SEATTLE, WA (September 29, 2013) –Midfielder Tim Cahill’s 76th minute goal and a rugged team performance helped give the Eastern Conference-leading New York Red Bulls a 1-1 tie against Seattle Sounders FC Sunday evening at CenturyLink Field in front of 39,083 spectators. With the draw, the Red Bulls extended their unbeaten run to five (4-0-1), moving to 52 points off a 15-9-7 record.
New York has a one point lead in the MLS Supporters Shield race ahead of co-Western Conference leaders Seattle and Real Salt Lake. With three regular season games left to play, the Red Bulls have a four-point advantage over second place Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference.
New York returns to Red Bull Arena on Saturday, Oct. 5 and will host the New England Revolution at 7:00 PM. Tickets for Red Bulls matches are available by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.
The Red Bulls were able to notch the first chance of the match less than a minute in when midfielder Jonny Steele intercepted an Osvaldo Alonso pass, raced towards goal and fired a shot that goalkeeper Michael Gspurning had to push aside. Later, Cahill was able to get a free close range header, but he couldn’t get enough power on his attempt and Gspurning was able to collect.
On the other end in the 26th minute, Eddie Johnson was able to nod a Mauro Rosales free kick and direct it wide of the frame before less than 10 minutes later, Brad Evans’ one-timer from just outside of the box skipped left. The Sounders put pressure on New York towards the end of the opening stanza and Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles did well to save Johnson’s left-footed drive to keep the match scoreless.
Seattle earned a penalty kick in the 43rd minute after referee Kevin Stott ruled that New York defender Markus Holgersson handled an Evans cross in the box. Robles guessed correctly but Evans’ shot was too powerful as it zipped into the lower right hand corner of the net and gave the hosts the lead.
Despite conceding right before the break, the Red Bulls came out strongly to start the second half and were inches from equalizing in the 61st minute. David Carney’s free kick was flicked on by Holgersson and the ball looped over Gspurning and off the crossbar. The Red Bulls again were stifled by the woodwork moments after, as Evans inadvertently flicked a Lloyd Sam corner kick off his own left post.
New York’s pressure paid off and the visitors tied the game in the 76th minute. The ball ping ponged around the top of the box before Steele was able to knock it to Cahill, who used his right foot to curl it past Gspurning and into the right side netting.
New York Red Bulls 1, Seattle Sounders FC 1
September 29, 2013 – CenturyLink Field – Seattle, WA
MLS Regular Season
Scoring Summary:
SEA: Brad Evans 4 (penalty kick) 45’
NY: Tim Cahill 9 (unassisted) 76’
Disciplinary Summary:
SEA: Brad Evans (caution) 54’
NY: Jonny Steele (caution) 64’
New York Red Bulls (15-9-7, 52 points) – Luis Robles, Kosuke Kimura, Ibrahim Sekagya, Markus Holgersson, David Carney, Lloyd Sam (Eric Alexander 71’), Dax McCarty, Tim Cahill, Jonny Steele, Fabian Espindola (Andre Akpan 89’), Peguy Luyindula
Substitutes Not Used: Ryan Meara, Marius Obekop, Matt Miazga, Michael Bustamante, Brandon Barklage
Seattle Sounders FC (15-8-6, 51 points) – Michael Gspurning, DeAndre Yedlin, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Djimi Traore, Marc Burch, Lamar Neagle, Mauro Rosales (Adam Moffat 79’), Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Obafemi Martins, Eddie Johnson
Substitutes Not Used: Marcus Hahnemann, David Estrada, Patrick Ianni, Dylan Remick, Andy Rose, Steve Zakuani
Referee: Kevin Stott
Referee’s Assistants: Craig Lowry, Brian Poeschel
4th Referee: Younes Marrakchi
Attendance: 39,083
