RED BULLS FACE UNION ON WEDNESDAY, HOST SAN JOSE ON FIREWORKS NIGHT SATURDAY AT RED BULL ARENA
After earning a 4-1 win at home over Columbus last Saturday night, the New York Red Bulls return to action quickly with a two-game week. The Red Bulls travel to Philadelphia on Wednesday, July 16, for a nationally televised game (ESPN2) against the Union at 7:00 PM before returning home to host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, July 19 at Red Bull Arena for another 7:00 PM kickoff (TV: MSG). Following the Red Bulls-Earthquakes match, the team will host a post-game fireworks show. Tickets are available for all Red Bulls home matches by calling 1.877.727.6223 or logging onto tickets.newyorkredbulls.com.
The Red Bulls, who feature MLS’ goals (Bradley Wright-Phillips – 15), assist (Thierry Henry – 9) and saves (Luis Robles – 63) leaders, enter Wednesday’s match against Philadelphia riding a five-game unbeaten streak (2-0-3). This will be the second of three meetings between the two clubs this season with New York winning the first match, 2-1, at Red Bull Arena on April 16. New York (5-5-8, 23 pts.) is currently tied for fourth place in the Eastern Conference with New England (7-8-2, 23 pts.) while Philadelphia (4-8-7, 19 pts.) is tied for seventh with Chicago (3-4-10, 19 pts.).
New York holds a 7-3-1 advantage all-time against the Union, including a 3-4-0 mark at PPL Park. Eric Alexander assisted on both New York goals when the teams met on April 16, setting up Thierry Henry and then Lloyd Sam for the game winner. The Red Bulls have lost just once in their eight against the Union, going 6-1-1 in that span.
Saturday’s match against San Jose will be the only meeting between the Red Bulls and Earthquakes this season. Featuring U.S. Men’s National Team forward Chris Wondolowski, San Jose holds a 16-10-8 advantage in the all-time regular season series and won the most recent match in 2013 at Buck Shaw Stadium, 2-1.
LAST WEEK
MATCH RECAP: NEW YORK RED BULLS 4, COLUMBUS CREW 1
THIS WEEK (2014 New York Red Bulls Full Schedule)
- Red Bulls at Philadelphia Union at PPL Park on Wednesday, July 16 at 7:00 PM (TV – ESPN2)
- Red Bulls vs. San Jose Earthquakes at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, July 19 at 7:00 PM (TV – MSG) (BUY TICKETS)
NEXT WEEK
- Red Bulls vs. Arsenal in the New York Cup at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, July 26 at 5:0 PM (TV-ESPN)
RED BULLS TIED FOR SECOND IN MLS IN SCORING
The Red Bulls offense has been impressive this season and has shown no signs of slowing down since the league returned to action after the 2014 FIFA World Cup Break. New York is currently tied for second in goals scored:
Team Goals Scored Goals Per Game
- Seattle 35 1.94 (first)
- New York 30 1.67 (second)
- FC Dallas 30 1.58 (tied fourth)
- Portland 30 1.58 (tied fourth)
- Philadelphia 29 1.53 (tied sixth)
HENRY BECOMES CLUB ALL-TIME ASSISTS LEADER
Thierry Henry became the Red Bulls all-time club leader in assists last Saturday night with a three-assist performance against the Columbus Crew. Henry also scored the eventual game-winning goal in the team’s 4-1 win.
The captain set up Bradley Wright-Phillips’ league-leading 15th goal of the season early in the first half. After running onto a well-weighted through ball from Eric Alexander, Henry whipped a left footed cross into the box to Wright-Phillips, who finished it with his right foot.
Henry then found a goal of his own just before halftime to give his team a 2-1 lead at the break. After Wright-Phillips was denied twice inside the six-yard-box, the rebound fell to Henry, who calmly finished the loose ball into the side netting. The Red Bulls are unbeaten in their last 23 that games that Henry has scored in (18-0-5).
Henry wasn’t done there as he went on to set up two more goals. Lloyd Sam took a Henry pass inside the 18-yard-box and beat Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark and put the Red Bulls up 3-1. Henry would then spring Eric Alexander in on a breakaway in the dying minutes to ensure the three points at home.
Henry now leads MLS and the Red Bulls in assists this season with nine and passed Amado Guevara and Tab Ramos (both at 36) for the all-time club lead with 37 assists.
WRIGHT-PHILLIPS SCORES AGAIN, STILL LEADS GOLDEN BOOT RACE
Bradley Wright-Phillips scored his league-leading 15th goal of the season last Saturday against Columbus in New York’s 4-1 win. The forward as now scored in three consecutive games and has scored in five of his last six games overall.
Since MLS returned to action following a league-wide two-week break for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Wright-Phillips has scored four goals in three games. New York has gone 1-0-2 in that stretch.
Through Week 18 of the 2014 MLS regular season, Wright-Phillips remains atop the Golden Boot race, one ahead of Sporting Kansas City’s Dom Dwyer (14) and two ahead of Chivas USA’s Erick Torres (13).
ALEXANDER AND SAM BOTH SCORE
Eric Alexander and Lloyd Sam each scored their second goals of the season last Saturday in the team’s 4-1 win over Columbus. Both midfielders now have two goals and six assists on the season.
Lloyd Sam scored in the 56th minute of Saturday’s win. Thierry Henry made a run down the right wing and played a ball back against the run of play to a wide open Lloyd Sam just inside the 18-yard-box. Sam took one touch and fired home a right-footed shot.
Eric Alexander also benefitted from Henry’s big night, as the captain sprung Alexander in on goal for a breakaway chance in the 91st minute that he finished with a low shot into the corner to secure the win. Alexander was also credited with an assist on the Wright-Phillips’ goal in the 15th minute.
LEADERS IN THE ‘BIG THREE’
Entering Week 19 of the MLS regular season, three Red Bulls players lead the league in goals, assists and saves. Bradley Wright-Phillips leads the Golden Boot race with 15 goals, one ahead of Kansas City’s Dom Dwyer. Thierry Henry’s three-assist performance against Columbus last Saturday now has him atop the assists column with nine. Luis Robles leads Donovan Ricketts in saves with 63 on the season. The Portland goalkeeper is one back of Robles with 62.
