While their Red Bull teammates were defeating Atlante FC on penalty kicks, 4-3, in Cancun, Mexico Wednesday night, goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul (Senegal) and defender Roy Miller (Costa Rica) were with their respective national teams for friendly matches.
Coundoul, who made the trip across the Atlantic to play for his native Senegal, started in net and played strongly before being lifted in the 69th minute of Senegal’s 3-0 win over Guinea in Dakar, Senegal. With the performance on Wednesday night, Coundoul, who is entering is third season with the Red Bulls, now has five caps for Senegal, who have won their past five international friendlies dating back to August of 2010. The Senegalese national team will continue their play in the African Nations Championship by playing games Feb. 11 against Angola and Feb. 15 against Tunisia.
Miller, a Costa Rica native, joined the Ticos for their friendly against Venezuela in Puerto La Cruz, where the teams played to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night. Miller, who has been capped 20 times for Costa Rica, did not play in the game. Recently, Miller played in the Central American Cup for his country and on Jan. 21, the defender converted the clinching penalty in the shootout to earn a victory over Panama, 1-1 (4-2), and a spot in the final. Miller played the full game in the title match versus Honduras, but Costa Rica ultimately fell, 2-1. Miller enters his second season with the Red Bulls, after making 25 appearances for New York during the 2010 season. Costa Rica is not scheduled to play again until their March 29 showdown with Argentina.
Neither Coundoul nor Miller will be joining the Red Bulls as they continue their first trip of the preseason in Mexico. The Red Bulls will face Chivas de Guadalajara in their next preseason match on Feb. 15 at Omnilife Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico at 9:00 PM ET.
