MLS Red Bull New York

New York Red Bulls Weekly Update

Published on November 17, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Red Bull New York News Release


"CINDERELLA BULLS" IN FIRST MLS CUP AFTER WINNING WEST: The New York Red Bulls are heading to the MLS Cup Final for the first time in club history after they defeated Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference Final, 1-0, on Saturday night at a sold out Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT. With the victory, the Red Bulls - who were the last of eight teams to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs - will take on the MLS Supporters Shield winner, the Columbus Crew, on Sunday at The Home Depot Center at 3:30 PM ET (TV: ABC, TeleFutura; Radio: WADO 1280 AM).

Playing in only their second Conference Final in the team's 13-year history, the Red Bulls, the Western Conference's fourth seed, looked to extend its all-time unbeaten record to nine against Real Salt Lake. New York went ahead in the 28th minute. Midfielder Dave van den Bergh slipped the ball through to John Wolyniec, who dribbled past his defender and ran to the end line on the left wing. Wolyniec's low cross was parried by goalkeeper Nick Rimando and van den Bergh was on hand to tap it in from close range for his first career postseason goal. It was also van den Bergh's first shot in three playoff games this season.

The Red Bulls were able to withstand waves of Real Salt Lake attacks for the remainder of the game and second-year goalkeeper Danny Cepero made seven saves for his second-straight postseason shutout. In the opening half, he made four saves, including a diving save on Yura Movsisyan's shot from just inside the left side of the 18-yard box in the 24th minute. In the second half, Cepero dove to punch away a Robbie Russell shot in the 56th minute. The Red Bulls were 6-0-2 in the regular season when they had the lead at halftime.

Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards had a chance to make it 2-0 in the 69th minute when he raced down the right side, but he put his shot just right of the goal frame. RSL had another chance to tie the match in the 81st minute when Will Johnson hit the left post from close range with a sliding shot. The woodwork again helped the Red Bulls in the game's final minute as a left footed blast by Javier Morales slammed off the left post, as New York earned the Western Conference Championship.

AFTER THE GAME: Here was some of the post-game reaction after the Red Bulls' 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake:

NEW YORK RED BULLS HEAD COACH JUAN CARLOS OSORIO

On the win:

"We have to congratulate the guys and the post. I have been disappointed sometimes with our luck, but I think we got it today. The man upstairs has helped us. I think the guys deserve it. They worked very hard against a good team. I feel sorry for Jason (Kreis) and his coaching staff and his players, they did a terrific job."

On reaching the MLS Cup for the first time in club history:

"I appreciate everybody's contribution, and after the adversity we have gone through, this is amazing. It was a wonderful feeling. We will see what happens in the Finals."

On holding on after the van den Bergh goal:

"Very difficult. We knew that's what would happen and that [Real Salt Lake] are a very good attacking team. I think we weathered the storm, and when we didn't clear the ball, the post helped us today. I'm very pleased for Danny (Cepero), he was magnificent today.

NEW YORK RED BULLS MIDFIELDER DAVE VAN DEN BERGH

On the Red Bulls' play:

"It was ugly, it was lucky, but with this franchise we're going to have to take it any way it comes. We won this title. This time next year no one will remember how the game went, they just see the result, that the New York Red Bulls won the Western Conference."

On the game-winning goal:

"I saw Woly (John Wolyniec) and I know he's strong, and I knew he was going to be able to block [Jamison] Olave on that ball out there as long as it was in his path. I initially wanted the ball back from Woly, but he played it Juan Pablo [Angel] and I think their goalie got a hand on it. I just continued my run and had an open net."

NEW YORK RED BULLS DEFENDER CARLOS MENDES

On the win:

"This win for the franchise, for all the guys, the coaching staff, it is unbelievable. I am at a loss for words. We made history, but we have one more game to go. I want to thank all of the fans who have supported us, New York and New Jersey."

On pressure applied by RSL:

"They were throwing everything at us. We got lucky a bit at times, with the post. We battled, everyone fought hard. We deserved this win."

NEW YORK RED BULLS GOALKEEPER DANNY CEPERO

On being in the Cup:

"It's an incredible transition at the pace it happened. It's an unbelievable experience. I'm having fun out there. The guys have been great. I'm just happy to be one of the 11 guys on the field. I feel good, and I'm looking forward to LA."

On playing Columbus in the final:

"I haven't really thought about it. They are a familiar foe. We've played them before, they're in our conference. I think we match up pretty well. I am looking forward to it, and I know they are too."

NEW YORK RED BULLS FORWARD JOHN WOLYNIEC

On his contribution to the goal:

"I knew we got the ball wide. They got right back and pulled up, so there was space. I felt [Jamison] Olave coming in on the inside, and with all of the space I knew that I could get a touch and take the ball in."

On making club history by reaching MLS Cup:

"It is a great feeling. It seems like every year they say how we do not have success in the playoffs. To put two wins together was a good feeling. It is a really good feeling to possibly make history."

GETTING TO LOS ANGELES: Prior to the Red Bulls' 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake, New York notched arguably the greatest upset in MLS Cup Playoffs history with a 4-1 aggregate win over the Houston Dynamo in the teams' two-leg Western Conference Semifinal Series.

The Red Bulls and Dynamo tied, 1-1, in the opening leg of their Western Conference Semifinal Series on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Giants Stadium when a Juan Pablo Angel goal was cancelled out by Kei Kamara. With the two-game series tied going into the second leg, the winner of the match on Sunday, Nov. 9 at Robertson Stadium would determine who would advance one step closer to the MLS Cup.

New York went ahead in the 25th minute. Midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic lofted a ball into the Houston half and Dane Richards beat his defender and shot it past goalkeeper Pat Onstad for his first career MLS playoff goal. Richards, who was a nuisance throughout the game, had a hand in the second goal as well 11 minutes later. The winger made a run on right wing before crossing it into the box. Houston's Ricardo Clark was adjudged to handle Richards' cross in the penalty box and referee Baldomero Toledo pointed to the penalty spot. Angel stepped up and knocked in his second goal of the postseason.

The Dynamo peppered the Red Bulls' net but goalkeeper Danny Cepero made five saves for his first career shutout. The Red Bulls iced the game in the 81st minute when Richards made a spectacular run from his own half and centered it to John Wolyniec, who tapped it in from close range.

With the win, the Red Bulls earned only their second postseason series victory in club history (the only other series victory came against Dallas in 2000 when New York won 2 games to 1).

LAST WEEK:

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: Red Bulls 1 at Real Salt Lake 0 on Nov. 15 at Rio Tinto Stadium at Sandy, UT

THIS WEEK:

MLS CUP 2008: Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew on Nov. 23 at The Home Depot Center at 3:30 PM ET (TV: ABC, TeleFutura; Radio: WADO 1280 AM)

CREW STANDS IN BULLS' WAY: The Red Bulls' opponent this Sunday is the Columbus Crew - the team with the best record in 2008. Led by 2008 MLS Coach of the Year Sigi Schmid and 2008 MLS Most Valuable Player Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus earned a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire to advance to its first-ever MLS Cup. Former Crew forward Brian McBride put Chicago ahead in the 29th minute, heading the ball over goalkeeper Will Hesmer from close range.

However, the Crew equalized four minutes into the second half when MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall nodded home a Barros Schelotto free kick. Six minutes later, Barros Schelotto, who had seven goals and 19 assists in the regular season, was again the provider. He slipped Eddie Gaven through on goal and Gaven put it away.

The Crew was the first team that qualified for the MLS playoffs with a 17-7-6 record. Columbus defeated No. 4 Kansas City Wizards, 3-1, on aggregate in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

While the Crew owned the League's best record, New York was the only team that earned a winning record against Columbus this season, going 2-0-1. In the Red Bulls' season opener on April 5, New York earned a 2-0 victory at Giants Stadium. Midfielder Dave van den Bergh scored the quickest goal in club history 46 seconds in. Defender Kevin Goldthwaite doubled New York's lead in the 8th minute, bundling home a Juan Pablo Angel cross.

On Sept. 18 at Crew Stadium, Columbus won, 3-1. Angel put the Red Bulls ahead in the 21st minute with a blistering 35-yard free kick. However, Frankie Hejduk leveled the match four minutes before halftime and Robbie Rogers gave the Crew the lead in the 46th minute. Gaven put the finishing touches on the match with a goal of his own five minutes from full time.

The Red Bulls won the season series in the team's home finale on Oct. 18. After a scoreless first half, Angel was able to get free on the top of the penalty box and slid the ball past goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum three minutes into the second half. Steven Lenhart tied the game in the 62nd minute but Angel gave the Red Bulls the lead for good 14 minutes later. Goalkeeper Danny Cepero, who was playing in his first MLS game after starting goalkeeper Jon Conway was suspended by MLS, made history, becoming the first goalkeeper to score a goal in MLS history with an 81-yard free kick that bounced over Gruenebaum's head. Cepero also made two saves as the win enabled New York to stay in the playoff race.

All-time, New York is 21-20-5 against Columbus, with +10 goal differential (GF: 65, GA: 55). New York has played against Columbus once in the playoffs in 1998 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Columbus defeated New York, two games to zero. On Sept. 30, 1998, the Crew earned a 5-3 victory over New York at Ohio Stadium. In the return leg at Giants Stadium, Columbus advanced with a 2-1 win after winning the game-deciding shootout, 3-2. Forward John Wolyniec is the Red Bulls' all-time leader in goals scored against the Crew with six.

Columbus and New York have several ties to each other:

- Defender Chris Leitch (2002, 2006) and fWolyniec (2005-06) both played for Columbus. Leitch, who is from nearby Baltimore, OH, was drafted by the Crew in the fourth round (47th overall) of the 2002 MLS SuperDraft. Also, midfielder/defender Seth Stammler, out for the rest of the season due to knee surgery, is from Gahanna, OH, just outside of Columbus.

- Columbus has three players who have previously suited up for New York - midfielder Eddie Gaven (2003-05), Ezra Hendrickson (1997) and Danny O'Rourke (2006). Gaven is from Hamilton, NJ and midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi is from Port Chester, NY.

OSORIO/CEPERO ON CALL: Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio and goalkeeper Danny Cepero took part in a League conference call Monday afternoon in advance of this Sunday's MLS Cup final against Columbus. Please contact the Red Bulls Communications Department if you would like a transcript.

PLAYOFF PRIMER: This is the tenth season over New York's 13-year history that the club has qualified for the playoffs. Here are a few facts regarding the team's postseason history:

- After the Red Bulls defeated Real Salt Lake, 1-0, the Red Bulls now hold a 5-1-2 record all-time against Western Conference teams in the playoffs. New York has faced Dallas (2000), Los Angeles (2001) and Houston (2008) in the postseason from the Western Conference. The Red Bulls are now 8-13-5 all time in the playoffs.

- New York's streak of six-straight playoff appearances is second only to the New England Revolution's seven-straight playoff appearances.

- Prior to the start of the 2008 playoffs, players on the Red Bulls roster had a combined 45 playoff appearances. The most for an individual player was eight - forward John Wolyniec.

- Two Red Bulls have won the MLS Cup with other teams in the past - goalkeeper Jon Conway (San Jose - 2001, 2003) and defender Kevin Goldthwaite (Houston - 2006). However, neither has played in an MLS Cup final.

- New York is tied with Los Angeles, Dallas and Chicago for the most playoff appearances with 10.

- All-time, the New York franchise has played a total of 424 games (398 regular season and 26 postseason games combined) over 13 years to reach its first MLS Cup. 617 goals were been scored before Dave van den Bergh scored the 618th - the game-winner against Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

- As a player, Red Bulls Sporting Director Jeff Agoos was part of five MLS Cup championship teams (D.C. United: 1996, 1997 and 1999, San Jose: 2001 and 2003). Assistant coach Richie Williams, a former teammate of Agoos', won championships in 1996, 1997 and 1999.

- Prior to this postseason, the Red Bulls had only qualified once for the Conference Final in 2000. They were eliminated that year by the Chicago Fire two games to one. Current head coach Juan Carlos Osorio was an assistant coach during that team's run.

- Last season, the Red Bulls lost, 1-0, on aggregate to the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. After the teams drew 0-0 at Giants Stadium in the first leg, a Taylor Twellman goal at Gillette Stadium a week later was enough to put the Revolution through to the Eastern Conference Final. In the second leg, the Red Bulls lost Designated Players Claudio Reyna (right hamstring) and Juan Pablo Angel (concussion) due to injury.

CALIFORNIA LOVE: During the 2008 MLS Regular Season, the Red Bulls went 1-0-1 at The Home Depot Center, with a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on May 10 and a 1-1 tie against Chivas USA on June 28. Several Red Bulls have connections to the Sunshine State:

- Defender Kevin Goldthwaite (Sacramento, CA), midfielder Gordon Kljestan (Huntington Beach, CA) and midfielder/defender Luke Sassano (Orinda, CA) hail from California.

- Sassano, a rookie in 2008, played his college ball at the University of California-Berkeley.

- Several Red Bulls have formerly played for California-based teams: goalkeeper Jon Conway (San Jose: 2000-05), Goldthwaite (San Jose: 2005), Kljestan (Los Angeles: 2007) and forward John Wolyniec (Los Angeles: 2006).

ANGEL LEADS THE WAY: Forward Juan Pablo Angel scored 12 goals in his last 15 regular season and has been one of the hottest players in the League. Angel, who had 14 goals in the regular season, led the Eastern Conference in goals. Angel finished fourth in goals in MLS, behind Los Angeles' Landon Donovan (20), FC Dallas' Kenny Cooper (18) and Los Angeles' Edson Buddle (15). In all competitions, Angel has tallied 14 goals in his last 18 games and scored in four of his last five.

On Sunday, Nov. 9, Angel scored his second postseason goal of 2008 and of his career, converting a penalty kick after Ricardo Clark handled the ball in the box en route to the Red Bulls' 3-0 win over Houston in the team's second leg win. A week before, Angel scored the Red Bulls' only goal in their 1-1 draw against Houston. The goal was Angel's first in three career playoff games. Last season, in the second game of the Red Bulls' series against New England, Angel was forced to leave the game after sustaining a concussion.

Since joining the Red Bulls last season, Angel has scored at a historic rate, as he has found the back of the net 33 times in 47 regular season games played for New York. That works out to a 0.702 strike rate for the Colombian international, a number that is the best all-time for the New York franchise (minimum of 35 games played). Players with strike rates over .400 are listed.

Rank Name Goals Games Strike Rate

1. Juan Pablo Angel 33 47 0.702

2. Giovanni Savarese 41 85 0.482

3. Clint Mathis 39 93 0.419

4. Adolfo Valencia 21 48 0.438

5. Rodrigo Faria 20 49 0.408

6. Alex Comas 15 37 0.405

Jozy Altidore 15 37 0.405

Angel is racing up New York's all-time goals scored list. Entering this season (his first full season with the organization), Angel ranked seventh all-time, but has steadily climbed the list this season and surpassed Amado Guevara for sole possession of third place. (Players with 20 or more goals scored in a New York uniform listed).

Rank Name Goals GP

1. Giovanni Savarese 41 85

2. Clint Mathis 39 93

3. Juan Pablo Angel 33 47

4. Amado Guevara 32 103

5. John Wolyniec 24 119

6. Mike Magee 23 130

7. Adolfo Valencia 21 48

8. Rodrigo Faria 20 49

Angel is also second in Red Bulls history in multi-goal games after his two-goal performance against Columbus on Oct. 18, surpassing Clint Mathis.

Rank Name Multi-Goal Games

1. Giovanni Savarese 10

2. Juan Pablo Angel 7

3. Clint Mathis 6

BERGHER TIME: On his first shot in this year's MLS postseason, midfielder Dave van den Bergh scored arguably the most important goal in club history, knocking in a deflected John Wolyniec cross from close range to give the Red Bulls a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference Final last Saturday.

In his second year with New York, van den Bergh has enjoyed a standout season, scoring seven goals and five assists in 26 games played. The Dutchman is competing in his second MLS Cup postseason after playing for New York in last year's run.

SUPER DANE: Now in his second season in the league, Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards had a man of the match-type performance in New York's 3-0 win over Houston Sunday, Nov. 9, helping the Red Bulls punch a berth into the Western Conference Final. Richards earned MLS Player of the Week honors for his performance.

Richards scored his first-ever postseason goal when he latched onto a Sinisa Ubiparipovic long ball and put his shot past goalkeeper Pat Onstad to put the Red Bulls ahead for good in the 25th minute. Eleven minutes later, Richards hit the cross that was handled inside the penalty box by Ricardo Clark and the subsequent penalty kick was converted by Juan Pablo Angel. Richards capped his dominant performance with a run from his own half before crossing it to John Wolyniec, who tapped it in from close range.

Playing in 23 games this season, Richards has tallied a career-high in goals with three to go along with a team-high six assists in 2008. He played the full 90 minutes against Houston the first leg of the teams' playoff series.

A 2007 finalist for the MLS Rookie of the Year award, Richards, 24, had ties to Houston, as he attended San Jacinto College in Houston between 2003-04 before he transferred to Clemson University. At San Jacinto, he scored 22 goals and 11 assists and was named the National Junior College Player of the Year in 2004.

DANDY DANNY: With goalkeeper Jon Conway missing due to suspension, Danny Cepero has come up big for the Red Bulls at the end of this season. Cepero made seven saves in the club's biggest win in history - a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday. Cepero was coming off his first-ever shutout, making five stops in a 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on Sunday, Nov. 9.

Cepero has a League-best 0.33 goals against average in the playoffs this season, allowing just one goal in three games. He has made 14 saves.

With two games left in the regular season and the Red Bulls clinging onto a playoff spot, Cepero made his first-ever MLS start for the Red Bulls against Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 18 and he made the most of his opportunity. Cepero made two saves in New York's 3-1 win over Columbus to keep its playoff hopes alive. To top it off, Cepero made history in the 83rd minute, scoring a goal on a free kick that was over 80-yards long. Cepero became the first goalkeeper in MLS' 13-year history who had scored a goal.

The second-year goalkeeper, drafted by the Red Bulls in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft in the fourth round (46th overall) from the University of Pennsylvania, was loaned to the Harrisburg City Islanders of the United Soccer Leagues' Second Division earlier this year. In Harrisburg, he started in 18 games, earning a 1.00 goals against average and six shutouts. Cepero returned to the Red Bulls from Harrisburg on Aug. 20. Cepero hails from nearby Baldwin, NY, and attended Baldwin High School.

JOHN ON THE SPOT: Red Bulls forward John Wolyniec made his first start since Sept. 13 against Real Salt Lake and he did not disappoint, earning an assist on Juan Pablo Angel's goal in the team's 1-1 tie against Houston in the first leg of the Red Bulls-Dynamo Western Conference Semifinal Series on Nov. 1.

In the second leg, Wolyniec scored his first-ever postseason goal, tapping home a Dane Richards cross in the team's 3-0 win. Wolyniec, who leads the team with 10 playoff appearances, made 19 appearances and five starts in the regular season, notching one assist.

TENACIOUS D: The quartet of Kevin Goldthwaite, Andrew Boyens, Diego Jimenez and Chris Leitch have started together in five games this season (three regular season, two postseason games) and have only conceded two goals. The Red Bulls have gone 3-0-2 in those games.

In the Red Bulls' 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake last Saturday, Carlos Mendes stepped in for Boyens, who was nursing an injured left forearm. Mendes had played in 17 games, making 10 starts this season for New York. However, it was only his second game this season at centerback (his other game there came on April 19 vs. New England in a 1-1 tie), who has primarily featured as a defensive midfielder. Prior to this season, Mendes played centerback

Mendes came on as a substitute against Houston in New York's 3-0 win on Sunday, Nov. 9. It was his first game back since undergoing hernia surgery on Oct. 23 to repair a sports hernia. Mendes, who played in 17 games and made 10 starts in 2008, had his surgery performed by Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck on Oct. 23.

DEBUTANTS: Seven Red Bulls made their first playoff appearances in this year's MLS playoffs including goalkeeper Danny Cepero, defenders Diego Jimenez and Andrew Boyens, midfielders Juan Pietravallo, Jorge Rojas and Luke Sassano and forward Macoumba Kandji.

TRIO ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY: Jamaican midfielder Dane Richards and Venezuelans Jorge Rojas and Gabriel Cichero were called up by their international squads for matches on Wednesday. They are expected to join the Red Bulls in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Jamaica is battling to qualify for the final CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group stage when they take on Canada Wednesday in Kingston, Jamaica. Currently at seven points and third in their four-team group, Jamaica must win to stay in the hunt. A Jamaica win coupled with a Honduras loss would put them through to the next round. Richards has made eight appearances for Jamaica. He was called into the Jamaican National Team's squad for their 2010 World Cup Qualifying Matches in Kingston, Jamaica against Mexico and Honduras on Oct. 11 and 15, respectively. Richards was on the bench but did not play in Jamaica's 1-0 win over Mexico. However, Richards did play as a substitute in Jamaica's 1-0 win over Honduras on Wednesday.

Rojas and Cichero will be part of the squad that takes on Angola in a friendly in Barinas, Venezuela on Wednesday.

Second all-time in country history in caps with 88 and currently the national team captain, Rojas joined the Red Bulls on July 17, 2008. The former Caracas FC midfielder has tallied five assists in nine appearances for New York this season.

Cichero, 24, has earned 13 caps for the Venezuelan National Team, scoring one goal. He signed with the Red Bulls on Aug. 6, 2008 and has made eight starts for New York after coming to MLS from Deportivo Italia of the Venezuelan First Division.

2009 SEASON TICKETS ARE ON SALE: New York Red Bulls 2009 season tickets are on sale now to the general public through the Red Bulls front office and team website (www.newyorkredbulls.com). By becoming a season ticket holder - a Red Bulls Member - in 2009, fans will be assigned a Priority Number for the seat relocation process which will guarantee each Red Bulls Member a seat in the Red Bulls new 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium -- Red Bull Arena, under construction in Harrison, New Jersey. Red Bulls Members with a Priority Number will have the first chance to pick their seat locations at Red Bull Arena based on their number. To purchase 2009 season tickets, please call 1.877.RBSOCCER or log onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.

As a Red Bulls Member, fans receive a ticket to all 2009 Red Bulls Matches, including playoffs, a Priority Number for Red Bull Arena, Members-only access to the Bulls' Corner Pub both pre-game and post-game, a Ticket Exchange Program for unused tickets, invitations to exclusive Meet the Team Day Events, a RBNY hooded sweatshirt made by adidas (one per seat on account), access to the Red Bulls priority purchase windows for select international matches at Giants Stadium and much more. As a Bull's Eye Member, fans receive all the same benefits, plus access to a private lounge for complimentary pre-game hospitality and a season parking pass.

Red Bull New York also announced that there will be no increase in season ticket pricing from 2008. Plus, for 2009, the Red Bulls announced a new price category - Endline Bull's Eye seating -- of which there are only 56 available seats. For just $882 per seat, a fan can sit in the front row in the East End Zone and enjoy all of the benefits of a Bull's Eye Membership.

Pricing for Full Season Tickets for 2009 are as follows:

Seat Location Price Per Seat

Bull's Eye Memberships

Bull's Eye (North and South Touchlines) $1,088

*NEW*Endline Bull's Eye (East End Zone) $882

Red Bulls Memberships

Midfield (Adult) $528

Midfield (Youth) $352

Sideline (Adult) $368

Sideline (Youth) $256

Corner Flag $272

Check out the Red Bull New York Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from November 17, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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