The New York Red Bulls played the Chicago Fire to a 1-1 draw at Toyota Park on Sunday, September 9.
Here are 7 Things We Learned from the match:
Third-Straight Draw
After recording just two draw from their first 24 MLS games, New York has earned a tie in three consecutive matches.
Although head coach Jesse Marsch was disappointed to ‘get the lead and you manage to give it up,’ the team took solace in taking a point from one of the best teams in the league at home in the Chicago Fire.
“Best team in the league at home, then Dallas always a tough place to play,” Marsch said. “Getting one point on the road in both places is pretty good.
“In some ways we feel we had the lead, maybe we could have gotten more, but in the end you have to take your point on the road and move forward."
Birthday Boy Kljestan Earns Another Assist
Captain Sacha Kljestan celebrated his birthday by creating New York’s first-half goal.
"Great ball in from Fidel [Escobar],” Kljestan said. “I just tried to head it back across and Bradley kept himself onside and was there to poke it in.
“Birthdays I feel after the age of 21, they're not that fun anymore. I'm 32 now but I still feel like I'm 23 and I have a lot left to give. So we'll see."
The Red Bulls’ Captain has 14 assists this season.
BWP Surpasses Robbie Keane
With a goal on Saturday, Bradley Wright-Phillips passed Robbie Keane with the 84th MLS regular-season goal of his career.
BWP now has 84 regular season goals in his MLS career, moving into 13th place on the MLS all-time scoring list behind Roy Lassiter (88).
"It is nice, it shows consistency,” Wright-Phillips said. “It's something I've really worked on. To accomplish that is nice…it's a pleasure to be among those names."
Busy September
With Chicago and Dallas in the rearview mirror, the Red Bulls’ busy September continues.
New York welcomes Philadelphia on Saturday (Sept. 17), on the road for the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final in Kansas City (Sept. 20), away at Columbus (Sept. 23), return home for D.C. (Sept. 27) and finish out the month at Toronto (Sept. 30).
Escobar Get His First Point
Fidel Escobar, playing in his first game since returning from international duty with Panama, earned his first MLS assist against the Fire.
“They helped obviously physically because they bring a lot to our team so I thought that was good,” Jesse Marsch said. “We are continuing to push Fidel along into the group and have him acclimate in a good way.”
Five Conference Games Left In The Season
Five of the Red Bulls’ final seven MLS games of the season will be played against Eastern Conference opponents as the playoff picture continues to develop.
New York kicked off the in-conference with a draw versus Chicago and currently stand in fifth place with a 12-10-5 record.
Murillo Picked Up A Knock
Although named to the Red Bulls’ Starting XI, Michael Amir Murillo was a late scratch after picking up a knock in warmups.
“Right before the game he was feeling his ankle a little bit,” Jesse Marsch said. “I don't think it's a big deal, he just felt like he couldn't go. We decided to make the scratch there and Sal Zizzo came in and helped the game and did a good job.”
