RED BULLS VISIT COLUMBUS WITH FIRST PLACE ON THE LINE: The New York Red Bulls can take over the top spot in the Eastern Conference when they take on the first place Columbus Crew on Saturday at Crew Stadium at 7:30 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM). VIEWING PARTY
New York enters the match unbeaten in five league matches, dating back to a June 2 victory over the Houston Dynamo. Since then, New York is 3-0-2, and has displayed a stingy defense as it has conceded just two goals in the five match span, and has kept clean sheets in three of its past four matches. After opening the season with 13 straight matches without a draw, New York has drawn its last two contests. In the table, the Red Bulls’ 26 points trails Columbus by just two.
The Crew host the Red Bulls as the leaders in the Eastern Conference. Columbus has 28 points through 14 matches, compiling a record of 8-2-4. The two-time defending Supporters’ Shield holders employ the most potent offense in the conference, as their 20 goals scored is tops in the East and fourth overall in the league. Leading the way is 2008 MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who leads the club in goals with five and assists with four. Former New York draft choice Eddie Gaven also has asserted himself in the Crew attack, notching three goals and three assists. The Crew are also coming off of a scoreless draw, as they leveled at Houston last Saturday in Texas.
The New York-Columbus fixture dates back to the league’s inaugural 1996 season. This will be the 50th match between the teams, and through the first 49, the teams are dead even. New York is 22-22-5 against the Crew all-time, but in Columbus, the Crew hold the slight advantage as New York is 9-13-2 all-time. This will be the second and final meeting between the teams in 2010. Back on May 20, the Crew defeated the Red Bulls 3-1 at Red Bull Arena. Gaven and defender Andy Iro scored minutes apart in the first half to give Columbus a lead at the break. Tony Tchani’s first career goal pulled one back for New York, but it was erased by Emilio Renteria’s strike late in the second half.
RED BULLS TO UNVEIL STAR PLAYER AT RED BULL ARENA THURSDAY: Red Bull New York will introduce its newest Designated Player at a press conference on Thursday, July 15 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ at 1:15 PM. Media must RSVP for the event by e-mailing brian.tsao@newyorkredbulls.com.
SCORELESS DRAW WITH D.C. EARNS NEW YORK ATLANTIC CUP: The New York Red Bulls extended their MLS unbeaten streak to five when they earned a 0-0 tie against D.C. United Saturday night at Red Bull Arena. With the result, the second-place Red Bulls, who are now at 26 points with an 8-5-2 record, won the Atlantic Cup – the regular season series between the two sides – for the first time since 2003.
D.C. United looked to get on the board six minutes in, with forward Santino Quaranta getting on the end of a flicked header and forcing New York goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul to parry his shot away. Five minutes later, Juan Pablo Angel nodded a deflected Joel Lindpere free kick past the left post and soon after, Salou Ibrahim turned and fired one just wide from 15 yards out.
In the 16th minute, the ball fell out to Red Bulls midfielder Seth Stammler, who blasted it just over the bar from long range. Angel also tried his luck outside of the box, this time with a 35-yard free kick that United goalkeeper Troy Perkins tipped over the bar. New York continued to search for the opening goal and again came close in the 26th minute, as an on-rushing Lindpere found a sliding Angel in the six yard box and his deflection zipped past the left post.
Both teams were solid in defense in the second half with few chances between them. Lindpere got space on the left side of the penalty box and slid it to Ibrahim, who shot it wide left. In the 68th minute, substitute Tony Tchani headed it into the arms of Perkins. Five minutes earlier, United midfielder Chris Pontius had an open look on goal, but his ensuing attempt was blocked by a Red Bulls defender.
LAST WEEK: Red Bulls 0, D.C. United 0 at Red Bull Arena on July 10.
THIS WEEK: Red Bulls Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium on July 17 at 7:30 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM)
NEXT WEEK: Barclays New York Challenge at Red Bull Arena:
Red Bulls vs. Tottenham Hotspur FC (England) on July 22 at 8:00 PM
Manchester City FC (England) vs. Sporting Clube de Portgual (Portugal) on July 23 at 8:00 PM
Tottenham Hospur FC vs. Sporting Clube de Portugal on July 25 at 1:00 PM
Red Bulls vs. Manchester City FC on July 25 at 3:30 PM.
All matches of the Barclays New York Challenge will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel
2010 MLS STANDINGS
INCLUDES GAMES OF SUNDAY, July 11, 2010
BARCLAYS TO SPONSOR CHALLENGE: Barclays announced that it will be the inaugural title sponsor of the Barclays New York Challenge, the international soccer tournament that will take place between July 22 and July 25, 2010 at Red Bull Arena, home of the New York Red Bulls.
Tickets are available now for the Barclays New York Challenge at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ from July 22-25. The showcase event features English Premier League sides Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting Clube de Portugal and the host team, the New York Red Bulls. Tickets can be purchased for the Barclays New York Challenge by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.
The tournament is being organized by the World Series of Football Limited. The inaugural sponsorship agreement gives Barclays the naming rights for the tournament as well as a series of other rights including broadcast, ticketing and hospitality branding during the tournament.
Robert E. Diamond Jr., President of Barclays PLC, said, "The Barclays New York Challenge is an exciting new tournament that will bring the best of European and US soccer together, allowing us a great opportunity to build on our already successful sponsorship of the world’s most popular domestic soccer league, the Barclays Premier League."
“Barclays is one of the world’s leading investment banks, with a significant presence in North America and a growing presence in wealth management and credit cards in the region. This is a great opportunity to sponsor a new soccer tournament in one of the most exciting sports markets in the world.”
Christian Eidem, Chairman of World Series Football Limited said, “The tournament will take place at the 25,000 seat Red Bull Arena that was officially opened earlier this year and has already established itself as one of the best soccer stadiums in the USA.”
STARS ON SHOW AT WORLD FOOTBALL CHALLENGE: The rosters of the four clubs participating in the New York Football Challenge 2010 boast over 20 players on World Cup 2010 rosters. The Challenge will take place between the New York Red Bulls, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Sporting Clube de Portugal from July 22-25, 2010 at Red Bull Arena. Tickets are currently on sale by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.
Manchester City’s roster currently has several internationals who were on World Cup rosters, including Carlos Tevez of Argentina, Roque Santa Cruz of Paraguay, Kolo Toure of Ivory Coast, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joe Hart, and Gareth Barry of England, Nigel de Jong of Netherlands, Vladimir Weiss of Slovakia, and Jerome Boateng of Germany.
Tottenham’s roster boasts: Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Ledley King, Michael Dawson, and Aaron Lennon of England, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Sebastian Bassong of Cameroon, Wilson Palacios of Honduras, and Giovani dos Santos of Mexico.
Sporting Clube de Portugal’s roster currently has three (3) internationals that were on World Cup rosters, including Liédson and Pedro Mendes of Portugal, and Matias Fernandez of Chile.
The New York Red Bulls’ Andrew Boyens of New Zealand was also at the World Cup.
FIT TO BE TIED: After starting the season with 13 straight matches without a tie, the Red Bulls have tied their past two matches. On July 4 in Colorado, Juan Pablo Angel’s goal erased an early deficit and earned New York a point. Last Saturday, the Red Bulls kept a clean sheet against D.C. United in a scoreless draw. It was New York’s first scoreless draw since April 11, 2009 at Houston.
DEFENSE CONTINUES ITS STRONG PLAY: The Red Bulls defense has enjoyed an excellent spell during the club’s current five match unbeaten streak, conceding just twice in that span. The club has kept clean sheets in three of the past four matches, shutting out Chivas USA on June 5, Kansas City on June 26, and D.C. United on July 10.
REAM LEADING THE WAY: New York rookie defender Tim Ream remains the only player on the club to log all 1350 available minutes in 2010.
MENDES PASSES RAMOS IN APPERANCES: With his start against D.C. United last Saturday, New York defender Carlos Mendes passed Tab Ramos on the all-time franchise list for appearances in the regular season. Mendes made his 113th appearance for the club, which moves him into eighth place on the list.
GAMES PLAYED
PLAYER, GP
Mike Petke, 167
John Wolyniec, 142
Seth Stammler, 135
Jeff Parke, 132
Mike Magee, 130
Tony Meola, 125
Steve Jolley, 120
Carlos Mendes, 113
Tab Ramos, 112
Amado
Guevara, 103
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 going to www.newyorkredbulls.com. 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.
