The New York Red Bulls (9-7-5) host best in the West and MLS, Real Salt Lake (11-6-4) at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night in a match that is a statement game for both clubs. Both clubs come off disappointing results from the previous weekend. RSL comes off a loss at home to east leading Sporting KC that saw RSL defender Chris Wingert sent off in the second-half. The match was tied heading into extra time and the referee allowed more than the stoppage time that was displayed of five minutes. SKC scored on a corner in the 97th minute that saw RSL’s unbeaten streak come to an end at home. The Red Bulls come off a different type of disappointing result. NY went north of the border and put worth little effort in a 0-0 draw with bottom feeders Toronto FC. Besides Tim Cahill’s goal wrongfully ruled offside, Luis Robles’s Save-of-the-Week nominee highlighted the lackluster match.
Returning from their early June break, the Red Bulls have been playing to the level of their opponent. In their past three road games, they have been shutout in all three matches in Philly, Colorado and Toronto. In their past two home games, NY has outshone their opponents scoring six goals and allowed none. Those matches were against Houston and Montreal, both teams with games in hand over NY that could put them in a hole in the eastern conference standings. The question everyone has heading into the matchup with RSL: which version of the Red Bulls will we see? Is it the dominant home team that basks in the glory of playing for their fans or the road team that can just never seem to get on the same page? At home, NY has scored 18 of its 29 goals and only allowed 8. On the road, RSL has tallied 15 times but let in 10 goals.
Coming into Saturday’s clash, the Red Bulls have not bested RSL since April of 2009. The only time RSL came into Red Bull Arena, RSL put a hurting on NY and a certain former Red Bull called out his partner in defense and claimed he was “not on his level”. Salt Lake, however, will be without a plethora of their normal starters due to call-ups, suspensions, and injuries. Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman, and Tony Beltran are all on Gold Cup duty, Josh Saunders, Carlos Salcedo, Chris Schuler, Kwame Watson-Siriboe and Rich Balchan and midfielder John Stertzer are all sidelined with injures and defender Chris Wingert is suspended due to his red card in the SKC match. That is ten starters on any team that will not be suiting up for RSL. They do get a boost in the attack with the return of Alvaro Saborio from Costa Rica’s Gold Cup exit.
The Red Bulls are on the opposite end of the spectrum. Besides defender Heath Pearce and Ian Christianson (injuries), the Red Bulls are only missing reserve players with Castano, Miazga, and Moreno with US call-ups. Defender Roy Miller finally returns to the fold after two stints with Costa Rica through World Cup Qualifying and the Gold Cup. However, the Red Bulls are not taking their opponent lightly. After the success of the Miami Heat, Thierry Henry praises Salt Lake almost every week: “Very difficult to beat. They are playing without some key players going to the Gold Cup and they still manage to win games. … Since I have been in this league Salt Lake has been the best team by a distance but as you know here you have to win the MLS Cup. If it was in any other league, San Jose would have been champions last year but in terms of consistency, since I have been in the league, for me, [Real Salt Lake] have been the best.”
One Red Bull who has yet to face RSL is still aware of their form and style: “They look the most complete at the minute,” said midfielder Tim Cahill. “They’re scoring their goals and obviously not conceding a lot but they seem to get the edge on a lot of teams. But for us we’re very good at home. We put on a great performance and you know the pressure was on then so I suppose it’s up to us to step up to the challenge again.”
While the focus could be on NY’s big stars, a trio of Red Bulls will be facing off against the club that helped them shine in this league, win an MLS Cup, and almost become the first MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions League. Fabian Espindola and Jamison Olave had storied careers out in Utah while Jonny Steele got his MLS break with RSL last season. Between the three, there is 12 seasons in the claret and cobalt kits, a defender of the year claim, the first ever goal scored at Rio Tinto (against NY), and plenty of other accolades. However, things change and teammates become nothing but opposition for 90 minutes. “I was just joking with Olave about how I’m going to laugh when I watch him and Javier Morales fighting,” Espindola told RBNY writer Frank Della Femina. “That’s going to be funny.”
As for tactics and the game plan for Saturday, head coach Mike Petke seems confident in his team. He knows how well organized RSL are behind the ball and how they can get narrow in the midfield with the likes of Morales, Grabavoy, and Alvarez. NY cannot allow RSL to move the ball through the space the narrow play will ultimately concede. With RSL’s outside backs liking to get into the attack, it will be interesting to see what Alexander and Steele do. Normally, they also pinch inside and let NY’s fullbacks into the attack. This match could very well look like the SKC match at Red Bull Arena that saw most of the play only 10 yards on each side of the center half.
Without a win, the Red Bulls Supporter Shield hopes will die and their last chance to win a trophy this season will come in the crapshoot that is known as the MLS Playoffs.
(image courtesy of newyorkredbulls.com)
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