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New York Red Bulls Weekly Update

August 24, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - New York Red Bulls News Release


RED BULLS HOPE TO START RUN AGAINST CREW: After snapping a 13-game MLS winless streak in regular season action, the New York Red Bulls hope to earn another three points when they take on defending MLS Cup Champion, the Columbus Crew, on Sunday at Giants Stadium at 6:00 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM).

Despite playing the last 30 minutes of its match against FC Dallas last Sunday a man down, the Red Bulls were able to earn a 3-2 win after the Hoops tied the match twice. Forward Juan Pablo Angel scored two goals in the victory, as New York, which has won three-straight at Giants Stadium against FC Dallas, continues a five-game homestand against the Crew.

Columbus is currently atop the Eastern Conference standings with 39 points and a 10-3-9 record. The Crew has lost just one regular season game in their last 18 (10-1-7) and have gone unbeaten in their last eight (6-0-2). Columbus enjoyed a bye week last weekend but defeated the Puerto Rico Islanders on Aug. 18 in their first CONCACAF Champions League Group match at home. Three days earlier, the Crew reeled off their fifth-straight League win with a 2-0 victory over FC Dallas. Chad Marshall and Eddie Gaven tallied for the Crew, which welcomed back 2008 MLS Most Valuable Player Guillermo Barros Schelotto after he missed his last five games with a hamstring strain. Columbus has a busy week, as they travel to face Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul in Champions League action on Wednesday before heading to New York.

The Crew earned a 1-0 win over the Red Bulls at Crew Stadium on June 27 in the first match-up between the two teams. In a tight game, a Marshall first half header was the difference. Last season, the Red Bulls and Crew faced off in the 2008 MLS Cup Final after Columbus, the No. 1 overall seed, defeated the Kansas City Wizards and Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference bracket. At the final played at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA on Nov. 23, the Crew went ahead 31 minutes in when Alejandro Moreno slipped a shot past Danny Cepero. The Red Bulls equalized six minutes after the break when Dane Richards found John Wolyniec in the box and he slid in New York's first-ever goal in the MLS Cup. However, the lead did not last for long as Marshall knocked in a Schelotto corner kick 87 seconds later before Frankie Hejduk iced the game in the 82nd minute by chipping it over Cepero.

While the Crew owned the League's best record in 2008, going 17-7-6, New York was the only team that earned a winning record against Columbus last season, going 2-1-0. All-time, New York is 21-21-5 against Columbus, with +9 goal differential (GF: 65, GA: 56). Wolyniec is the Red Bulls' all-time leading goalscorer against Columbus with six. Columbus has not won in New York since earning a 1-0 victory on April 12, 2003. Since then, New York has gone unbeaten in its last 10 at the Meadowlands versus their Eastern Conference rival, earning a 7-0-3 record.

LAST WEEK:

Red Bulls 3, FC Dallas 2 on Aug. 23 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ

THIS WEEK:

Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew on Aug. 30 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ at 6:00 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM)

NEXT WEEK:

Red Bulls vs. Kansas City Wizards on Sept. 12 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ at 7:30 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM)

NEW YORK RED BULLS SCHEDULE (Aug. 24-30)

Please contact a member of the Red Bulls Communications Staff if you have any requests or questions.

This Week's Schedule (subject to change):

Monday, Aug. 24: Training at Montclair State University facility at 10:00 AM ET.

Tuesday, Aug. 25: OFF

Wednesday, Aug. 26: Training at Montclair State University facility at 10:00 AM ET.

Thursday, Aug. 27: Training at Montclair State University facility at 10:00 AM ET.

Friday, Aug. 28: Training at Montclair State University facility at 10:00 AM ET.

Saturday, Aug. 29: Training at Montclair State University facility at 10:00 AM ET.

Sunday, Aug. 30: Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew on Aug. 30 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ at 6:00 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM)

JPA LIFTS BULLS PAST FC DALLAS: Forward Juan Pablo Angel broke the club record for regular season goals scored, leading the New York Red Bulls to a 3-2 win over FC Dallas at Giants Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Angel knocked in a rebound and his second goal of the game two minutes from full time, as New York broke a 13-game regular season winless streak and improved to 3-16-4 (13 pts.). Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards also scored for New York, which played with 10 men for the last 30 minutes of the game after Kevin Goldthwaite was given a red card. Dax McCarty and Dave van den Bergh found the back of the net for FC Dallas. The result helped give Red Bulls interim head coach Richie Williams a winning start at the helm after Juan Carlos Osorio resigned from his post on Friday, Aug. 21.

Forward John Wolyniec nearly put the hosts in front three minutes in. Defender Danleigh Borman had possession on the left wing and his cross found the head of an open Wolyniec, who flashed his attempt wide.

Moments later, however, New York went in front. After New York won the ball in the midfield, Albert Celades volleyed it to a streaking Angel, who lobbed it over an on-rushing Dario Sala and into the net. It was Angel's team-leading eighth goal of the season after the forward missed the last two games due to a concussion. Angel's goal was his 41st all-time in the regular season, putting him level with Giovanni Savarese for first place in club history.

FC Dallas tied the game in the 19th minute. Drew Moor played a long ball towards Cunningham on the right wing that a diving Goldthwaite could only get a slight touch on. The ball fell to Cunningham and he delivered a cross to McCarty, who headed it past goalkeeper Danny Cepero.

New York retook the advantage in eight minutes later. Like the first goal, Celades again started the play, this time finding Wolyniec rushing into the box. Wolyniec cut it back and passed it to Richards in the six-yard box and he knocked it home for his second goal of the season.

The Red Bulls looked to extend their lead in the 56th minute, as Angel flicked on a Jeremy Hall pass to Wolyniec, whose short-angle shot was blocked away by Sala before being cleared. Soon after, an Angel free kick from 28-yards out zipped just past the left post.

New York was forced to play a man down at the hour mark. Off a Red Bulls corner kick, Goldthwaite was given a red card by referee Jasen Anno after swinging an arm out at FC Dallas midfielder Andre Rocha. Goldthwaite will be suspended one match.

FC Dallas took advantage of the extra man with 18 minutes left in the game. McCarty played a give-and-go in New York's defensive half and slid it to an open van den Bergh on the left corner of the penalty box and he one-timed it past Cepero to again tie the game.

With the match looking like the teams would play to a tie, Angel came to the rescue in the 88th minute, giving New York its first League win since May 8. Substitute Macoumba Kandji raced with the ball on the left wing and cut inside to the penalty box before blasting a shot that Sala could only parry. The ball fell to Angel, who knocked it into the net for his 42nd regular season goal, breaking Savarese's record. Angel is also in a tie for first place in club history with Clint Mathis for goals scored in all competitions with 45.

Missing from the match was defender Mike Petke due to yellow card accumulation while midfielder Ernst Oebster was in Austria with his newborn daughter.

ANGEL BREAKS GOALS RECORD: Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel, a finalist for the 2007 Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player Award, scored two goals, including the game-winner, in Sunday's 3-2 win over FC Dallas. With his brace, Angel has recorded 43 regular season goals all-time, breaking Giovanni Savarese's club record. In addition, Angel tied Clint Mathis for first in club history for goals scored in all competitions with 45.

"Records are there to be broken. You wish your record is broken by a valuable player. And, Juan Pablo Angel has been such a valuable player. I am very glad it was broken by someone who has so much experience and given so much to the organization. What I've done will always be in the record books. I am content with Juan Pablo breaking my record," Savarese said.

Angel was signed by New York as a Designated Player on April 17, 2005, after a successful stint at English Premier League club, Aston Villa. In his first season, Angel scored 19 goals in 24 games. Last year, Angel racked up a team-high 14 goals, leading the Red Bulls to their first MLS Cup Final appearance.

In the FC Dallas match, Angel earned his eighth multi-goal game. He is in second place in club history in this category, two multi-goal games behind first-place Savarese.

GOALS (Regular Season)

PLAYER GP GOALS

1. Juan Pablo Angel 68 42

2. Giovanni Savarese 85 41

3. Clint Mathis 93 39

4. Amado Guevara 103 32

5. John Wolyniec 135 25

GOALS (All Competitions)

PLAYER GOALS

T-1. Juan Pablo Angel 45

T-1. Clint Mathis 45

3. Giovanni Savarese 44

4. Amado Guevara 38

5. John Wolyniec 31

WILLIAMS WINS OPENER: Red Bulls interim head coach Richie Williams' second stint at the helm got off to a strong start with the team's 3-2 win over FC Dallas Sunday afternoon. Williams took over as head coach after Juan Carlos Osorio resigned from his position on Friday.

Williams also served as interim head coach for New York from June 27-Aug. 12, 2006, taking over for Mo Johnston. He was 4-3-2 in all competitions (3-3-2 regular season). Osorio joined the Red Bulls as head coach on Dec. 18, 2007 and recorded a 12-27-13 record in the regular season and the club's first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup Final.

"It has been a difficult season for Juan Carlos and he felt that it was in the best interest of the team to step aside," said Red Bulls Managing Director Erik Stover. "I want to personally thank Juan Carlos for his efforts with the Red Bulls organization. It was under his leadership last season that the team won the Western Conference Championship and reached the MLS Cup Final for the first time in franchise history. We wish him well in his future endeavors."

"I want to apologize to the fans for the results this season," said Osorio. "I want to thank the players for their hard work. I would also like to thank the club for the opportunity to coach the team for the past two seasons."

GOLDTHWAITE SUSPENDED, PETKE, OEBSTER TO RETURN: Red Bulls defender Kevin Goldthwaite is suspended for the Columbus Crew match Sunday after earning a straight red card against FC Dallas on Sunday. On a Red Bulls corner kick, Goldthwaite swung his arm out at FC Dallas' Andre Rocha.

Defender Mike Petke will be available for selection on Sunday after serving a one-game suspension due to yellow card accumulation. Midfielder Ernst Oebster also missed the FC Dallas match, as he was with his newborn daughter in Austria. He is expected to return Wednesday.

CELADES DOUBLE: Red Bulls midfielder Albert Celades tallied two assists in the Red Bulls' 3-2 win over FC Dallas. Celades provided the over-the-top pass for Juan Pablo Angel's first goal before starting the play which resulted in Dane Richards putting New York up, 2-1, later in the first half. Celades now has three assists this season.

PETKE, WOLYNIEC LEAD: Red Bulls defender Mike Petke and forward John Wolyniec are continuing to move up the games played chart for New York. Wolyniec made his 135th appearance for the Red Bulls on Sunday while Petke is the club's all-time leader in games played (147) and starts (141).

GAMES PLAYED

PLAYER GP

1. Mike Petke 147

2. John Wolyniec 135

3. Jeff Parke 132

4. Mike Magee 130

5. Tony Meola 125

6. Steve Jolley 120

7. Seth Stammler 114

8. Tab Ramos 112

9. Carlos Mendes 107

10. Amado Guevara 103

RED BULLS MARK ONE-YEAR OF ARENA CONSTRUCTION: Aug. 19 marked the one-year anniversary of the day in which the first piece of structural steel was erected at Red Bull Arena - the Red Bulls' future home slated to open in 2010 in Harrison, NJ. The monumental step last year started the vertical construction stage of the process in building the arena. On April 14, 2009, the Red Bulls held a "topping off" ceremony to place the final piece of steel at Red Bull Arena, marking the end of vertical construction.

Recently, installation of the state-of-the-art, underground field drainage and turf heating system for the playing field at Red Bull Arena began just as the final roof panels protecting the entire 25,000-seat seating area move closer to being officially completed. Once installed, the underground system, known as a SubAir System, will enable Red Bull Arena to fully control the field's moisture content and enable growth and temperature management for what will be a natural Kentucky bluegrass playing surface even during cold-weather months. Installation is expected to be complete in eight to 10 weeks.

Fans can already see the dynamic stadium as all of the lower roof panels are installed making the stadium visible from the air and highways. Red Bull Arena is now noticeable for fans passing through Harrison on Interstate 280 and from the New Jersey Turnpike, as well as from the air.

Also, the first complete roof section at Red Bull Arena was finished on Aug. 4. The roof panels extend 120 feet from the facade over the seating bowl with the final 60 feet composed of translucent panels. These translucent panels will allow natural light to pass through into the bowl. In total, there will be 94 panels used to complete the Red Bull Arena roof. When completely installed, the roof will extend over the entire seating bowl and curve down to the concourse.

Red Bull Arena is set to be ready for the 2010 Major League Soccer season. The new soccer-specific stadium will have 25,000 seats, including 30 suites and 1,000 club seats. The stadium design incorporates a unique roof top, which will extend from the last seat to just over the touchlines, with 60 feet of the roof will be translucent in order to allow natural light to enter.

Over the course of one year, the following items have been utilized in the construction of Red Bull Arena to this point:

7,000 tons of steel

5,000 cubic yards of concrete

6 miles of electric cable

8 miles of pipe

52 of 94 roof panels have been installed

1,000 cubic yards of topsoil for field

15,000 concrete block

Over 200,000 union labor hours in field


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