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New York Red Bulls

Weekly Update: Red Bulls Face Sporting Kansas City in Home Finale with Playoff Spot on the Line

October 15, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls News Release


RED BULLS CAN EARN PLAYOFF SPOT AGAINST SPORTING KC IN HOME FINALE SATURDAY

With two games remaining in the MLS Regular Season, the New York Red Bulls are still in prime position to clinch a playoff spot for the third consecutive year and ninth time in the past 10 seasons heading into their next match against first place Sporting Kansas City on Saturday at Red Bull Arena at 7:00 PM in the final home game of the regular season. Tickets are available for the match by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.

New York, currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference on 53 points off a 15-9-8 record, fell 2-0 to the Chicago Fire Oct. 6 at Red Bull Arena. Despite the loss, the Red Bulls could secure their place in the postseason with a win versus Sporting KC. The Red Bulls would also earn a playoff spot if the sixth place Columbus Crew failed to beat D.C. United at RFK Stadium on Oct. 20. If the Red Bulls tied Sporting Kansas City, a Crew tie versus United would be enough for New York to go through. New York is just one point behind third place D.C. and three adrift of second place Chicago.

Sporting Kansas City earned its East-best 59th point of the season after a 1-1 tie at Columbus on Oct. 7. C.J. Sapong's early goal look like it was enough for the visitors to take home the full three points, but Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven struck late to equalize. Sporting KC is unbeaten in its last 10 MLS regular season matches, going 6-0-4 in a streak that has lasted since July 28. New York is 0-1-1 against their Eastern Conference foe in 2012, tying 1-1 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Aug. 26 and losing 2-0 at Red Bull Arena on Sept. 19. New York is 17-18-10 all-time against the Kansas City franchise and 10-4-7 at home.

RED BULLS-SPORTING KANSAS CITY CONNECTIONS

Sporting Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes, a native of Willingboro, NJ, played for New York in the club's inaugural 1996 season, starting 30 matches and notching one goal and one assist.

LAST WEEK

Red Bulls 0, Chicago Fire 2 at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, Oct. 6

THIS WEEK

Red Bulls vs. Sporting Kansas City at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 7:00 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: 93.1 FM)

NEXT WEEK

Red Bulls at Philadelphia Union at PPL Park on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 1:30 PM ET (TV: NBC; Radio: 93.1 FM)

TRIO CALLED IN FOR INTERNATIONAL DUTY

Defender Roy Miller, and midfielders Tim Cahill and Joel Lindpere were called up by their respective national teams during this international break.

Miller earned his 32nd cap for Costa Rica, playing the full 90 minutes, as the Ticos beat El Salvador, 1-0, last Friday in a 2014 World Cup Qualifier on Oct. 12. Costa Rica could clinch a spot in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying when they host Guyana in San Jose on Oct. 16. Costa Rica currently has seven points in CONCACAF's Group B. Miller has made 23 appearances and 20 starts for New York, recording six assists in 2012.

Cahill joined the Australian National Team for their crucial World Cup Qualifier against Iraq on Oct. 16 in Doha, Qatar. Australia is coming off a 2-1 loss to Jordan on Sept. 11 - a match in which Cahill played the full 90 minutes. The Socceroos have two points in Group B, tied with Iraq and Oman and behind Jordan (4 pts.) and leader, Japan (10). Cahill has earned 57 caps for his country and tallied 25 goals on the international level. Since signing with New York on July 26, Cahill has started in 10 games and posted a goal and three assists.

Lindpere and the Estonian National Team fell, 1-0 to Hungary, in a World Cup Qualifier on Oct. 12 in Tallinn, Estonia. The Estonains have an away fixture versus Androrra on Oct. 16. Estonia is currently 0-3-0 in Group D in European qualifying. Lindpere, who now has earned 81 caps for Estonia after playing the entire 90 minutes in the Hungary loss, is in the midst of his third season with the Red Bulls. He is the only New York player to have appeared in each of the team's 32 games this year, notching five goals and five assists.

RED BULLS FALL 2-0 TO CHICAGO FIRE

The New York Red Bulls dropped a 2-0 decision to the Chicago Fire Oct. 6 at Red Bull Arena in front of 21,157 spectators. Chicago forward Sherjill MacDonald scored both goals for the second place Fire.

Chicago tried to open up the scoring in the sixth minute, as Chris Rolfe fired a shot that New York goalkeeper Luis Robles parried before he smothered the rebound. Twenty one minutes later on the other end, forward Thierry Henry chested a Kenny Cooper pass down inside the box and his right-footed volley was blocked at the last second by a Fire player.

In the 33rd minute, Red Bull Dax McCarty ripped a one-timer from long range that beat goalkeeper Sean Johnson and skipped past the right post. Then, with a minute left in the first half, Fire midfielder Alvaro Fernandez's header off a Jalil Anibaba cross went over the bar.

Both teams traded jabs after the break. Chicago's Arne Friedrich got a shot off in the box that was blocked by Robles. On the other end, Henry again had his attempt on goal deflected out. Seconds later, New York's Tim Cahill headed Henry's ensuing corner kick straight into Johnson's arms.

The visitors took the lead in the 65th minute. Rolfe had possession in the midfield and played a well-weighted through ball to an on-rushing MacDonald. MacDonald drove towards goal and ripped it over Robles and into the back of the net.

New York nearly tied the game up six minutes after MacDonald's opening strike. Joel Lindpere had the ball on the left wing and his in-swinger was met by Kenny Cooper, who redirected it just wide. Moments later, Cooper made space from 20 yards out and rifled it right.

MacDonald doubled his personal tally and the Fire's lead with 12 minutes left to play. Daniel Paladini slid a pass to the onside Dutchman and he rolled it in.

FORMER AS MONACO PRESIDENT JÉRÔME DE BONTIN NAMED GENERAL MANAGER

The New York Red Bulls announced Oct. 2 the appointment of Jérôme de Bontin as the team's new General Manager. De Bontin, who will oversee the club's business operations, took over for General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler, who will remain as an internal advisor.

Gérard Houllier, who was appointed Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull this past July, will oversee all sporting aspects of the team.

De Bontin has had a long career in soccer, having served as President of French Club AS Monaco from early 2008 to the spring of 2009. He has served as a Board Member of the Monegasque team for seven years and also as a member of the Board, Chair of the Development Committee and member of the Investment Committee of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. De Bontin also served on the US Soccer Federation task force on player development and is the current Chairman of the Rush Soccer Organization.

A graduate from Amherst College in Massachusetts, De Bontin is the director of Sustainability Investments LLC and Mekar Financial Services.

RED BULLS TO PARTAKE IN 2013 DESERT DIAMOND CUP

FC Tucson, in partnership with Desert Diamond Casino, announced that four teams have accepted invitations to play in the 3rd Annual FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup. The four participants, who will play at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, are the New England Revolution, the New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders.

The 2013 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup will take place over the course of four days: Wednesday, February 13th; Saturday, February 17th; Wednesday, February 20th and Saturday February 23rd. The teams will play a round-robin format through the first three dates. The tournament final and third-place game will be played on Saturday February 23rd.

"We are excited to participate in the 2013 Desert Diamond Cup," said Red Bulls Technical Director Ricardo Campos. "Last year, we had a very positive experience in Tucson, training in some very good facilities and playing in competitive matches which helped us prepare for our MLS season. We want to thank the tournament organizers for inviting us back."

Schedule of Matches*

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

New England Revolution vs. Seattle Sounders

New York Red Bulls vs. Real Salt Lake

Saturday, February 16th, 2013

Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake

New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Real Salt Lake vs. New England Revolution

Seattle Sounders vs. New York Red Bulls

Saturday, February 23rd, 2013

MLS 3rd Place vs. MLS 4th Place

MLS 1st Place vs. MLS 2nd Place

RED BULLS ACADEMY UPDATE

It seems to be the same story every week - the only difference is the score line.

The New York Red Bulls Academy products pieced together another perfect weekend for the third week in a row as the U-13 teams, all the way up to U-18s, posted impressive wins.

The U-13s kicked things off in the win column, as two shutout victories improved their overall record to 10-0-0.

Saturday marked the first of two wins for the squad, as the team shut out Seacoast United in an impressive 6-0 victory. Alex Clarke opened up the scoring when he found the back of the net for the first time this season and the club quickly added some insurance as Jake Silverstein, Bryan Sorto and Denzel Nash tallied one each. Brandon Haughton tickled the netting twice in the win.

On Sunday it was the same end result with only half the tallies, as the U-13s defeated PA Classics 3-0. Haughton registered his second brace in as many games and added an assist, while Anes Mrkluic added the third goal and one helper on the day.

The Under-14 Academy team remains unbeaten on the season after posting an impressive shutout win over Seacoast United Saturday afternoon. Mason Toye and Rodrigo D'Andrea helped power the side to a 5-0 lead at halftime and cruised to victory in the final 45 minutes to improve their league record to 8-0 and overall record to 11-0. The U-14s travel to New England next weekend and will take on the Revolution's Academy side Sunday morning.

Kyle Zajec starting off the scoring against Seacoast United Saturday morning before Jerel Blade, Malik Stewart and Orestis Sousonis padded the lead to give the U-15s a 4-0 win.

The U-16s improved to 5-0-0 on the season after they defeated Seacoast United 4-1. Despite falling into an early 1-0 hole, the Red Bulls responded quickly with four unanswered goals from Derrick Etienne, Dante Perez, Alex Tejera and Anthony Viteri to secure the win.

Seacoast United's U-18 team also fell to the Red Bulls' side 8-0 Sunday afternoon as three separate New York players tallied a brace. Armando Moreno opened up the scoring in the 43rd minute to give the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead; a lead that quickly escalated to 3-0 before the half as Matt Miazga and Izzy Tandir each scored in the 44th minute. Heading into the final 45, it was Moreno again in the 51st minute, followed by Alex Muyl, Tandir, Erik Sa and Muyl's final tally for the side in the 87th minute that rounded out the scoring.

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