RED BULLS TAKE ON HARRISBURG IN OPEN CUP: The New York Red Bulls aim to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup when they visit the Harrisburg City Islanders in a round-of-16 matchup on Tuesday, June 29 at the Skyline Sports Complex at 7:00 PM ET. Fans can follow the match by logging onto Red Bulls Reader (www.redbullsreader.com) – the team’s official blog.
New York has reached the tournament proper by disposing of three MLS sides during qualification. The Red Bulls started their campaign by knocking off the Philadelphia Union 2-1 on April 27. New York then beat rival New England Revolution by a 3-0 score on May 12, and defeated the Colorado Rapids by an identical score on May 26. All three of the Red Bulls’ cup victories came at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls leading scorer in the tournament so far is John Wolyniec, who has tallied four goals. Right behind him is fellow striker Conor Chinn, who has netted three times.
The Harrisburg City Islanders reached the round-of-16 by picking up two victories over local New York clubs. In the first round, the City Islanders picked up a dramatic victory over Brooklyn Italians SC, needing extra time in a 4-2 victory on June 15. Harrisburg leveled the match in the 89th minute through Geoff Bloes, before scoring twice in extra time. In their previous match, the City Islanders upended the Long Island Rough Riders on June 22. Bloes found the net for the City Islanders in the 33rd minute, and the goal held up as Harrisburg advanced with a 1-0 victory.
The City Islanders, who are currently in sixth place in USL-2 on 7 points with a record of 1-6-4, feature former New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Danny Cepero. Cepero backstopped the Red Bulls during their playoff run in the 2008 season, which culminated in the franchise’s only appearance in the MLS Cup Final. Cepero holds the distinction of being the only goalkeeper in MLS history to record a goal from open play, as he scored against the Columbus Crew on October 18, 2008.
The winner of the Red Bulls-City Islanders match will play the winner of the D.C. United-Richmond Kickers contest on Wednesday, June 30 at 7:00 PM at George Mason Stadium in Fairfax, Va., in the quarterfinals. Depending on the winner, New York will either travel to face Richmond to face the Kickers on July 6 at 7:00 PM at the University of Richmond Stadium or battle D.C. United on July 7 at 7:30 PM at George Mason Stadium.
RED BULLS LOOK TO MAKE IT FOUR STRAIGHT AGAINST RAPIDS: After picking up their third victory in a row over Kansas City on the weekend, the Red Bulls travel west to take on the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, July 4 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park at 9:00 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM).
Colorado enters the match unbeaten in their last five league matches after earning a 2-2 draw against the Houston Dynamo last Saturday. Though the Rapids conceded the first goal of the match, they entered the second half level as forward Conor Casey scored just before the interval. Colorado then temporarily took the lead when a corner kick went off Houston midfielder Lovel Palmer, who was credited with the own goal. However, the Rapids couldn’t hold on as Joseph Ngwenya equalized in the 80th minute, and the teams shared the spoils on the night.
With their recent good form, the Rapids have clawed their way towards the top half of the Western Conference standings, currently in third in the West on 21 points through a record of 6-3-3. They are paced by Casey, who leads the team with six goals and two assists so far in 2010. This is the first meeting in the regular season between the Red Bulls and Rapids. However, the teams did meet earlier this season in a U.S. Open Cup qualification match on May 26 at Red Bull Arena, a 3-0 victory for the Red Bulls. John Wolyniec scored twice for New York, which also got a goal from Conor Chinn in the victory. All-time, the Red Bulls are 13-15-3 against Colorado. The Red Bulls last defeated Colorado in regular season play on July 8, 2007 in a 1-0 victory at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
RED BULLS POWER PAST WIZARDS: Forwards Salou Ibrahim and Juan Pablo Angel combined to score three second half goals to give the first-place New York Red Bulls a 3-0 road win over the Kansas City Wizards at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on Saturday night. For New York, it was its third-straight win and first game back after league-mandated FIFA World Cup break. Red Bulls goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul recorded seven saves for his second-straight shutout, as he also became the first goalkeeper in MLS history to record two assists in a league game.
The Red Bulls (8-5-0), whose last MLS match was a 1-0 win over Chivas USA June 5 at Red Bull Arena, stayed in a tie with Columbus for first-place in the Eastern Conference with 24 points after the Crew defeated D.C. United, 2-0, earlier in the evening. It was New York’s first victory in Kansas City since Sept. 10, 2005.
Solid defensive play dominated the first half with both teams having few chances to score. In the 21st minute, Wizards midfielder Davy Arnaud had a go from long range, but his shot was caught by Coundoul. Five minutes earlier, Ibrahim headed a Sinisa Ubiparipovic delivery wide.In the 25th minute, Kansas City’s Kei Kamara nearly gave the hosts the lead when he created space at the top of the penalty box and lashed an attempt just past the left post. Soon after, Ibrahim got hold of the ball near the penalty spot and rolled his shot at goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen.
Ibrahim almost gave the Red Bulls the lead in the 30th minute with the team’s best chance of the half. Danleigh Borman had space on the left wing and whipped in a cross that Ibrahim deflected just past the right post from six yards out.
The Wizards looked to get on the board two minutes into the second half, with Josh Wolff putting Arnaud through into the box. However, the Kansas City midfielder could not put his strike on net. Later, Jack Jewsbury deflected in a Ryan Smith attempt that just missed the goal mouth.
New York then took the lead in the 55th minute off a defensive miscue. Coundoul kicked it long into the Wizards’ half and the defense did not clear, as Ibrahim ran onto it and headed past Nielsen for his third goal of the season.
The game picked up after Ibrahim’s tally with Coundoul being called upon to make two saves within three minutes, first blocking away a Kamara attempt before parrying Arnaud’s blast from 20 yards out. On the other end, Red Bulls midfielder Seth Stammler almost doubled New York’s lead in the 58th minute when his 30-yard right-footed piledriver beat Nielsen, but slammed off the crossbar. Stammler again tested Nielsen from distance seven minutes later and the goalkeeper was able to push the Red Bull’s shot to the side.
Angel recorded his seventh goal of the season eight minutes from full time, racing onto a Coundoul pass and ripping a shot under Nielsen. The Colombian wasn’t done for the evening, notching his franchise-leading 11th multi-goal game for New York when he muscled his way past his defender, dribbled around Nielsen and slid it into the empty net.
The Wizards were reduced to 10 men in second half stoppage time, as Arnaud was shown a red card for a late tackle on midfielder Joel Lindpere.
LAST WEEK:
Red Bulls 3, Kansas City Wizards 0 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on June 26.
THIS WEEK:
Red Bulls at Harrisburg City Islanders at Skyline Sports Complex on June 29 at 7:00 PM ET (TV: NONE; Radio: NONE)
Red Bulls at Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on July 4 at 9:00 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM)
NEXT WEEK:
Red Bulls vs. D.C. United at Red Bull Arena on July 10 at 7:30 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM).
2010 MLS STANDINGS
INCLUDES GAMES OF SUNDAY, June 27, 2010
JPA TALLIES PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD: Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 13 of the 2010 Major League Soccer season. Angel scored twice in the Red Bulls’ 3-0 victory over the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday, June 26 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, recording his club-record 11th career multi-goal game.
Angel, who also earned an assist on Salou Ibrahim’s eventual game-winning goal, scored the Red Bulls’ second goal of the match in the 82nd minute, when he collected a Bouna Coundoul long ball and warded off defender Aaron Hohlbein before firing a first-time shot past Wizards goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen. Angel added his second goal of the match in the 90th minute. The Colombian again bested Hohlbein, taking control of the ball on the right side of the box. Near the endline, Angel rounded an oncoming Nielsen and slotted it into the vacant net.
The award was Angel’s fourth MLS Player of the Week award, winning previously in Weeks 7 and 19 in 2007 and Week 20 in 2008. Angel is second in MLS in goals with eight, one behind the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Edson Buddle for first place. The Red Bulls are in a first place tie in the Eastern Conference with 24 points with the Columbus Crew.
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.
ANGEL ADDS TO HIS TALLY, PASSES SAVARESE IN MULTI-GOAL GAMES: With his brace against Kansas City on Saturday, Red Bulls all-time leading scorer Juan Pablo Angel scored his 52nd and 53rd regular season goals for the club. Also, Saturday’s two goals effort marked Angel’s 11th multi-goal game for the club, a new record, passing the previous record of 10 held by Giovanni Savarese.
GOALS (Regular Season)
PLAYER, GP, GOALS
1. Juan Pablo
Angel, 85, 53
2. Giovanni Savarese, 85, 41
3. Clint
Mathis, 93, 39
4. Amado Guevara, 103, 32
5. John Wolyniec, 141, 26
GOALS
(All Competitions)
PLAYER, GP, GOALS
1. Juan Pablo Angel, 91, 56
2.
Clint Mathis, 110, 45
3. Giovanni Savarese, 97, 44
4. Amado
Guevara, 117, 38
5. John Wolyniec, 164, 36
Game
Winning Goals
PLAYER, GP, GWG
1. Juan Pablo Angel, 85, 12
T-2.
Clint Mathis, 93, 10
T-2. John Wolyniec, 141, 10
4. Amado
Guevara, 103, 9
5. Giovanni Savarese, 85, 8
MULTI-GOAL GAMES
PLAYER,GP, MULTI-GOAL GAMES
Juan Pablo Angel, 85, 11
Giovanni Savarese, 85, 10
Clint Mathis, 93, 6
Amado Guevara, 103, 4
Adolfo Valencia, 48, 4
BOUNA TIME ONCE AGAIN: Red Bulls goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul added his fifth clean sheet of the season, making seven saves in the Red Bulls’ 3-0 victory over Kansas City on Saturday, June 26. Coundoul’s five shutouts are tied for second best in Major League Soccer this season. Coundoul also registered two assists at Kansas City on June 26, becoming the first goalkeeper in MLS history to pick up two assists in a league match.
STAMMLER THIRD IN GAMES PLAYED: By starting against Kansas City on Saturday, Red Bulls midfielder Seth Stammler passed Jeff Parke on the franchise’s all-time games played list, as Saturday was his 133rd appearance for the club. Stammler has also started 120 matches, which ranks fourth all-time for the club.
GAMES PLAYED
PLAYER, GP
Mike Petke, 166
John Wolyniec, 142
Seth Stammler, 133
Jeff Parke, 132
Mike Magee, 130
Tony Meola, 125
Steve Jolley, 120
Tab Ramos, 112
Carlos Mendes, 111
Amado Guevara, 103
BOYENS, NEW ZEALAND FINISH THIRD IN GROUP F: New York Red Bulls defender Andrew Boyens and his New Zealand teammates went undefeated in Group F at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but their three points were not enough to advance past the group stage. The All-Whites drew with Paraguay, 0-0 on June 24 in their final group stage match after tying Slovakia 1-1 on June 15 and 2006 World Champion Italy 1-1 on June 20. Boyens did not appear for New Zealand.
Boyens, 26, has 13 caps for the New Zealand national team, and competed in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, starting against Spain and South Africa. Boyens has been among the 18-man matchday roster for seven regular season matches in the 2010 season for coach Hans Backe, but has yet to appear. Boyens has made two starts in the U.S. Open Cup.
MATCH TICKETS FOR SECOND HALF ON SALE: Match tickets for the second half of the Red Bulls’ season ware 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. Also, tickets for the New York Football Challenge from July 22-25 featuring the Red Bulls, English Premiership clubs Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur and Portuguese side Sporting Clube de Portugal are on sale to the general public as well.
The full schedule of matches that are on sale is as follows:
Wednesday, August 11: Red Bulls vs. Toronto FC - 7:30 PM
Saturday, August 14: Red Bulls vs. Los Angeles Galaxy – 6:00 PM
Saturday, August 28: Red Bulls vs. San Jose Earthquakes – 7:30 PM
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 – 4:30 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.
