HARRISON, N.J. (October 7, 2015) – The New York Red Bulls enter the half with a 2-0 lead over the Montreal Impact at Red Bull Arena. Sacha Klkestan (PK) and Lloyd Sam scored for New York, while Montreal was reduced to 10 men after a 15th minute red card to Ambroise Oyongo.
Mike Grella had a chance in the 9th minute, getting on the end of a long outlet pass from Dax McCarty. Grella was able to bring the ball down behind the backline, but a bounce forced him to play quickly, and his attempt went directly into Impact ‘keeper Evan Bush.
Oyongo was issued a red card in the 15th minute for a handball that kept the ball out of the Impact net. Oyongo played the ball with his hand while trying to clear an attempt from Bradley Wright-Phillips off the goal line.
Sacha Kljestan stepped up and buried the ensuing penalty kick to put New York ahead. The goal was Kljestan’s seventh of the season.
The Red Bulls were awarded another penalty attempt minutes later after another Montreal infraction inside the penalty area. Kljestan again stepped to the spot and struck a low ball to the right, but this time Bush guessed correctly and pushed the attempt wide. Kljestan is now four-for-five this season on penalty kick attempts.
New York doubled the advantage in the 39th minute with a goal from Lloyd Sam, his third in the last three games. Sam started the play with a ball through the defense to Wright-Phillips. BWP was able to poke the ball by Bush, but his shot was blocked by a defender. The rebound fell to Sam, who was able to place a shot over the heads of Bush and the defender and in.
The goal was Sam’s 10th of the season, good for second on the team behind Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Luis Robles preserved the lead with a diving stop on Didier Drogba in the 43rd minute. A ball lofted out of the midfield fell for Drogba behind the defense, and the striker cut in alone and took an early shot, which Robles was well positioned to stop.
The Red Bulls outshot the Impact 11-3, including 5-2 on frame. New York also earned 65% of the possession in the first 45 minutes.
