in the world right here in the United States.”
The partnership will grant Kia intellectual property rights for the team, as well as Red Bull Arena and the Red Bulls Academy and Training Programs. Kia will be prominently featured throughout Red Bull Arena in a variety of fashions, including branding on player bench areas, in-stadium signage, presence at the arena’s fan Interactive Zone, and hospitality. The automaker will also be involved in the Red Bulls’ Kicks for Kids program, which benefits various local charitable foundations.
“We are thrilled to enter this partnership with Kia Motors and welcome them into the Red Bull family,” Red Bulls Managing Director Erik Stover said. “We believe this venture demonstrates the accession of soccer in the United States and the New York Red Bulls’ positioning throughout the world.”
Kia has undergone a dramatic design-led transformation that delivered seven new vehicles in 24 months and led to unprecedented growth and momentum. In 2010, KMA recorded its best-ever U.S. sales and 16th consecutive year of market share growth. To kick off the partnership, Kia will be the presenting sponsor of the Red Bulls’ match on Friday, June 10th, when the team hosts the New England Revolution at Red Bull Arena.
RED BULL ARENA HOSTS U.S. WNT-MEXICO JUNE 5:
The U.S. Women's National Team will play its Women’s World Cup Send-Off match against Mexico on June 5 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. The match will kick off at 2 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Univision. The match will mark the final contest for the U.S. women before the team departs for Europe in mid-June for a pre-Women’s World Cup training camp in Austria. The USA opens the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup against Korea DPR on June 28 (ESPN at 11:45 a.m. ET) at Rudolf Harbig Stadium in Dresden, Germany.
Before the match against Mexico, U.S. Soccer and the U.S. Women’s National Team will honor U.S. legend Kristine Lilly for her historic career. The only woman to play in five FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, Lilly retired last January after a 23-year international career with a world-record 352 career caps and 130 goals, second only in world history to Mia Hamm. The match against Mexico marks the first game for any full U.S. National Team at spectacular Red Bull Arena, one of the newest jewels in the growing collection of world-class, soccer-specific stadiums in the United States.
The match also features a unique side note in that it will be the first game between the two countries since the USA was upset by Mexico in the semifinal of the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Cancun, Mexico last October. The loss forced the USA to win the third-place match at the tournament then defeat Italy in a home-and-home playoff series for the last of 16 berths at the World Cup.
The U.S. women have played quite a few matches in New Jersey, playing five times at the old Giants Stadium in East Rutherford and twice in the mid-1990s at Rutgers University in Piscataway. The match will also mark a homecoming of sorts for the numerous New Jersey products who have consistently made U.S. rosters this year. Rampone hails from Point Pleasant, N.J., veteran flank midfielder Heather O’Reilly is from East Brunswick. Attacking midfielder Carli Lloyd is from Delran while midfielders Tobin Heath and Yael Averbuch hail from Basking Ridge and Montclair, respectively. In addition, backup goalkeeper Jill Loyden is from Vineland.
